In a bizarre incident in Seattle in late August, police arrested a burglary suspect who was found chugging gasoline inside the garage of a victim after officers forcibly entered the residence to protect a 17-year-old girl who was home alone at the time.
According to Seattle police, the teenager’s father dialed 9-1-1 at approximately 11:30 a.m. on August 18, claiming that his daughter had informed him of an individual wielding a wooden stick who was attempting to unlawfully enter their residence located in the 8400 block of 5th Avenue Southwest.
Upon the officers’ arrival, the girl was too frightened to open the door and admit the officers into the house, according to official statements from the department.
When the officers discerned “disturbing loud noises” emanating from within the property, they made the decision to forcibly enter through the front door due to concerns for the girl’s safety.
The officers initiated a thorough search, ultimately locating the suspect inside the homeowner’s vehicle parked in the garage.
The suspect was observed holding a gasoline canister and a hammer.
Despite repeated commands from the officers, the suspect defied orders to exit the vehicle and instead began guzzling gasoline from the canister, police said.
A body camera worn by one of the officers captured footage of this unsettling act.
The suspect continued to drink the gasoline despite the officers’ urgent orders for him to vacate the vehicle, as depicted in the video evidence.
Subsequently, the officers took action by breaking the driver’s side window and removing the individual from the driver’s seat.
Once outside the vehicle, the suspect demonstrated further resistance to the officers’ attempts to apprehend him. After a persistent struggle, law enforcement successfully subdued and arrested the suspect.
Amid these developments, officers eventually located the girl on the second floor of the residence and safely escorted her out of the premises.
The suspect, only identified as a 40-year-old male, was taken into custody for charges related to residential burglary. He was subsequently booked into the King County Jail.
