Seattle police apprehended a 39-year-old man for possession of illegal knives in the Chinatown-International District, a violation of his Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA) order. The incident occurred on January 11 around 8:00 a.m. near 12th Avenue and South Jackson Street, where patrol officers noticed a knife sheath peeking from the man’s waistband, as reported by the Seattle Police Department. Upon inquiry, the individual admittedly was carrying his hunting knife. Further interaction led to the discovery of two fixed-blade knives concealed on his person.
The man, with a past conviction for manufacturing/dealing narcotics and riot with a deadly weapon, was not permitted in the International District's SODA Zone. He was detained for "willfully violating" the drug order, as per the SPD. In a situation with the potential for escalated danger, police secured the armed suspect without incident and confiscated the knives. The suspect faced booking into King County Jail on charges that include Unlawful Use of Weapons and Violation of a Court Order, as outlined in the police documentation.
During the booking process, officers referred the case to the City Attorney’s Office with a recommendation for criminal charges. The implications of this arrest underscore continuing efforts to enforce drug-free zones and weapon laws within the city. The recovered knives were logged as evidence.
