Man armed with shotgun arrested in Seattle carjacking

SEATTLE — Surveillance video shows a carjacking suspect using a shotgun to steal a truck in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood before taking police on a high-speed chase through downtown Seattle. It all ended in a five-vehicle crash in Belltown after police used a PIT maneuver to stop the suspect.

It started at around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday when the owner of a Chevron gas station and Salmon’s Service auto repair shop was pulling into work and saw a man working on a vehicle in their parking lot.

His son, Dan Salmon, said his dad was trying to offer the man help when his dad was carjacked. Salmon showed a KIRO 7 surveillance video of the incident.

“He pulls up right here and asks the guy, ‘Can I help you with something?’ The guy turned around and said, ‘Can I help you with something?’ And he (dad) said, ‘Well, I’m the owner, wondering if you need some help.’ And he (the suspect) turned around with a shotgun,” Salmon said.

Salmon said his dad gave up the car keys without resisting.

In the video, you can see the suspect taking his time and even getting out of the stolen truck to pick up a bag of stuff before getting back in the truck and driving away.

“That’s pretty alarming. You’ve got broad daylight in Seattle and some dude pulling out a shotgun taking your own truck away from you on your own property,” Salmon said.

Seattle Police Department responded and said, moments later, they found the suspect in the stolen truck fleeing the scene.

The suspect took police on a high-speed chase that ended in Belltown.

“It was pretty intense; it was really scary,” said Jake Nash, who was driving a work van when the car got hit.

“We were just sitting in the white van. Cars were backed up. Then we felt the impact,” said Gavin Bradford, who was also in the van.

The crash involved five vehicles, including the stolen truck and SPD car. The crash also involved a Prius, the white van, and a dump truck.

“I just got completely hit,” said Michael McMann. “For sure, it was a cop car,” he said. McMann said he was OK but still dizzy and planned to get checked out at a hospital.

Police said after the crash, the suspect got out and started running.

Video from a nearby apartment shows police chasing after him — some with their guns drawn. A few minutes later, police caught the suspect and arrested him.

“Nobody was injured in this amazingly,” said Detective Patrick Michaud, with the Seattle Police Department.

The crash ended next to Olympic Structure Park, with the stolen vehicle on the sidewalk. It’s an area normally full of people and left some wondering if a PIT maneuver was the right call.

“I think it’s pretty dangerous in a crowded area like this close to the park. But I don’t know what other options they had,” said Kasra Rahimi, who lives in the neighborhood.

Seattle police said they only give chase for the most serious crimes.

“We have a very restrictive pursuit policy in Seattle because it’s a dangerous thing to be doing. When we have a violent crime such as a carjacking, homicide suspect — something along those lines, something that’s very risky to leave this person on the streets,” Michaud said.

The son of the carjacking victim said he’s glad SPD made the call they did — and the arrest.

“The number one most important thing if you have a guy pointing a shotgun at people is getting him off the street,” Salmon said.

Cox Media Group