Cops try to arrest suspect in Battery St tunnel - he steals patrol car

SEATTLE -- About 12:15 p.m. Thursday, a man tried to steal a Seattle police patrol car and, no surprise, police quickly located the suspect and arrested him.

A 35-year-old man was taken into custody in Queen Anne after he reportedly assaulted several people on a Metro bus, attacked two police officers, stole a patrol car and led officers on a chase through the neighborhood, police said.

When police responded to a report shortly after noon that a man had attacked a number of people on a Metro bus near Aurora Avenue and Denny Way, the man fled on foot through the Battery Street tunnel.

Two officers found the man inside the tunnel and attempted to stop him, but the suspect attacked the officers and then jumped into a patrol car and fled.

Officers chased the suspect to West Olympic Place and 8th Avenue West, where he crashed the car after running over a retaining wall.

The man, who police said seemed to be intoxicated, was taken into custody.

Police have closed traffic on three streets around West Olympic Place and there may be traffic delays in the area for up to three hours.