Homeless Seattle man who assaulted 67-year-old man and killed his dog released early

After his initial arrest for the crimes, Courtney J Williams, 29, was released just one day later on his own recognizance.

According to court documents, on the afternoon of May 29, John Hickey was walking his 14-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Alice, through Courthouse Park. The park was home to a deadly homeless encampment, ripe with crime, next to the King County Courthouse just a few blocks away from Seattle City Hall.

Williams, demanded that Hickey give him his jacket, and according to documents said, "I'll knock your head off if you don't give me that jacket," then assumed a fighting stance like a boxer.

Hickey, who had been assaulted before and had a previous leg injury, pepper-sprayed the suspect in self-defense. According to the documents, the suspect backed away and while the victim attempted to flee as fast as his injured leg could carry him, but "the suspect ran up behind him and kicked his dog so hard she flew into the air." The dog landed head-first on the concrete walkway.

Hickey told Q13 Fox, "I heard pounding of feet and I turned around and he was running full speed at us and I didn't have time to really do anything. I had her on the leash and he came running towards her, knocked me down and he kicked her so hard that she went up in the air and started hemorrhaging." The victim sustained minor injuries after the suspect pushed him to the ground. When he got up to check on his dog, he saw she was dead.

"She thought everybody liked her and she was just proud of that. And the most horrible thing, when she died she gave me a look...just was like she was confused that anyone would do something like that to her," Hickey told the outlet at the time of the incident.

The King County Prosecutor's Office had asked Judge Marcus Naylor to hold Williams on $25,000 bail before trial and argued that the attack was unprovoked and that the suspect is a danger to the community. Yet Naylor released Williams anyway even though the prosecutor told the judge that the suspect "…is now a complete danger to the public and property. If he is released, he will more than likely return to City Hall Park, where his assaultive/destructive/aggressive behavior will continue to increase and cause havoc to residents and visitors of the Seattle area."

Seattle police also advocated for Williams to remain in custody believing from his previous record that his dangerous behavior would continue. Williams has a record of assault and harassment.

After his release, Williams was located and eventually sentenced to 8 months for animal cruelty. Safe Seattle found Williams’s family celebrating his Monday release on social media.

The deadly encampment was not cleared after the attack, nor after a fatal stabbing in the park or numerous other violent incidents. It was not until after a prolific offender meth addict allegedly sexually assaulted a King County employee inside a women's bathroom at the courthouse.

The park has remain closed ever since. Repairs and upgrades to the park have been completed. King County is working on taking control of the park from the city of Seattle.

The campers have set up a new encampment less than a block away under an overpass. One camper even used the signs warning that the park was closed to stabilize a tent in front of the fence keeping the park closed.