Seattle has seen its fair share of crime incidents related to marketplace meetups, but a recent armed carjacking incident puts a new spotlight on such transactions' security risks. Last Thursday afternoon, Seattle Police Department officers arrested a 22-year-old man for a brazen act of theft and intimidation. The arrest came after a Facebook Marketplace car sale turned violent, with the seller's vehicle stolen at gunpoint.
According to a report by SPD Blotter, the incident occurred in the 1100 Block North 83rd Street, where officers located the shaken victims. Selling their vehicle on Facebook Marketplace, they met the buyers, who had suspiciously returned to re-purchase the already sold car. What seemed like a straightforward transaction quickly devolved, as their meeting ended with the vehicle being stolen at gunpoint.
A swift response by the Seattle Police led to the recovery of the stolen car. A SWAT officer, scouring the area, chanced upon the stolen car on Aurora Avenue North near Greenlake. Supported by the SWAT and patrol officers, a high-risk vehicle stop was executed — the sole occupant, who happened to be the primary suspect, was arrested on the spot. Inside the vehicle, a semi-automatic pistol was later recovered, thus serving as evidence in what is to unfold as a legal confrontation.
The suspect, whose identity has not been made public, is currently held at King County Jail, facing charges of Robbery 1st Degree. While this man awaits the consequences of his alleged actions, two others implicated in the crime evade the grasp of the law, as they're yet to be located. Seattle Police Robbery Unit detectives continue to work, eager to close the case with all suspects in custody.
