Prolific offender arrested after setting fire, attacking staff inside Seattle hospital

Patrol officers were called to Harborview in Downtown Seattle at about 10:15 am after receiving reports that a patient was “trashing a trauma room,” according to a police report. When officers arrived, the room was already in disarray. “It appeared that almost everything in the room had been thrown around or tipped over as staff and security were fighting with [the suspect].”

Investigators say hospital staff restrained the man after he allegedly broke open a direct oxygen line and then ignited a bucket filled with medical equipment. The damaged oxygen valve allowed fresh oxygen to flow into the room. “Security and staff intervened as an active fire in the room with the broken oxygen line could cause an explosion within the hospital,” the police report stated.

Police said the man had come to Harborview the night before with wrist injuries. After receiving treatment and being cleared for discharge, he became enraged, officers wrote, and began throwing items while spitting on and kicking nurses and security guards. He also fashioned what police described as a makeshift noose from plastic tubing and threatened to kill himself.

The suspect was arrested on multiple counts, including assault, arson, property destruction, and interference with a healthcare facility, police said. Hospital staff estimated the damage at more than $100,000. Authorities also said the man is “known to be assaultive with law enforcement” and had several active warrants at the time of his arrest. Under armed police escort, he was transported by ambulance and booked into the King County Jail.