Police: Phony magazine salesman who attacked woman may be on the run
SEATTLE -- Police are on the hunt for Antonio M. Smokes, the man accused of posing as a door-to-door magazine salesman and nearly strangling a woman to death in her Eastlake area apartment last week.
Police said Smokes, 25, is also wanted for theft of the victim's laptop and phone.
On Aug. 31, officers were called to an apartment in the 2200 block of Franklin Avenue East, where a 26-year-old woman reported that a the man had strangled choked her until she lost consciousness.
The woman told police that she purchased two magazine subscriptions from the man Wednesday after he came to her door. After making the sale, she told police, the man asked for her phone number, a request she declined.
About 12:30 p.m. on the same day, the man returned to her apartment, claiming to have lost the sales paperwork. After being let in, the woman told police, he asked to use her bathroom.
Returning from the bathroom, the man walked directly at her then said, "I'm sorry," before grabbing her around the neck in a chock choke hold, according to police reports.
The man tightened his grip around her neck until the woman - believing she was going to die - fell unconscious. When she awoke about 20 minutes later, she found herself in the bathtub with various injuries.
Finding her cell phone missing, police said she left her apartment and yelled for help.
Investigators spoke with several neighbors who reported also seeing the salesman in the area earlier in the week.
One told investigators that the salesman had approached her apartment and asked whether her boyfriend was home.
Police believe Smokes may be headed east from the Seattle area, possibly to Florida.
Smokes is said to be 5'10'' tall and weigh approximately 175 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call 911 or contact Seattle police.
Police said Smokes, 25, is also wanted for theft of the victim's laptop and phone.
On Aug. 31, officers were called to an apartment in the 2200 block of Franklin Avenue East, where a 26-year-old woman reported that a the man had strangled choked her until she lost consciousness.
The woman told police that she purchased two magazine subscriptions from the man Wednesday after he came to her door. After making the sale, she told police, the man asked for her phone number, a request she declined.
About 12:30 p.m. on the same day, the man returned to her apartment, claiming to have lost the sales paperwork. After being let in, the woman told police, he asked to use her bathroom.
Returning from the bathroom, the man walked directly at her then said, "I'm sorry," before grabbing her around the neck in a chock choke hold, according to police reports.
The man tightened his grip around her neck until the woman - believing she was going to die - fell unconscious. When she awoke about 20 minutes later, she found herself in the bathtub with various injuries.
Finding her cell phone missing, police said she left her apartment and yelled for help.
Investigators spoke with several neighbors who reported also seeing the salesman in the area earlier in the week.
One told investigators that the salesman had approached her apartment and asked whether her boyfriend was home.
Police believe Smokes may be headed east from the Seattle area, possibly to Florida.
Smokes is said to be 5'10'' tall and weigh approximately 175 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call 911 or contact Seattle police.
