Seattle homeless offender released from custody after allegedly chasing man with axe

A prolific offender in Seattle who is charged with starting a giant drug encampment fire in August has been released from custody again.

Paris Alcantara was released for “sentence served,” according to the Washington State Automated Victim Information and Notification Service, following his most recent arrest in September after he allegedly chased a man with an axe through a park while yelling “I’m going to f*cking kill you.”

The 43-year-old is charged with reckless burning and reckless endangerment for a massive fire that destroyed his encampment on Mercer Street on Aug. 14, but was released from jail with no bail on August 28 on the condition that he remain at least 1,000 feet away from the former encampment and not break the law again, even after he admitted starting the fire, claiming that a candle fell over in his tent while he was cleaning it.

Only five days later, he was arrested for felony harassment charges for the axe incident. He has been known to carry weapons that neighbors have described as "mad max style."

Neighbors have seen at least three fires prior to this one in the notorious encampment. They also witnessed multiple other crimes including assault, and regularly heard gunshots. Earlier this year, a woman was found strangled to death at the encampment and her body was discovered days later by Alcantara. The encampment was finally cleared after the fire.

Alcantara has a rap sheet dating back to 1998 with three felonies, multiple substance charges, 14 gross misdemeanors, and three dozen prior arrests including rape in the third degree.

A Seattle police officer wrote in an arrest report obtained by KOMO News, “Alcantara is a staggering danger to the community.”

“He was recently the subject of a KOMO 4 news article about how he burned an encampment down, putting several people and ample property at risk of death and destruction. He was arrested less than a week ago and released within 24 hours without bail. He has continued to attack and threaten people.”

The officer continued, “He needs to be held in jail and seen by a judge who will take the risks to the community seriously before more people are hurt and more property is destroyed. Alcantara should absolutely be held in jail for as long as possible. If released, I am certain that more violence will be committed by Alcantara against vulnerable members of our community.”