Seattle man sought, charged with assaulting police officer

A Seattle man being sought by police is facing numerous charges after he allegedly assaulted a police officer and attempted to disarm her following a pursuit Wednesday in North Seattle.

Steve Charles Hyatt, 33, was charged Friday with assault, attempting to disarm the officer, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and hit-and-run driving.

According to the charges, Seattle police Officer Liliya Nesteruk attempted to stop Hyatt in his SUV after he was seen contacting two prostitutes in the area of Aurora Avenue North.

Hyatt sped off through a residential area, ran a stop sign and hit a residence, narrowly missing a man who was covered in glass, charging papers say.

Hyatt ran from his SUV, but Nesteruk caught him and both went to their knees before he tried to grab her gun and struck her in the face, prosecutors say.

He broke free and Nesteruk caught him again. He tried to strike her a second time, charging papers say. Hyatt escaped again and ran away, the charging papers say. Nesteruk later identified him from a photograph.

Nesteruk, 24, suffered a bloody nose, swelling, abrasions and bruising to her hands, wrists and knees, and was treated at a hospital for her injuries, according to the charging papers.

Hyatt also faces Seattle Municipal Court charges of driving while under the influence and driving with a suspended license that allegedly occurred eight days before Wednesday's incident.

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