Shoreline man critically injured after foiling car theft

Autumn Ridge Apartments. Photo courtesy Washington Properties.

The SAN received a tip from a reader that on Friday around 3:30 am, a male in his 50's was brutally assaulted outside the Autumn Ridge Apartments. King County Sheriff Major Crimes investigated and Shoreline Fire transported the man to Harborview.

Shoreline Fire confirmed that they had responded to a 911 call at that time and location. The Autumn Ridge Apartments are just east of Aurora, south of the shopping center where Safeway is located.  It is a large complex on eight acres in a secluded location.

Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff's Office provided this report:

A 55 year-old Shoreline man was critically injured while trying to foil the theft of his car. He is currently in Harborview Medical Center and has not regained consciousness since the incident late last week.

The incident occurred on Friday morning (December 17th), about 3:00 AM. A resident of an apartment complex in the 15100 Stone Lane North called 9-1-1 after hearing someone yelling in the parking lot. She looked outside and saw a man stumble and fall, then try to crawl off on all-fours.

Shoreline Police arrived and found the man, naked except for a slipper. He was bleeding from several injuries and could not tell officers what had happened.

However, police found a 1995 Jeep Cherokee nearby which was registered to the victim. The door lock was punched and there was ignition damage.

Detectives speculate the victim interrupted an attempt to steal his car and was assaulted by the suspect(s) or possibly run over by the getaway car. Because of his injuries, investigators have not been able to interview the man.

If anyone has can provide suspect (or any other information) regarding this case, they are asked to call the King County Sheriff's Office at (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 9-1-1.