SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department (SPD) said a group of around 150 people caused “massive amounts of property damage” on Capitol Hill Wednesday night. Police said the group broke windows, looted businesses, shot off fireworks and started fires.
According to police, the group gathered in Cal Anderson Park around 9 p.m. and started roaming the neighborhood.
Police said people in the group broke the windows of a business on the 1400 block of East Olive Way and started a fire inside. Seattle Fire was able to put the fire out.
The group broke windows of businesses as they walked to the 1500 block of 11th Avenue. The SPD said people from the group broke into Rove Vintage on that block, taking merchandise and then setting it on fire in the middle of the street.
Other stores that were struck included Whole Foods, Uncle Ike's on Capitol Hill and the Starbucks on Olive Way.
Police said people in the group used baseball bats and pipes to break the windows of a store at Broadway and Madison. People then started looting and setting off fireworks in the store.
Property at two banks was also damaged near Summit and Madison, police said. The group then returned to Cal Anderson Park and dispersed.
The SPD said no arrests were made, and no officers were injured.
Local resident Maryann Palmer said she was troubled by the destruction.
“I think it is very, very sad,” Palmer said. "I definitely do not feel safe, and I feel like we have violent people coming in and destroying my beautiful neighborhood."
Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Solan said the continuing demonstrations, including one at the West Precinct last Sunday, have the officers concerned.
"This weekend might be more of the same, so it is a very unfortunate predicament that we are in," Solan said.
Last Sunday, 12 officers were hurt during a day of violent clashes with protesters.
"If that continues I am not quite sure how much more we can take because we are not punching bags. We didn't sign up for this job to get hurt and maimed on a continued basis,” Solan said.