By Staff
Northwest Asian Weekly
Screenshot of surveillance video showing someone taking a bag with Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos campaign funds. (From Seattle Police YouTube channel)
Seattle police released surveillance video (youtube.com/watch?v=Uo0VIjqqLeY) on Oct. 28 of the double theft that occurred in the International District involving a woman’s purse and a satchel containing the campaign funds of Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos.
At around 9:45 p.m. on Oct. 26, a group of witnesses standing near 6th Avenue and South Weller Street heard a woman shouting that someone had stolen her purse. As the suspect rushed past them, campaign treasurer Alex Johnson set down his own bag and chased after him. The thief got away, and when Johnson returned to retrieve his own bag — which contained more than $3,000 in cash and checks for a state legislator’s reelection campaign — he discovered someone had stolen it right off the sidewalk.
Eddie Rye, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Former Rep. Lynn Kessler, and Deputy Seattle Mayor Hyeok Kim. (Photo by John Liu/NWAW)
Santos’ campaign manager, Derek Ishihara, sent out an alert the following day saying the contributions collected “fell into the wrong hands.” Ishihara urged donors to make stop payment on checks and monitor unauthorized credit card transactions.
The campaign fundraiser was well attended by supporters and a political who’s who including Seattle’s Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim and longtime House Speaker Frank Chopp.
At the fundraiser earlier that night, Rep. Santos, gave a short speech about how her heart is with the International District community, and reiterated the need for more public safety measures.
She announced a public safety meeting on Nov. 28 at the Nagomi Tea House, where Seattle police are expected to give an update on the Donnie Chin case.
Officers arrived at the scene of the Oct. 28 theft, but were unable to locate any suspects. However, the entire incident was captured on surveillance camera, and detectives are now trying to identify the purse snatcher, as well as the suspect who stole the helpful bystander’s bag.
If you recognize either suspect, or have any other information about this case, call SPD West Precinct detectives at (206) 684-5728, and reference incident number 2016-388272.
Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.