UPDATE 5: Suspect arrested in Lincoln Park attack has been formally charged
Tue, 01/25/2011
Update 5
Duane E. Starkenburg, 46, was charged this afternoon with assaulting three women in West Seattle's Lincoln Park. Prosecutors charged Starkenburg with two counts of Indecent Liberties for allegedly attacking a woman in August and another in December. He is also charged with one count of Attempted Indecent Liberties for the January 25 assault on a woman jogger. The defendant was released from jail yesterday after posting bail totaling $175,000. Starkenburg is scheduled for arraignment on February 10 at 8:30 a.m. at the King County Courthouse, courtroom 1201.
Update 4
Duane Starkenburg, who was arrested for allegedly attempting to tackle a female jogger in Lincoln Park on Jan. 25, posted bail and was released on the evening of Jan. 27. According to an AP report, his bail totaled $175,000 - $150,00 from the King County Prosecutor's Office and $25,000 from Seattle Municipal Court.
Starkenburg, 46, has been charged in Tuesday's attack and is under investigation for Indecent Liberties in two additional incidents from August and December of 2010 (more information on those incidents will be posted shortly).
A King 5 TV crew caught up with Starkenburg after he posted bail on Jan. 27.
In that interview, Starkenburg said, "I do watch women run, they run around half-naked ..."
"I like to exercise. I go down to the park to exercise, I ran into a few people."
Starkenburg told King 5 he was aware of the December incident. He told reporters he had fallen down on some stairs in Lincoln Park and a woman tried to help him up. According to probable cause documents released by the Seattle Times, the victim in that incident told police the suspect (who she identified as Starkenburg)intentionally "buried his head into her 'buttocks.'"
Starkenburg told reporters he had no idea about the incident in August for which he is being investigated, and believes he was in Portland at the time.
As for Tuesday's attack, Starkenburg told reporters, "I didn't try to tackle that lady. If I wanted to tackle her I played football my whole life - I know how to tackle somebody."
Update 3
The bail hearing for Duane Starkenburg, suspected in three Lincoln Park attacks finished up on Thursday evening, Jan. 27.
From King County Prosecutors:
The suspect charged with assaulting a woman jogger on Tuesday in West Seattle's Lincoln Park appeared in court for a bail hearing this afternoon regarding two other attacks on women in Lincoln Park in December and August. The court set bail at $150,000. The deadline for filing charges is January 28. The 46-year-old Seattle man was booked on investigation of Indecent Liberties for the earlier attacks.
Update 2
From the King County Prosecutor's Office:
Bail hearing for suspect in Lincoln Park attacks--The suspect charged with assaulting a woman jogger on Tuesday in West Seattle's Lincoln Park is scheduled for a bail hearing this afternoon regarding two other attacks on women in Lincoln Park in December and August. He is booked on investigation of Indecent Liberties for the earlier attacks. The 46-year-old Seattle man is scheduled for a bail hearing today (Jan. 27) at 2:30 p.m. at the King County Jail, courtroom 1.
Update 1
Seattle Police Sexual Assault Unit detectives released a sketch of a man suspected of a Dec. 8 assault also in Lincoln Park. Detectives believe the suspect arrested yesterday, identified as 46-year-old Duane Starkenburg in a Seattle Times story, may be the same man responsible for the December attack and possibly others in Lincoln Park.
Anyone who may have been contacted by this suspect and did not report it to police is asked to call Seattle Police Sexual Assault Unit detectives at (206) 684-5575.
From the Seattle Police Department Blotter:
On January 25th at approximately 3:50 p.m. a 27-year-old female was jogging on the waterfront trail in Lincoln Park (8000 block of Fauntleroy Way SW) when an unknown male suspect ran up behind her and attempted to tackle her by throwing his arms around her legs. The victim was able to break free and get away. She was not injured in the assault.
The suspect fled eastbound through the park. Responding officers apprehended the suspect as he attempted to cross Fauntleroy Way SW.
The victim positively identified the 46-year-old male suspect, who was subsequently booked into the King County Jail for misdemeanor assault.
Sexual Assault Unit detectives are handling the follow up investigation.
It it unknown at this time if this suspect is responsible for any other attacks.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.