A late-night traffic stop in Tukwila went from dangerous to downright bizarre when a driver allegedly bit a police officer on the forearm during a struggle, according to local authorities.
Police say the man was arrested Wednesday night and booked on suspicion of driving under the influence and assaulting an officer, after an encounter that started with a vehicle speeding the wrong way. The officer who made the stop was treated for an injury to the forearm.
According to the Tukwila Police Department news site, Officer Desmul first spotted the vehicle heading northbound against traffic on Tukwila International Boulevard at a high rate of speed. Desmul later caught up with the car in the 9400 block of E Marginal Way S and initiated a traffic stop.
Police say the driver resisted attempts to detain him, and a physical struggle followed. In a post on the Tukwila Police Department Facebook page, the department said the suspect bit an officer’s forearm during that struggle, causing injury. The department said the man was booked into jail on suspicion of DUI and assault of an officer. The post did not identify the driver or release any additional medical details about the officer.
Charges and What They Mean
Under Washington law, an assault on a police officer who is performing official duties is typically treated as assault in the third degree, a class C felony under RCW 9A.36.031.
Driving under the influence is defined in RCW 46.61.502. It is generally charged as a gross misdemeanor, although it can be elevated to a felony in certain circumstances set out in state law.
Local Context
While biting incidents are hardly routine, Tukwila officers have faced similar confrontations before. Local reporting noted a June 2025 encounter in which a suspect allegedly tried to bite an officer during an arrest near Southcenter, a case reported by KIRO 7.
In the most recent case, police have not yet released the suspect’s name and say the incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department using the details listed on the city’s police page, according to the Tukwila Police Department.
