Early morning vice raid on Capitol Hill

The Seattle Police Department's vice unit raided a Capitol Hill establishment early today, arresting more than a dozen people while executing a search warrant as part of what they say is an ongoing investigation.

A commanding officer on the scene declined to comment on the raid.

At 12:37 a.m., several police cars, including a SWAT vehicle, blocked a section of 11th Avenue just south of East Pike Street. Police entered a unit in a building on the southwest corner that also houses the Wildrose Bar and The Hot House, a spa. An officer announced over a loudspeaker that police were there to serve a search warrant.

"It was loud, it was scary. I knew it was serious when I saw the armored car," said a 50-year-old Capitol Hill resident, who like others gathered on the corner behind yellow police tape, declined to give his name. Another man was overheard saying those arrested "were just playing poker."

"I know this is no whore spot and I know it's no crack spot. This is a bit much," he told a reporter as he surveyed the scene. "People are going to jail — good people with good jobs."

Within minutes of the officers' arrival, two men were arrested, including one who had been drinking with friends inside the Wildrose but came outside to see what was going on. Officers ran after him as he walked west on Pike Street and he was taken into custody peacefully.

Over the next hour, two women and 13 men were seen being escorted from the unit, which is below street level, and led away in zip-tie handcuffs. It appeared that most of the people arrested were loaded onto a bus that was serving as a temporary holding cell.

As of 2 a.m., it was unknown what crimes police were investigating or the reasons for the arrests.

Sara Jean Green: 206-515-5654 or sgreen@seattletimes.com