Seattle man with ‘extensive history of sexual violence’ accused of brutally attacking stranger

SEATTLE — A 27-year-old Seattle man was charged in King County Superior Court on Thursday with attempted indecent liberties, first-degree robbery and second-degree assault after prosecutors said he attacked a woman in West Seattle.

Officials said the incident happened around 11:30 p.m. on April 16 near the West Seattle Bee Garden.

In charging documents, prosecutors said a woman was parking her car when she noticed a man, later identified as Abdikadir Adan Khalif, loitering nearby.

When the woman put her car in park, prosecutors said Khalif opened the driver’s door, pushed her into the passenger seat and began trying to take off her pants.

>> Related: Violent repeat offenders push mom to speak out about son’s killing

Prosecutors said the woman was able to hit her car horn while Khalif was hitting her face and had his arm over her neck – making it difficult for her to breathe.

Khalif then told the woman he would kill her if she didn’t stop struggling, prosecutors said.

According to charging documents, Khalif kept trying to pry the woman’s hands from her body but the woman continued to scream whenever she could.

Prosecutors said Khalif eventually ripped her purse from her body and left the car.

>> Related: ‘Prolific offenders’ in Seattle result of case delays, lack of oversight, report says

A witness in the area heard the woman’s screams and the car horn and saw Khalif run away from the car, police said. The witness was able to give a description of Khalif to police.

Responding officers said they then saw Khalif in the area matching the description given by the witness.

However, when police said they ordered Khalif to stop, he ran and they were unable to find him.

Prosecutors said police later determined that Khalif used the woman’s stolen credit card at a nearby 7-Eleven not long after the attack (See surveillance photo above).

Police said the surveillance from inside the 7-Eleven showed Khalif wearing the same clothes the witness reported seeing during the attack.

>> Related: WA lawmakers working on major reforms to criminal justice system

Police sent out the photos to other law enforcement agencies, who were able to identify the man as Khalif based on his criminal history.

On April 27, police said they saw Khalif walking near High Point Commons Park and were able to arrest him after a short pursuit.

Khalif was later booked into the King County Jail, where he remains in lieu of $350,000 bail. His arraignment, where he will enter a plea, is expected later this year.

Prosecutors noted Khalif’s “extensive history of violence” in their request for bail.

Prosecutors also noted that Khalif was on escape status from the Department of Corrections at the time of his arrest.

© 2020 Cox Media Group