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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

With Friends Like These…

News   August 25, 2010 at 10:31 am Jonah Spangenthal-Lee

A South Seattle man told police he was beaten and nearly stabbed by a group of friends near Rainier Beach High School last week, according to a police report.

Shortly before 11:30pm on August 20th, police received a call about an assault at Seward Park Ave S and South Henderson St.

At the scene, officers found a male victim, who was bleeding from his left arm and had bruises on his face, and told officers he’d been jumped by three men.

“He told me that one of these suspects…threw a rock at his head while another, suspect…tried to stab him with a knife,” Officer Tom Umporowicz Jr. wrote in his report. “The victim stated that he was tricked into going to Seward Park Ave…by his friend, who wanted to meet him there.”

The man told officer Umporowicz that he “had an altercation” with two of the suspects earlier in the week, and that “they were waiting to retaliate against him.”

The man told police the suspects live near the scene of the assault.

Police took the victim home, but it doesn’t appear they made any arrests.




  • Mark B

    One block from Rainier and Henderson.

  • Caesar

    Betrayal! After the victim talked to the police the assailants will be eager to retaliate even further. What a bunch of losers. This kind of violent reprisal demonstrates the assailants’ inability to resolve conflict in a constructive way.

  • Jules

    more than one block from Rainier and Henderson. It’s more like 4 blocks.

  • Mark B

    If you turn off of Rainier heading east it is the next street, the high school is not 4 blocks long.

  • Jules

    There’s the Rite Aid and Saars, which is one long block. Then there’s the block between 52nd Ave and 53rd Ave and the block between 53rd and Seward Park Ave South. So, about 3 blocks. One block is seriously pushing it. Either way, I live by there, and I’m really excited that it’s not 1 block between that corner and Seward Park, because that would mean I’m one block closer to that action.

  • Mark B

    I’m calling it a half block, J/K
    Sorry to hear you live right there, I work right up the street, watch the cops fly down that way 4-5 times a day.

  • Jules

    Lets just call it 1 3/4 and split the difference! I’m sorry I live close to there, too. What a mess. This could be a really great area and it is nice when you aren’t dodging bullets. I see cops in this area ALL the time. I can’t remember a time I’ve driven more than 3 blocks and not seen one.