SEATTLE – The Seattle Police Department has launched an urgent investigation following a harrowing home invasion and sexual assault in the city’s Maple Leaf neighborhood last weekend. Detectives are now calling on the public to help identify the suspect, who remains at large.
Officers were dispatched to a private residence in the Maple Leaf area at approximately 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, following reports of a burglary. Upon arrival, initial findings indicated that the incident had escalated into a grave criminal act. Investigators determined that after breaking into the home, the perpetrator sexually assaulted a child residing at the property.
Patrol officers conducted an immediate and extensive search of the surrounding neighborhood in the hours following the assault, but they were unable to locate the suspect. Given the gravity of the crime, the investigation has been escalated and transferred to the Seattle Police Department’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse (SACA) Unit. Federal authorities, including the FBI, are also assisting in the ongoing investigation to track down the individual responsible.
Police have released a physical description of the suspect to aid in his identification. He is described as a white male, estimated to be between 20 and 50 years old. He is approximately 200 pounds and has a round face with noticeable chin stubble. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark-colored trousers. His hair is described as short, thinning, and brown.
The nature of the crime has sent shockwaves through the local community, prompting a heightened police presence in the North Seattle area as officials work to secure evidence and review surveillance footage. Investigators are currently canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and any doorbell camera footage that may have captured the suspect entering or fleeing the area during the early morning hours on Sunday.
“We are treating this with the absolute highest level of urgency,” an SPD spokesperson stated during an initial briefing on the case.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have information regarding the suspect’s identity or whereabouts to come forward immediately. Because of the nature of the investigation, police are advising residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity in the neighborhood without delay.
The Seattle Police Department has established a dedicated tip line for this case and is requesting that anyone with relevant information contact (206) 233-5000. For those who witness a crime in progress or believe they have spotted the individual described, police advise calling 911 immediately rather than attempting to approach the suspect.
The investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as they become available.
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