Police in Seattle arrested at least 25 people last night as the rioters began throwing explosives at the police. Those who were arrested are facing charges of assaults on officers, obstruction, and failure to disperse. The Summer of Love declared by Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan was apparently short lived affair. Durkan was forced to change gears after several consecutive nights of violence in the area known as CHAZ and later changed to CHOP.
The feds sent in a tactical team to protect federal buildings and to aid the police. But, in this city arrests don’t mean much if the liberal DA drops the charges before they ever come up for trial. This has been a recurring theme in cities controlled by a Democratic mayor in states with a Democratic governor. The feds sent in a much smaller team into Seattle than they have in Portland.
Re: officer injuries — One officer hospitalized with leg injury caused by an explosive. Two other officers treated/returned to duty.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 26, 2020
A trail of #damage on 12th Ave— portables at youth detention facility torched/ glass windows of office broken; #Starbucks store obliterated along with apartment/office building next door; Canon restaurant/bar has several shattered windows. #seattle #seattleprotests #komonews pic.twitter.com/x1RMe81huC
— Suzanne Phan (@SuzannePhan) July 26, 2020
This seems to be the dance right now. Police push protesters way back on Pine, then retreat space back to the protesters. Objects thrown back and forth. #Q13FOX pic.twitter.com/ZQTCgNHkln
— Simone Del Rosario (@SimoneReports) July 26, 2020
Video of Starbucks that was destroyed on 12th Avenue in Seattle. I’ve been here many times and have friends who live near by. The nicest baristas. I’m glad it was closed. #q13fox #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/HG5Dy7xkk6
— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) July 26, 2020
KIRO 7 reports:
The Special Response Team is similar to tactical teams operating in Portland, where violence and protests have raged for nearly eight weeks in the Oregon city. Federal agents have been in Portland for most of July.
Agents for the Special Response Team operate under the umbrella of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Times reported. They are typically deployed for intense law enforcement operations.
Mike Solan, president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, told KIRO-TV that it was appropriate to seek help from the federal government.