Woman stabbed with stiletto heel of her shoe

Seattle police are seeking a man who stabbed a woman with the stiletto heel of her own shoe, causing an infection that required emergency surgery.

A 39-year-old Tukwila woman underwent emergency surgery on Saturday after contracting an "aggressive" bacterial infection, according to Seattle police. According to a police report, the woman was at a barbecue at a friend's house in the 7600 block of Rainier Avenue South in Seattle on June 29 when an acquaintance asked her to perform a sex act on him. When she refused, the man slapped her face, removed her boot and stabbed her in the left hand with the stiletto heel, police said.

The woman fled, police said.

Several days later the woman sought medical assistance from staff at Swedish Medical Center/Seattle after the wound became infected. Police said the woman was told by medical personnel that the aggressive bacterial infection would require immediate invasive surgery.

The woman's name was redacted from the police report and efforts to track her down were unsuccessful. Police said the woman described her assailant as a heavyset black man named Earl who possibly works at a business near Rainier Avenue South and South Henderson Street.

Seattle police said the investigation remains open.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com