Seattle Fire employee arrested for sending threatening emails to Kshama Sawant from city email address
SEATTLE, WA - Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant speaks at a rally held outside the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. (Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)
SEATTLE - A Seattle Fire employee has been arrested on cyberstalking, identity theft and computer trespass charges for reportedly sending threatening, disturbing emails to Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant from a city email address.
The Seattle Police Department announced the arrest in a press release.
In a letter sent to city officials in January, Sawant said the emails began in December 2020 with a message telling her to leave town.
From there, the messages became more sinister, Sawant says, with the "most ominous" message sent Jan. 18.
Seattle Police said investigators believe a 42-year-old man who works for Seattle Fire sent the messages. Police initially investigated one Seattle Fire employee, which led them to a second employee.
The first employee was eliminated as a suspect, but officers arrested the second employee last week.
Q13 News is not naming the suspect until he is formally charged with a crime.
The suspect has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the "upcoming legal process and internal investigation," Seattle Fire said in a statement.
Kshama Sawant has the power to help crime victims
Each week on The Divide, Brandi Kruse offers a commentary that looks for common ground on issues that divide us. This week: Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant has the power to help crime victims.