SEATTLE, WA — A 33-year-old woman was arrested Thursday night following a disturbing altercation at a gas station in West Seattle. The incident, which occurred on April 10 around 9:17 p.m. at a station on Delridge Way Southwest, involved the woman allegedly stealing hot coffee and assaulting a clerk.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found a 45-year-old employee covered in coffee, visibly shaken, with signs of pain, including redness on his face, neck, and chest.
According to the gas station worker, the woman had been inside the store for about 15 minutes, during which she filled two cups of hot coffee but only paid for one. After leaving the store with one cup, she was approached by the clerk outside and asked to pay for the second cup.
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Instead of complying, the woman responded aggressively, throwing the hot coffee at the employee. The beverage hit him in the face and upper body, causing significant discomfort. She then fled the scene, running across the street and into an apartment building.
While the woman later claimed the action was in self-defense, Seattle police swiftly located her and took her into custody. Her defense will likely be examined further during the legal proceedings.
She was booked into King County Jail under suspicion of robbery. Meanwhile, Seattle Fire Department medics assessed the clerk’s injuries at the scene, but he declined to be transported to the hospital for additional treatment.
The incident has raised concerns about workplace safety, as gas station employees often face unpredictable and sometimes dangerous situations. The outcome of this case may influence how such confrontations are handled in the future.
