Seattle Police say a suspect has been arrested after police investigated a burglary and bias crime against the Africatown Center for Education and Innovation last week. Police are investigating a burglary and vandalism, which included racial slurs and hate graffiti, left inside the Africatown building located in Southeast Seattle.
According to police reports, officers responded to the Africatown Center at Martin Luther King Jr. Way South and South Alaska Street twice this past week. Officers took reports documenting the burglary and vandalism that had reportedly occurred. The center reported that equipment, including computers and electronics had been taken during the burglary.
The initial incident was on Sun., March 20, and involved a known East African male who volunteers at the center. The center personnel suspected this volunteer for the theft but couldn’t prove it. The suspect arrived there while the officers were on scene. Officers did not make an arrest due to lack of probable cause for burglary/theft and restitution agreement on the check.
Later in the week the center was burglarized again, but this time there was graffiti targeted at African Americans. The center personnel again suspected the same East African male who was not present. He was located about four hours later, and after being interviewed was arrested for burglary.
According to SPD, the is under arrest for burglary and is a suspect in the bias crime. This remains an active investigation.
