Officer injured during New Year's assault
SEATTLE - A police officer was injured while responding to an assault on a bus driver shortly after midnight Friday during Seattle's New Year's celebration.
Police and witnesses said the incident began when a motorist who was stuck in traffic near Fourth Avenue and Mercer Street tried to drive around a Metro bus that was parked there.
As the motorist was passing the bus, his car hit the bus' side mirror and smashed it, witnesses said.
Witnesses said the motorist and a passenger in his vehicle then jumped out of his car and both of them began punching the bus driver in the face through the open window of the bus.
A traffic officer who was working in the vicinity responded and tried to break up the assault on the bus driver.
Both suspects then assaulted the traffic officer. During the struggle the officer was knocked to the ground and he injured his right knee and shoulder. The suspects fled on foot, leaving the car and some other passengers behind.
While units were responding, the traffic officer was able to broadcast an excellent description of both suspects and their last direction of travel.
One suspect was apprehended at Mercer Street and Westlake Avenue North. The other suspect was apprehended at Fifth Avenue North and Mercer Street. Both suspects were positively identified by an independent witness.
The officer was transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of his injuries, which are not life-threatening. The bus driver was not seriously hurt.
The suspects, a father and son, were booked into King County Jail for investigation of felony assault.
Police and witnesses said the incident began when a motorist who was stuck in traffic near Fourth Avenue and Mercer Street tried to drive around a Metro bus that was parked there.
As the motorist was passing the bus, his car hit the bus' side mirror and smashed it, witnesses said.
Witnesses said the motorist and a passenger in his vehicle then jumped out of his car and both of them began punching the bus driver in the face through the open window of the bus.
A traffic officer who was working in the vicinity responded and tried to break up the assault on the bus driver.
Both suspects then assaulted the traffic officer. During the struggle the officer was knocked to the ground and he injured his right knee and shoulder. The suspects fled on foot, leaving the car and some other passengers behind.
While units were responding, the traffic officer was able to broadcast an excellent description of both suspects and their last direction of travel.
One suspect was apprehended at Mercer Street and Westlake Avenue North. The other suspect was apprehended at Fifth Avenue North and Mercer Street. Both suspects were positively identified by an independent witness.
The officer was transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of his injuries, which are not life-threatening. The bus driver was not seriously hurt.
The suspects, a father and son, were booked into King County Jail for investigation of felony assault.