Officers discovered the man lying on the sidewalk in the 6000 block of Airport Way South at approximately 8:17 p.m. on September 19, 2026. He was unable to speak or care for himself, and responders initially placed him on the front push bar of a patrol car without handcuffs while they called for medical assistance.
According to Drew Anderson of the King County Independent Force Investigation Team, the man later dropped to the ground, rolled into the roadway, and was then handcuffed before emergency medical technicians arrived. He lost consciousness while responders waited for aid, and was pronounced dead when EMTs began resuscitation efforts.
Radio host Gee Scott, co‑host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, discussed the incident on air, emphasizing the need for nuance rather than outrage. Scott noted that no crime had been reported and expressed uncertainty about why the man was handcuffed, citing his own past experience of being handcuffed during a traffic stop in Chicago as a “gray‑area” moment for officers.
Scott also called for the release of body‑camera footage and a thorough review of police tactics, noting that Washington state conducts independent investigations of police‑involved deaths in a manner “like virtually no other state.” He said the tragedy is likely to affect the officers involved, regardless of the eventual findings.
The King County Independent Force Investigation Team will continue its inquiry, and officials have not ruled out any cause for the death. Authorities have asked the public to await the investigation’s results before drawing conclusions.