Kirkland police seek public’s help to identify assault suspect

The Kirkland Police Department is seeking the public's help to find a man in connection with an assault that took place at 1:20 a.m. on Sept. 19 near the intersection of Lake Street and Kirkland Avenue in downtown Kirkland.

The Kirkland Police Department is seeking the public’s help to find a man in connection with an assault that took place at 1:20 a.m. on Sept. 19 near the intersection of Lake Street and Kirkland Avenue in downtown Kirkland.

A male victim had been at a downtown Kirkland bar that evening and left with a group of three people he had just met. The man suffered severe head and facial injuries due to the assault and has no recollection of these three individuals.

The unidentified suspect can be seen on video knocking the victim to the ground with a hard punch to the face, then continuing to punch the victim while he is on the ground. The altercation appeared to start as a playful exchange between the victim and the suspect, but quickly turned to a violent attack.

The suspect was later seen by witnesses getting into a taxi and leaving the area with an unknown female. He is described as a white male with darker skin tone in his late 30’s to early 40’s, about 5-feet-10, 190-210 pounds, muscular build, with brown eyes and short black hair. He appears to have a mustache and goatee and was wearing a short sleeve blue t-shirt, black sweatpants, tennis shoes and a baseball cap on backwards. The suspect appears to have a “band” tattoo around his right bicep.

“The Kirkland Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect, or the two witnesses he was with that night,” said Kirkland Police Lt. Rob Saloum. “If anyone can ID this subject or has any information regarding this incident please call.”

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and charges in the case. Call the hot line anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS if you can identify the suspect (s).