As a motorcyclist rode through the streets of downtown early last Monday morning, a man ran into traffic with a hammer and began to assault the rider, a Seattle police report says. Police responded to assault at at 6:44 a.m. on September 7 near 5th Avenue and Pike Street.

Police interviewed the victim, who explained that he was traveling south on 5th Avenue when the assailant took the 18-to-20-inch tool, โ€œsimilar to a small sledge hammer,โ€ and knocked him off the bike. The assailant proceeded to hit the motorcyclist while he was on the ground, swinging the hammer at his feet and legs. The victim managed to get up and flee. Witnesses corroborated the victimโ€™s story and say the attack was “unprovoked,” the report says.

When officers checked the vicinity, they found a witness who told the officers that he observed the attack and followed the hammering man, who the witness then saw โ€œassault somebody else,โ€ the report says.

The report says nothing about injures, but did mention that the bike was “damaged on its right side ” from hitting the street. Seattle police searched the area on foot but could not find the suspect.

12 replies on “Hammering Man”

  1. Hey, I know how we could save a few bucks! Let’s let all the schizophrenics live on the street and let them remind themselves to take their meds. What could go wrong?

  2. Yep @3. I’m old enough to remember before the Reagan administration when such people were generally institutionalized. Conservatives have brought us such a great life.

  3. @1: I wholeheartedly agree! How dare people make noise downtown, near the condo you bought so you could be part of the big city! I mean sure, the city was noisy before you got here, and you didn’t bother to check the sound levels of your new home at various times throughout the day and night BEFORE buying, but that’s not YOUR fault! Now that you’re here, it’s time everyone to shush… or get hit with hammers.

  4. @7 I know you meant well, but Reagan couldn’t have released anyone if they were already deinstitutionalized during JFK’s term.

    My opinion is that Reagan took advantage of the patients’ rights movement by closing hospitals and proposing lower budgets for mental health, in both of his executive positions.

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