A 28-year-old woman spent Sunday night in the King County Jail after she kicked two Washington State Patrol troopers and spit on a Seattle police officer during a domestic violence investigation in Tukwila.
The incident began on December 22 around 5:45 p.m. when patrol officers responded to 10805 Pacific Highway South to meet with WSP troopers investigating a traffic crash that followed a domestic disturbance earlier in Seattle.
At the scene, police met with troopers who were speaking with the parties involved in both incidents.
Whilst investigating, the woman displayed aggressive behaviour towards the other man involved. WSP detained her in handcuffs to prevent her from assaulting him.
When troopers attempted to place the woman into the back of a police car, she began kicking and striking both of them.
When a Seattle police sergeant arrived on scene for administrative purposes, the suspect spat on the investigating officer.
Seattle police booked her into the King County Jail on three counts of assault.
Detectives in the Homicide and Assault Unit are assigned to this case.
The sequence of events, from domestic disturbance in Seattle to traffic crash in Tukwila to assault on multiple officers, demonstrates how domestic violence situations can escalate across jurisdictions and endanger everyone involved, including responding officers.
The traffic crash following a domestic disturbance suggests the crash may have occurred during or after a pursuit, or as parties fled from each other following the initial disturbance. The connection between the two events indicates they weren’t separate incidents but a continuing domestic situation.
The woman’s aggressive behaviour towards “the other man involved” whilst officers were present indicates she was willing to engage in violence despite law enforcement watching. This level of aggression in front of police suggests either impaired judgment from drugs or alcohol, or emotional distress so severe she couldn’t control her actions.
WSP handcuffing her to prevent assault shows troopers recognised the imminent threat she posed. Handcuffs are meant to restrain people for officer safety or to prevent harm to others, not as punishment. Using them preventatively demonstrates the seriousness of her behaviour.
The kicking and striking whilst being placed in the patrol car represents a common flashpoint in arrests. The confined space of a vehicle’s back seat, combined with the finality of being secured inside, often triggers violent resistance from people who’ve maintained some control up to that moment.
The Seattle police sergeant arriving “for administrative purposes” suggests coordination between agencies handling an incident that began in Seattle jurisdiction but occurred in Tukwila. Administrative coordination ensures proper documentation and jurisdictional clarity.
The woman spitting on the sergeant represents particularly dangerous assault in the COVID-19 era and beyond. Spitting can transmit diseases, and officers spat upon face uncertainty about exposure to bloodborne pathogens, hepatitis, tuberculosis, or other infections.
The three counts of assault, presumably one for each officer assaulted, will be prosecuted as felonies given that assaulting law enforcement officers carries enhanced penalties compared to assault on civilians.
The Homicide and Assault Unit being assigned suggests Seattle police view this as a serious assault case despite no homicide occurring. Major crimes units often handle significant assault cases involving officers or weapons.
The domestic disturbance origin of this incident reminds us that domestic violence calls represent some of the most dangerous situations officers face. Emotions run high, relationships are complex, and violence that began between partners can quickly redirect toward responding officers.
The woman’s behaviour towards the male involved suggests he may have been her domestic partner, though police haven’t confirmed the relationship. Domestic violence situations become more dangerous when victims and suspects are forced into proximity during investigations.
