911 Firefighter threat arrest and arson swarm on 23rd Ave, street party takeover fills E Pike, QFC booze hold-up

Seattle Police arrested a man for threatening a firefighter with concrete during a flurry of arson fires on 23rd Ave early Saturday morning. The suspect, taken into custody after police responded to a “help the firefighter” emergency call, is not believed to be linked to an ongoing investigation into a series of arson incidents in South Seattle. Firefighters were initially called to respond to rubbish fires starting around 7 AM, prompting police to offer a $10,000 reward for information about the arsonist. Concurrently, a large street takeover on E Pike brought together a crowd of 300-800 people, leading to reports of fights and armed robberies, although police did not intervene due to insufficient resources. In a separate incident, four suspects were apprehended after allegedly pulling a gun during a shoplifting attempt at a QFC.

Despite their arrest, the firearm was not recovered, despite a police K9 search of the area. The situation continues to raise concerns about public safety in Seattle, particularly regarding the recent spate of violent incidents. Authorities emphasize the need for community vigilance and cooperation in addressing these issues.