Police seek Datsun in connection with officer's slaying

Seattle police said Thursday they are searching for a white or light beige 1980 to 1983 Datsun 210 coupe in connection with Saturday night's fatal shooting of Officer Timothy Brenton.

Two auto-design experts have told Seattle police that the Datsun model most resembles an enhanced video image of a car captured on the dashboard camera of a patrol car shortly before the shooting in the Leschi neighborhood, according to a widely distributed law-enforcement bulletin.

Investigators don't know if the car on the video was involved in the shooting, but it is of similar description to the assailant's car and was in the area at the time of the attack, police said.

The car might have rear-window louvers and a defective right taillight, the police bulletin said.

Police also released a photograph of a Datsun similar to the car seen in the video image.

The police bulletin, issued Tuesday, says the information is being shared "for officer safety."

"There is no probable cause for arrest at this point," the bulletin says. "However officers must use extreme caution when approaching any vehicle of this description."

Police, concerned that the car would be hidden or destroyed, waited to publicly release the description of the Datsun until they had a chance to search for it on their own. Unable to find it, they decided to ask for the public's help.

The assailant's car originally was described as a light-colored two-door, possibly a Toyota.

The search for the Datsun is part of a massive investigation into the shooting of Brenton and his partner, Britt Sweeney, who suffered minor injuries.

During a media briefing Thursday afternoon, Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said police have worked up a profile of the shooter. He said the shooter likely has some weapons training and may have practiced just before the shootings.

The shooter may have recently suffered some sort of traumatic event in his life, such as being laid off or having lost a loved one. "He may have been outspoken about a deep grievance," Pugel said.

Threat to officers at arson site

Detectives also are looking for ties between the shooting and an arson nine days earlier in which four police vehicles were set afire at a city maintenance yard.

A note threatening the lives of police officers was left Oct. 22 at the maintenance yard, according to sources familiar with both cases.

The arson also involved the use of pipe bombs, in what was a far more sophisticated attack than disclosed previously, the sources said.

At a news briefing Wednesday, Assistant Chief Jim Pugel declined to discuss evidence in the shooting and unsolved arson.

Asked if a warning about the Oct. 22 bombings had been released to officers, he said, "We wouldn't hide anything in any way if we knew it was going to hurt law-enforcement officers."

Pugel said the department had no information on anything that directly threatened an officer.

One source described the note as containing a general threat against police officers.

Pugel said the two incidents were being investigated separately, but that detectives handling each case are sharing information on a daily basis.

A veteran Seattle police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Wednesday that officers are being told to make sure to carry rifles and shotguns on duty.

Fliers referring to police brutality also were found at the maintenance yard, according to previous news reports.

The arson occurred at 714 S. Charles St., only a few miles west of Saturday's shootings at 29th Avenue and East Yesler Way.

Three Seattle police cars and an RV used as a mobile precinct were torched in the maintenance yard, where police, fire and other city vehicles awaiting maintenance work are stored.

Widow visits shooting scene

Brenton, 39, a field training officer, and Sweeney, 33, a student officer, were sitting in their patrol car, parked southbound on 29th Avenue, when a car pulled next to them and someone inside fired a barrage of shots shortly after 10 p.m.

Sweeney, in the driver's seat, hunched over and avoided serious injury. Brenton, in the passenger seat, was killed instantly.

After the shooting, the car backed up, turned around and sped north on 29th Avenue, as Sweeney returned fire, police said.

Pugel said Sweeney is the department's "primary witness." He said she has asked to return to work soon, a request that will be granted. Sweeney has been hailed as a hero for her quick responses.

Brenton's family, including his wife, Lisa, visited the site of the shooting Wednesday. They were escorted by Assistant Chief Nick Metz.

Man ran when fires broke out

The department has been flooded by tips, including some from people saying the shootings and the Oct. 22 arson at the maintenance yard were related.

Both were "very well-planned and targeted attacks," police have said.

The arson took place about 5 a.m., some 12 hours before a rally in the Pioneer Square area to protest police brutality.

News reports at the time said fliers were left at the maintenance yard referring to the rally and citing the case of a King County sheriff's deputy accused of assaulting a teenage girl in a SeaTac holding cell Nov. 29, 2008. The deputy was fired Sept. 9 over the beating.

Police haven't confirmed the reports of the fliers.

Workers at the yard say they saw a suspicious-looking man walking through a parking lot shortly before the arson. As they tried to talk to him, flames began erupting from the police cars, and the man ran.

He was described as 6 feet tall with a slim build, and was wearing dark clothing and possibly carrying a backpack.

Seattle Times reporter Mike Carter contributed to this story, which also includes information from Times archives.

Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com.