Seattle Elementary School Principal Refused to Cooperate with Police After Suspect Terrorizes Students.

As KTTH Radio host Jason Rantz reported, an either high or mentally ill man jumped the fence at the Sand Point Elementary School “wielding a tennis racket.”

Then he allegedly entered a classroom, harassed students and staff, rifled “through [student] backpacks…,” stole one backpack and assaulted two students. No injuries were reported.

Police said Principal Richard Baileykaze “would not cooperate with police, effectively preventing an arrest.”

In his report, the officer wrote, initially, “I was only advised that the suspect jumped the fence.”

The principal “and… two teachers would not speak to me,” the officer wrote.

Since school staff hadn’t reported any crime, the officer attempted to do a “welfare check.” The suspect refused assistance.

The principal didn’t report any alleged crimes: at least assault, trespass, theft, and possible robbery. So, the officer let him leave.

Only then, did the principal report the suspect had allegedly committed crimes. The officer informed the dispatcher “of the principal’s uncooperative behavior… which destroyed probable cause” to arrest him.

Then, the suspect reportedly attempted to carjack a DHL delivery driver, took his cell phone, and struck him with a binder, splitting his lip.

After fleeing, police located the suspect on a bus. He allegedly fought with officers, during which an officer “fractured her arm or wrist….”

Except for Principal Baileykaze’ s non-cooperation, Rantz noted, the alleged carjacking and victims’ (driver and cop) injuries wouldn’t have occurred.

Rantz wrote how “deeply troubling it is to see a principal not cooperate with police when his students and school have been victimized.”

Officers told Rantz, “it is common for Seattle Public School staff to stonewall officers…,” even after they called 911. He’s not sure if the lack of cooperation reflects an SPS policy or is “due to anti-police sentiment by SPS staff.”

Police identified the suspect, Liban Harasam, 20, as a “high utilizer” (repeat offender), whose prosecution the new Republican “Seattle City Attorney will now prioritize….”

KOMO News 4 reported, the city attorney’s office requested a bail of $25,000, but a judge reduced it to $10,000.

In light of the recent Uvalde school attack, this anti-cop principal has obviously learned nothing and continues to put his students at unnecessary risk.

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Steve Pomper

Steve Pomper is an author, freelance writer, and retired Seattle police officer. During his career, he served as a field training officer, on the Community Police Team, and as a mountain bike patrol coordinator. He’s written five books, including The Obama Gang and De-Policing America, and he is a contributor to the National Police Association and a freelance writer for The Tatum Report.

Originally from New England, he’s a Boston sports fan. He now lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Jody, a retired firefighter. He enjoys spending time with his adult kids and three grandchildren.