As police increased patrols in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District in response to the stabbing of 10 people over 38 hours last week, a suspected attacker in the case was charged with five counts of assault.
Why it matters: The stabbings — none of which were fatal — have renewed calls for action after years of crime, homelessness and drug activity near 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street.
Driving the news: Police on Wednesday released body camera footage showing Seattle Police Department Sgt. David Sullivan chasing down an alleged assailant, who is being investigated in nine of the 10 stabbings that occurred on Nov. 7 and 8, according to the Seattle Times .
- Roland J. Lee , 37, was charged Thursday with four counts of first-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree assault in connection with five stabbings on Nov. 8.
- He is currently being held in King County Correctional Facility on $2 million bail .
The big picture: Mayor Bruce Harrell identified the 12th and Jackson area as one of the city’s major crime hotspots in 2022 , and local businesses and residents have expressed frustration over rising crime for years, with many businesses closing due to safety concerns.