Casey moved to Seattle 5 years in the past to assist take care of his mom. After being brutally attacked in downtown Seattle by a homeless man, Casey is the one who now must be cared for.
The 32-year-old hopped off the bus one Thursday morning on Third Avenue in downtown Seattle, having simply spent two days together with his mom in West Seattle. He walked into the close by 7-Eleven to get money out of the ATM and when he left, he discovered himself being pummeled from behind by a stranger. On account of the assault, he stated his head was reduce open, and his femoral neck bone was damaged.
“He held me with my backpack and simply stored punching me, and sort of holding me that method, and swinging me round and hitting me, and hitting me. There was a lot blood coming down my face I couldn’t see. And he throws me to the bottom after which stomps on my left leg,” Casey solely advised the Jason Rantz Present on KTTH.
Casey stated the assault was random and the suspect didn’t attempt to steal something from him, together with the money he picked up from the ATM.
“Once I was on the bottom, he kicked me within the head twice,” Casey later defined.
Seattle police arrived inside a couple of minutes of the assault, however the suspect had already left. Casey stated the person was homeless, mumbling one thing he couldn’t perceive, and showing excessive or drunk whereas holding a can of what he thought was beer. Police say the suspect was caught on surveillance video, however was not apprehended, in accordance with an incident report.
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‘He’s taken… my sense of safety’
The assault occurred in October final yr, however Casey is coming ahead now as a result of he spent the final a number of months recuperating. He stated he had a plate and two screws put into his leg, and he’s nonetheless struggling to stroll. He’s additionally consumed by nightmares about what occurred and stated he’s affected by post-traumatic stress dysfunction.
“I haven’t been capable of stroll. It’s price me, you realize, not having the ability to handle my mother, having my associate handle the whole lot for me, mainly. It’s price loads. It’s not similar to he took my mobility for me. He’s taken different issues like my sense of safety in a method and feeling snug going round locations now. I undoubtedly don’t need to ever go close to Third Avenue,” he stated.
Casey stated he emailed the Seattle metropolis council and mayor’s workplace about what occurred, however solely heard again from councilmember Lisa Herbold, who supplied a sufferer’s advocacy useful resource.
A warning about Seattle
Now, Casey needs folks to know how a lot Seattle is altering, the place “it’s an allowed factor” to brazenly smoke fentanyl or camp out the place you need. And it’s making a harmful surroundings for us to dwell in.
“I feel probably the medication. I feel it might be the mass quantity of medication which can be going across the streets, and the homelessness. I feel that perhaps there must be extra providers. I don’t need to sound like we needs to be giving folks free housing,” Casey defined. “For those who’re on the streets, you’re there as a result of I feel you need to be. I do know there are conditions like psychological well being and issues. I’ve struggled myself. I’ve high-functioning autism. However there comes a degree the place you determine, ‘I’m going to do that, I’m going to remain out right here.’ And fairly than search assist as a result of there’s a lot hope out right here. I’ve recognized so many individuals which have gotten assist, who’ve gotten in packages.”
The town’s laissez-faire strategy to homelessness has taken its toll, with encampments taking on neighborhoods, bringing with it crime, drug use, and rubbish. Whereas underneath Mayor Bruce Harrell, there have been some sweeps, notably downtown, the homeless know they’ll simply transfer to a different block, park, or alleyway with none penalties. And with a council that has solely two members — Sara Nelson and Alex Pedersen — pushing for extra pressing motion, the disaster is unlikely to get higher anytime quickly.
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