Employee stabbed at downtown clinic

A 47-year-old employee of Public Health — Seattle & King County was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries Monday after she was stabbed in the agency's downtown clinic, police said.

Police found the victim inside the public-health building at 2124 Fourth Ave. with stab wounds on her head and upper body when they responded to a call about 8:12 a.m., said Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb. A few minutes later police arrested a 44-year-old woman several blocks away.

The suspect was pointed out to police by a witness who had followed her at a distance, Whitcomb said.

Police used a Tazer on the woman before arresting her. They also recovered a knife, but Whitcomb couldn't say whether the woman had been holding the weapon.

"This person was a very dangerous individual," said Whitcomb, who described the crime as a "vicious stabbing."

The wounded employee was taken to Harborview Medical Center. Her condition was not available.

Police had no word as to why the stabbing occurred or whether words were exchanged before the attack. The identities of both women were being withheld Monday.

Public-health spokesman Matias Valenzuela wouldn't confirm any details about the crime but said crisis counselors had been brought in to talk to traumatized employees.

"We are, of course, very concerned for this particular employee and the rest of our employees," Valenzuela said.

Services on the building's first floor, including maternity support and dental and pharmacy services, were closed for the day as police investigated the crime scene.

The upper three floors of the building remained open, Valenzuela said.

Joe Mullin: 206-464-2761 or jmullin@seattletimes.com