A man wrapped in duct tape and wearing a device strapped to his arm threatened to blow up a bomb across the street from the King County Courthouse Friday morning, police said. After a standoff with police, he surrendered and was taken into custody.
The device taped to the man's arm was not a bomb, although it was fashioned to look like a pipe bomb, Seattle police said Friday afternoon.
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Police said it began shortly after 8 a.m. when the man in his 40s walked into a downtown Seattle shelter and said he was a vampire and wanted to eat people for breakfast. The staff ushered him outside and called police. At that point, the suspect said he was a space cowboy and showed them what appeared to be a pipe bomb taped to his wrist.
Witnesses said the man had wrapped his body in black duct tape and was pacing in circles, making threats. He was wearing a black helmet.
Video from Chopper 7 showed the man lying on a sidewalk. He then got up and appeared to take off some clothing. The video showed him appearing to taunt police, who were behind an armored vehicle.
At 9:18 a.m., the video showed police, with weapons drawn, taking the man into custody as he complied with orders to surrender. Police took him to jail for investigation of making a bomb threat.
People who know the man said he is homeless and shows signs of mental illness.
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"I don't think it's a bomb. But, you know, when he walks around with mink coats and dresses, he (doesn't) get on the news for that. So now you got a rusty piece of pipe, now he's on the news," said James Nash.
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Mike Johnson with the Union Gospel mission said before the incident occurred, the man walked in, told Johnson he was a vampire and wanted access to the dayroom so he could get his food.
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"I was enjoying a leisurely morning," the student said. "Then something more interesting happened."
Authorities have not released any more information about the man
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