Bail set at $1M for man accused in Burien bathroom attack
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SEATTLE -- Bail was set at $1 million for the man accused of attacking an 11-year-old boy inside a supermarket bathroom over the weekend.
Prosecutors say Andrew Dempsey, 32, was already inside the bathroom at a Burien Albertsons Saturday afternoon when the 11-year-old boy came in. After the boy left a bathroom stall, he said Dempsey -- who was a complete stranger -- grabbed him by the head and threatened to kill him.
Dempsey then put the boy in a headlock and began dragging him into a large bathroom stall, according to court documents. Dempsey, who was naked from the waist down, repeatedly told the boy he was going to kill him.
The boy broke away and ran to the door, but police say Dempsey was able to slam the bathroom door shut on the boy's hand before he could escape. A witness inside the store saw the boy's hand in the door and heard screams for help.
That man opened the bathroom door and saw Dempsey -- with his pants around his ankles -- holding the victim in a "bear hug."
"It's chilling to think that they saw the fingers of that young boy being smashed in the door as the suspect was trying to push the door closed and keep him inside that bathroom," said King County Sheriff Steve Strachan.
When he was confronted by the witness and several store employees, Dempsey tried to run away. The men fought with him to keep him from leaving, and Dempsey allegedly bit an employee's arm in the struggle.
As the men struggled, the contents of a black bag Dempsey was carrying spilled out onto the floor, including what police later identified as a plastic bag containing methamphetamine rocks.
After police arrived and arrested Dempsey, he told them he had been homeless in Burien for several years and denied attacking the boy. He said after using the bathroom, he opened his bathroom stall and accidentally hit the boy in the back. He said the boy fell back onto him and began "freaking out," according to court documents.
The boy was treated for scratches on his face, neck and shoulder, as well as a swollen left hand.
Stratchan was quick to credit the store employees, witnesses and officers for helping save the boy.
"What would have happened? We don't know but because they took quick action that young boy is safe, back with his family and he's fine," Strachan said
On Monday a King County judge found probable cause to hold Dempsey on $1 million bail. The deadline for a charging decision is Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Andrew Dempsey, 32, was already inside the bathroom at a Burien Albertsons Saturday afternoon when the 11-year-old boy came in. After the boy left a bathroom stall, he said Dempsey -- who was a complete stranger -- grabbed him by the head and threatened to kill him.
Dempsey then put the boy in a headlock and began dragging him into a large bathroom stall, according to court documents. Dempsey, who was naked from the waist down, repeatedly told the boy he was going to kill him.
The boy broke away and ran to the door, but police say Dempsey was able to slam the bathroom door shut on the boy's hand before he could escape. A witness inside the store saw the boy's hand in the door and heard screams for help.
That man opened the bathroom door and saw Dempsey -- with his pants around his ankles -- holding the victim in a "bear hug."
"It's chilling to think that they saw the fingers of that young boy being smashed in the door as the suspect was trying to push the door closed and keep him inside that bathroom," said King County Sheriff Steve Strachan.
When he was confronted by the witness and several store employees, Dempsey tried to run away. The men fought with him to keep him from leaving, and Dempsey allegedly bit an employee's arm in the struggle.
As the men struggled, the contents of a black bag Dempsey was carrying spilled out onto the floor, including what police later identified as a plastic bag containing methamphetamine rocks.
After police arrived and arrested Dempsey, he told them he had been homeless in Burien for several years and denied attacking the boy. He said after using the bathroom, he opened his bathroom stall and accidentally hit the boy in the back. He said the boy fell back onto him and began "freaking out," according to court documents.
The boy was treated for scratches on his face, neck and shoulder, as well as a swollen left hand.
Stratchan was quick to credit the store employees, witnesses and officers for helping save the boy.
"What would have happened? We don't know but because they took quick action that young boy is safe, back with his family and he's fine," Strachan said
On Monday a King County judge found probable cause to hold Dempsey on $1 million bail. The deadline for a charging decision is Wednesday.
Seattle needs to fix the growing homeless problems. Instead of making marijuana and other ridiculous arrests, they should be focusing on making homelessness illegal or something. It's not pleasant going to the park or a public place, and see bums sleeping everywhere. Bad for tourism, and bad for society as a whole. Get rid of the bums.Â
 @CarpeDiem Making homelessness illegal, hmmm? That would be unethical unless enough free housing were provided for them to live in. There are some people who are simply unable to provide housing for themselves. Many of the homeless are also mentally ill, have ongoing problems with substance abuse, are disabled, or disabled veterans, and others for whom there is often little public help, and programs keep being reduced or cut entirely that would provide at least a little assistance or a few resources for them, keeping them from committing petty crimes to get a bed in jail, or clogging up the emergency room to receive care for which they cannot pay. If you make it illegal to be homeless, you have to fine the homeless (which they likely can't afford), or arrest them, or both. That's not much different than making marijuana illegal and then throwing pot smokers in jail, who really weren't hurting anyone but themselves.
Maybe they should introduce this guy to Senator Craig. Yes, I went there.
Let's see. Â Homeless man attacks and kills two random people with an ax. Another one tries to rape a child. Â I know this won't be popular here but maybe we need to finally address our little homeless problem here. Â At least do some screening of some sort to keep the crazy ones in some sort of control?
Kudo's to the employees for saving this young boy. I feel bad for the one with the bite. Human bites are bad. Druggie bites can be worse than bad. Â
I can only imagine the nightmares this poor boy is going to have for a long time to come. To the Judge that sentances him: Please make sure he is never on our streets again.Is the special perv center at McNeil Island still open? He should hang out there for the next 70 years. Â
The cops should have just drowned that guy in the toilet.
Glad to hear the boy is safe and sound. This perv I just heard refused to show up in court. And, what a dumb story he made up. He hit the boy while opening the stall? um, sure...then how can he explain the boy's fingers between the door while having the door being pressed against them? Lock this perv up for good please!.