Recently released bodycam footage shows an intense confrontation between Seattle police officers and a 22-year-old male suspect, who allegedly attempted to carjack multiple vehicles at knifepoint. The incident, which took place on August 13 in the East Queen Anne neighborhood, culminated in an unexpected and painful encounter with a swarm of wasps.
After responding to several 911 calls regarding the carjacking suspect, officers located him in a tunnel on Dexter Way North beneath Aurora Avenue North. However, upon being pursued by the officers, the suspect fled into a nearby wooded greenbelt area. It was during this chase that the officers and the suspect inadvertently disturbed the wasps, leading to a chaotic scene of stinging insects.
As the officers attempted to apprehend the suspect, they quickly found themselves surrounded by yellowjackets. In the bodycam footage, one officer can be heard exclaiming, “Yellowjackets everywhere, dude!” The ensuing commotion and chaos resulted in officers and the suspect being repeatedly stung by the angry swarm.
Eventually, the officers managed to pull the suspect out of the brush and return to street level, where an ambulance was waiting to transport them to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. One officer, who sustained a cut during the altercation, required medical attention, as did the suspect.
Following their medical treatment, the suspect was booked into a King County Jail for investigation of assault, property destruction, and attempted robbery. The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations that law enforcement officers face on a daily basis.
Overall, the newly released bodycam footage provides a harrowing account of an attempted carjacking that took an unexpected turn when both officers and the suspect were attacked by a swarm of aggressive wasps. The incident highlights the bravery and resilience of police officers, who despite being outnumbered by both an armed suspect and a group of angry insects, managed to maintain control and safely apprehend the suspect.