The owner of an auto shop near Seattle’s autonomous zone said his business was broken into and vandalized by at least one protester, but police never answered this many calls to 911.
Car Tender owner John McDermott told local media outlet KIRO 7 that a person broke into the shop, tried to start a fire, and stole money and car keys over the weekend. The zone, dubbed “CHAZ” or “CHOP,” was established last week following the death of George Floyd in May and declared itself free of police.
McDermott said that he and his son, Mason McDermott, tried calling 911 more than a dozen times, but no officers came to the area. The father and son got to the establishment just as the suspect had rubbed hand sanitizer over the store’s counter and lit it on fire. They were able to put the fire out quickly.
A huge mob just attacked “Small Tender” business demanding a release of man who went into the business and started a fire, the business is located inside the 6 blocks of #CHAZ a ‘no-cop zone’. Reporting on the ground in #Seattle pic.twitter.com/GeTRheQXFo
— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) June 15, 2020
“[They] broke into the building — set fire to the front counter,” John McDermott said.
“I chased him down, and as soon as I came face-to-face, he came at me, so I put him on the ground,” Mason McDermott said, adding that he held the suspect down as his father repeatedly called authorities.
“At some point, he tried to cut me with a box cutter,” and showed local journalists a rip on his jeans, he said.
The father claimed police at first hinted they would respond to the calls.
“I’m told 19 times,” he said of how many times he called. “They alluded they were sending someone … finally said they weren’t going to send somebody.”
“I don’t know what to expect next. If you can’t call the police department, you can’t call the fire department to respond, what do you have?” he continued. “Heartbroken. I mean, they are the cavalry.”
Other protesters rushed over when they saw the business owners had the suspect detained, prompting them to release the person.
“It was either that, or they were coming over, and it was going to turn into mayhem beyond mayhem,” John McDermott said.
Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best denied the allegations that her department refused to respond to the calls.
“Seattle is not under siege, and we are responding to every call and every area of the city,” Best said.
On June 12, however, Seattle police officers reportedly received an email saying they would not respond to calls within CHOP unless a “mass casualty event” occurs. The area encompasses the East Precinct, which was abandoned after protesters threatened to burn the precinct down. The demonstrators have also issued a list of demands.
“1. The Seattle Police Department and attached court system are beyond reform. We do not request reform, we demand abolition,” the first demand says.
“This is no simple request to end police brutality. We demand that the City Council and the Mayor, whoever that may be, implement these policy changes for the cultural and historic advancement of the City of Seattle, and to ease the struggles of its people,” a blog post by a user named “Free Capitol Hill” reads.
President Trump has demanded that officials take control of the situation, or he will step in.
“Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before,” Trump tweeted. “Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!”
