12-year-old Seattle boy arrested for attacking woman with screwdriver, stealing purse

Seattle police arrested the boy on January 17 after officers responded to reports of a robbery around 6:50 pm near 23rd Avenue South and South Jackson Street. According to a Seattle police report, a 43-year-old woman was assaulted outside the store. Police said the boy, wearing a hot pink ski mask, struck the woman several times in the face with his hands, then pulled out a screwdriver and poked her in the face, hitting her left cheek.

Investigators allege the boy took the woman’s handbag, searched through it in a nearby parking garage, then returned and assaulted her again before running away. Police said the boy was already known to officers. After tracking him to his home, they arrested him and recovered the screwdriver.

At Tuesday’s first-appearance hearing, a judge found probable cause to believe the child committed first-degree robbery. The King County Prosecutor’s office told The Ari Hoffman Show on 570 KVI that under Washington law, first-degree robbery involves either the display of a deadly weapon or the infliction of bodily injury. Officials said the arrest was made for robbery rather than as part of a separate assault investigation.

The defense argued that the boy should be released to his parents, who could supervise him and monitor his behavior, and stated that they were not opposed to electronic home monitoring. The State argued the child has chronic issues and supported detention.

The judge ordered the boy held in secure juvenile detention. In Washington juvenile court, bail is not considered; youth are either released or detained. Prosecutors added that first-degree robbery cases are not eligible for diversion and instead proceed in juvenile court, with input from juvenile probation counselors.

Under Washington state law, a 12-year-old charged with first-degree robbery must remain in juvenile court. Prosecutors and judges do not have the authority to transfer such a case to adult court, regardless of the circumstances, officials said.