SEATTLE — Police say a man caused nearly a quarter of a million dollars in damage after breaking into Chihuly Garden and Glass and attacking security guards late Monday night.

Officers with the Seattle Police Department (SPD) responded to Seattle Center around 11 p.m. after receiving reports of a man smashing glass and attempting to stab security staff.

According to investigators, security guards encountered the suspect while patrolling the museum. Police say the man had already broken glass displays and began throwing shards at one guard while attempting to stab him multiple times. The guard was able to escape without injury and waited for officers to arrive.

“[The suspect] had broken the glass, he actively threw glass at the security guard and was actively trying to stab that security guard multiple times with the piece of glass,” SPD Det. Brian Pritchard said. “Security was able to break away, leave the area for his safety.”

Video from the scene shows officers rushing toward the museum as the situation unfolded.

Shards of glass were scattered throughout the property, and the damage is estimated at nearly $250,000.

“It’s ridiculous. I don’t know why people can’t just let nice things stand,” said Bonnie O’Brien, who was visiting from Arizona. “It’s art for everyone to enjoy—it doesn’t hurt anybody.”

Despite the destruction, museum officials said crews were able to clean up the damage quickly, and the museum reopened as scheduled the following day. Visitors reported they did not notice any closed-off areas or visible signs of the incident.

“Really sad, disappointed that somebody would damage some of that artwork,” said Brian Dugan, visiting from Oklahoma.

Police arrested the 40-year-old suspect, identified as Alexander Taylor Weis, at the scene. Authorities say he later refused to appear in court, but a judge found probable cause to hold him in custody on charges including burglary, assault, and a dozen counts of malicious mischief.

According to the initial arrest report, the suspect damaged 12 items valued at approximately $20,000 each.

“There’s really no words,” said Gary Rockafield, another visitor. “The time and effort it takes to make these things and put them on display just to have someone come in and do that.”

Museum officials say the damaged artwork has been removed and is expected to be replaced in the coming weeks.

Investigators have not yet said how the suspect was able to enter the museum. Museum officials also declined to comment on whether any security changes will be made following the incident.

SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is pushing to open hundreds of new shelter beds by June in an effort to move more people experiencing homelessness indoors before the FIFA World Cup comes to the city.

Seattle’s budget office estimates each shelter unit costs about $28,000, according to a city report. Wilson is asking the City Council, donors and philanthropic groups to help fund the first phase of her homelessness plan, which aims to create 500 new shelter spaces ahead of the international event.

“Our task now is to set up as much shelter as quickly as possible,” Senior Policy Adviser John Grant said during a City Council committee meeting Monday.

The proposal has support from some people who pass by a growing encampment near Seattle Center.

“I think that’s great. I think everyone needs a place to sleep,” said Michael Vincent of Seattle.

“Preferably tiny homes because they tend to be more cost-friendly,” added Thomas Andrikus, also of Seattle.

During a presentation to the council, the budget office said the city has identified $17.5 million that could support shelter expansion. The plan would require council approval to use $3.3 million in federal community development block grants and another $1.5 million from the Downtown Health and Human Services Fund.

Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck said she supports the effort and praised the urgency behind the plan, which includes vetting and selecting potential shelter sites through April.

“We have been in a state of emergency for 10 years now,” Rinck said. “I want to commend you all for moving with urgency on this and giving it the attention it truly needs so we can get our neighbors inside.”

Public Safety Committee Chair Robert Kettle said he also supports expanding options such as safe parking lots for recreational vehicles, similar to the former Interbay site. He said such spaces can help connect people to services while reducing the number of RVs parked in neighborhoods.

“If you have five RVs, at some point you’re going to have one that’s dealing drugs, then a stolen goods market,” Kettle said. “When Salmon Bay Village opened, the number of RVs on Nickerson really dropped.”

Kettle added that communities surrounding potential shelter sites should be included in planning discussions. City officials said they agree.

“The Human Services Department will be bringing together shelter providers to discuss best practices, not only for operating these shelters but also for addressing public safety concerns,” Grant said.

Sharon Lee, executive director of the Low Income Housing Institute, said community outreach has already played a role in opening new tiny home villages, including True Hope Village in Seattle’s Central District.

“Usually neighbors are very curious about who the target population will be,” Lee said. “People want to know that if there’s a village in their neighborhood, priority will go to people already living outside nearby.”

It is unclear when the City Council will next consider the legislation needed to move the shelter expansion forward.

SEATTLE — A temporary construction pause during the 2026 World Cup will be implemented by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT).

SDOT said the hiatus will run from June 8 at midnight until July 7 at midnight and will apply to “most work” on streets, sidewalks, and alleys.

“By reducing construction activity, we aim to keep traffic flowing and ensure our streets, sidewalks, and public spaces remain open and accessible while Seattle hosts the world,” SDOT said in a release. “Public space managed by the Seattle Public Library and Seattle Parks and Recreation is not included in the construction pause.”

SDOT said with hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting Seattle for the soccer matches, the pause will help reduce road congestion, clear sidewalks and streets for pedestrians and bicyclists, and allow neighborhoods to “look their best for the festivities.”

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The planned pause will conclude a week earlier than initially scheduled to help projects stay on schedule.

WSDOT separately announced in November a pause for the “Revive I-5” project that has shut down part of the Ship Canal Bridge on the major artery through Seattle.

RELATED | Long road ahead: 2 of 4 lanes of NB I-5 over Ship Canal Bridge now closed for most of year

All lanes of I-5 will be reopened from June 8 to July 10, before construction continues through the remainder of 2026.