Police Department

SPD Major Crimes Detectives seeking public assistance in locating assault suspect

Officer Daniel Strassenberg Public Information Office

Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 1:13 p.m.

Detectives with the SPD Major Crimes Unit (MCU) are seeking assistance from community members in locating a suspect involved in a felony assault yesterday.

Just before 3pm on September 17th, SPD patrol officers were flagged down near the Browne Street viaduct.  Officers quickly located a male victim with significant injuries.  Witnesses would advise that a male suspect walked up, doused the victim with gasoline, and then set him on fire.  The suspect then left the area.  The victim sustained severe burns to a large part of his body.

The victim was transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment before being flown to Harborview.  The suspect is described as a male wearing baggy jeans, no shirt and was possibly carrying a tan backpack.  There is no public safety threat at this time as this does not appear to be a random attack as preliminary information suggests the involved parties knew each other.   

MCU Detectives are actively working the case but are asking anyone that might have information on this assault to please call Crime Check at 509 456-2233.

Reference 2025-20191685

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