SEATTLE — A Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) vehicle was stolen while responders were conducting a welfare check in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood.
This was the first time a CARE vehicle had been stolen, Bobbie Nickel, a communications officer at the CARE Department, told KIRO Newsradio.
The two responders were dispatched to Greenwood Wednesday around 10 p.m.
Crisis response vehicle stolen after responder leaves keys in ignition
While conducting the welfare check, one of the responders left the keys in the ignition of the CARE vehicle, thinking it was necessary to keep the amber lights activated, Nickel explained.
The individual quickly gained access to the driver’s seat and pulled away. Seattle Police Department (SPD) Detective Shane Weatherford confirmed to KIRO Newsradio that the person who stole the vehicle was the same person CARE responders were assisting.
The responder radioed for police immediately. Multiple units arrived and secured the vehicle.
The individual drove approximately one block in the CARE vehicle before being detained, according to Nickel. SPD said officers located the vehicle a few blocks away and took the driver into custody without further incident. The suspect was booked into King County Jail.
Nickel noted Community Crisis Responder division leaders have spoken with the involved responders and are conducting a full review before determining corrective action.
“While it is extremely rare for responders to call for police or experience safety issues with clients, we are grateful to our partners at SPD for the swift response, which is part of our design,” Nickel stated via email. “We are thankful no one was injured in this event, and eager to incorporate learnings into our responder training.”
What does Seattle’s CARE Department do?
The CARE Department is Seattle’s third branch of public safety alongside the Seattle Police Department and the Seattle Fire Department, according to the city’s website. It oversees the city’s 911 Communications Center and Community Crisis Responders.
Community Crisis Responders are trained behavioral health professionals who respond to 911 calls that do not require an armed police officer. They conduct welfare checks, help de-escalate crises, and connect people with shelter, treatment, transportation, and basic necessities. The department employed 40 responders as of August, the city stated on its website.
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