Residents told KOMO News that the two people living in the RV targeted by the bail agents are “known drug dealers” who often work out of Sandel Park.
People living in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood captured video Tuesday afternoon of what appeared to be a shootout between bail agents and people residents described as drug dealers.
The incident involved one of many recreational vehicles, or RVs, often found parked alongside Sandel Park. In the video, roughly six “bounty hunters” are seen wearing bulletproof vests and firing a 40 mm launcher into an RV after smashing some of the vehicle’s windows.
Residents believed they were hearing real gunshots and called 911. Seattle police responded and confirmed the bail agents were using a 40 mm launcher, a tactical single-shot launcher that does not use typical ammunition. Police also confirmed there was no evidence that a firearm was fired at the scene.
Residents told KOMO News that the two people living in the RV targeted by the bail agents are “known drug dealers” who often work out of Sandel Park. The two people can also be seen in residents’ videos attempting to drive away in the RV and flee.
The RV allegedly crashed in the street, and the two people ran through residents’ yards in an attempt to hide. Seattle police searched and impounded the RV Tuesday because it was “blocking the right-of-way,” officers said.
Allison Blevins, who lives near Sandel Park, said Tuesday’s frightening and bizarre altercation is only the latest incident after nearly a year of worsening public safety and drug use issues tied to RVs constantly parked near the public park.
“Almost all of them [the RVs], there seems to be drug activity,” Blevins said. “People coming and going, we see people in the fentanyl fold, we see drug paraphernalia all over the park.”
KOMO News first reported residents' concerns of open drug use and distribution involving the growing number of RVs in May. Blevins said shortly after the report, the City of Seattle's Unified Care Team completed a sweep, which cleared most of the RVs surrounding the park.
“That kind of reset things, and it was really lovely and nice for a little while,” Blevins continued, “but it’s just gradually gotten worse and worse again.”
The city’s Human Services Department outreach team visited Sandel Park 11 times between May 1 and Aug. 26 in an effort to connect individuals to available shelter and other services, a spokesperson said. The Unified Care Team also conducted 45 site cleanings and assessments during that time.
Still, Blevins said Tuesday’s dangerous altercation is the result of city leaders and Seattle police failing to properly step in. She and other residents are urging stronger enforcement of Seattle’s existing RV laws and an increased police presence in the Sandel Park area to crack down on illegal drug activity.
“Somebody threatening to shoot someone in your front lawn when there’s two little kids just behind the wall, that’s absolutely terrifying,” Blevins said, recalling Tuesday.
Seattle police told KOMO News the agency was not aware of the bail agents’ operation ahead of time but said the agents fully cooperated with police. Additionally, the agents provided Seattle police with evidence of other weapons crimes tied to one of the individuals apprehended from the RV.
