A man suffering crisis was taken into custody after a scare at the Denny Blaine Park nude beach Tuesday.
According to East Precinct radio updates, police were called to the Lake Washington Blvd park just after 1 PM Tuesday to a report of a man standing in the water who had made statements about a possible explosive device at the beach.
Arriving officers scoured the area as they prepared to contact the suspect described by a 911 caller as wearing a jacket and leopard-print clothing. The caller told police they were unable to retrieve their clothes which were near where the suspect was standing.
The police search including trash cans, the park stairs, and a chemical toilet yielded no suspicious device.
With the immediate area cleared, officers approached the suspect and quickly took him into custody for harassment. Police requested an ambulance for an involuntary commitment and emergency behavioral health evaluation.
There were no reported injuries.
Seattle Parks will hold a community meeting on Tuesday, September 15th at 6 PM at Miller Community Center to discuss proposed “Supplemental Use Guidelines” to shape new rules for the historically recognized LGBTQ+ nude beach. The advocacy organization Friends of Denny Blaine says it has met with city officials to help ensure park users shape the final policy.
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