West Seattle Crime Watch: Suspect charged in McDonald’s stabbing

The 23-year-old man arrested after an employee of the Westwood Village McDonald’s was stabbed early Sunday is now charged.

We’ve obtained the documents detailing the second-degree-assault charge filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office this afternoon against Daniel Jacob Stevens. The charging papers say he went into the restaurant and – after ordering and receiving two McGriddles – “inexplicably” started shouting insults at the victim. While being escorted out just before 4:30 am Sunday, according to prosecutors and police, Stevens shoved the victim, who punched him. During the clash, he then is reported to have “punched the victim, pulled out a knife, and pounced on top of the victim,” subsequently “punch(ing) him six times in the face and head, and then head-butt(ing) him twice” before trying to stab him in the side, “with the victim suffering a small puncture wound.”

The police report says a customer was able to disarm Stevens, who left the area but was found by King County Sheriff’s Deputies in White Center about 40 minutes later; police say he claimed he used his knife in self-defense. Court documents say Stevens, an Arbor Heights resident, has no felony criminal history, though the King County Jail register says he spent two days there earlier this month in connection with a reckless-driving case; he remains jailed in lieu of $150,000 bail while awaiting arraignment in two weeks.

19 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch: Suspect charged in McDonald's stabbing"

  • West Seattle Hipster May 13, 2015 (6:45 pm)

    Thanks for the follow up, hopefully McDonalds can implement some security improvements.

  • westseattledood May 13, 2015 (6:48 pm)

    McDonald’s corporate needs to hire their own security guard for overnight shifts because SPD cannot cover it every second.

    Somebody will die if they don’t. Everybody in Westwood Village believes that the McDonald’s is ground zero which is a magnet for transient but highly menacing behavior, so why hasn’t McDonald’s stepped up and reduced the risk for their employees who are being forced to serve these creeps? These *are* human beings McD’s.
    Hire a guard of your own.

  • CandrewB May 13, 2015 (7:16 pm)

    Nice job Dan! I hope you are a coding genius since you just made yourself forever unhirable at age 23.

  • WsBoB May 13, 2015 (7:34 pm)

    Maybe they just need to close at 10pm. Nothing good happens after 10 nowadays,,,

  • AmandaKH May 13, 2015 (7:35 pm)

    Maybe McDonald’s should be 24/7 in the drive-thru only after 10pm?

  • westseattledood May 13, 2015 (8:38 pm)

    Maybe Amanda. Talk it through the channels.

  • dsa May 13, 2015 (9:24 pm)

    Other McDonald’s are drive through only after 10 pm.

  • Robert May 13, 2015 (9:52 pm)

    open a west seattle mental health clinic with a good jail cell for this kind of problem child , and put them in with the lets make a deal prosecuter and see what comes of it…

  • ChefJoe May 13, 2015 (10:21 pm)

    That’s not very Seattle to expect only to serve people in cars at one of the few 24 hour eateries on the peninsula.

    Although, just like we have the LCB come down hard on problem establishments, maybe the city’s business licenses should have a special category for “late night/24 hour operation” establishments ?

  • KM May 13, 2015 (11:21 pm)

    Second-degree assualt. What a joke.

  • wscommuter May 14, 2015 (12:14 am)

    @KM – don’t like the charge? Explain why. Assault 2 is a “strike” offense. Defined by the legislature as an assault involving either substantial bodily harm, or use of a deadly weapon. So what’s your problem? Assault 1 requires “grievous” bodily harm – as in, close to death or permanent disfigurement.
    .
    If you don’t like the law, complain to your legislator. That is where these crimes are defined.

  • JanS May 14, 2015 (1:46 am)

    JITB is only drive thru after a certain time. Mickey D’s can do the same. Unless you live in the area, you’re driving there anyway. Eat in your car….it’s a big parking lot :D

  • R0b0 May 14, 2015 (7:38 am)

    Lots of hard working people don’t get off work until the early early am after serving you or the the establishments you patronize. Many don’t have cars, or can’t afford them, or are encouraged not to use them. There are bad elements all city and 24-7. Please let’s not punish the many hard working late night workers who serve us for the very few bad actors who are the problem. Not everyone has the luxury of working 9-5 and shouldn’t be punished for missing out on your breaks in life. Thanks for your compassion and consideration…

  • WTF May 14, 2015 (10:49 am)

    The fact this filthy establishment is open 24hrs. is ridiculous.

  • West Seattle Hipster May 14, 2015 (4:31 pm)

    I agree, this McDonalds should not be open 24 hours a day. Besides the criminal activity that seems to gravitate there, McDonalds food is some of the worst junk that you can put into your body.

  • Robert May 14, 2015 (5:56 pm)

    The issue is not just McD’s hours and security. Since the revised bus schedules and routes the bus stop across the street is the more serious cause of problems in the neighborhood. We have lived and shopped in Westwood Village area for more than 30 years and the number of vagrants, panhandlers, and rough acting characters jumped dramatically with the bus changes. Maybe bus service improved, but at the expense of the neighborhood.

  • joel May 14, 2015 (9:46 pm)

    people rob banks for their money – maybe banks shouldn’t have money?….people steal cars and then use those cars in crimes….should we get rid of cars? a business is serving the needs of the community and it’s now their fault someone goes crazy? there have been more shootings in post offices and other government buildings than McDonalds – maybe those buildings should be shut down too?

  • just an opinion May 15, 2015 (8:33 pm)

    joel and Robert,

    just to let you know that I am skipping each of your comments wherever I see your names. you bring me down with how consistently ignorant and vacuous you are.

    i feel lighter already. phew!

  • joel May 16, 2015 (8:55 am)

    just an opinion…..

    thanks for letting me know – I’ve been wondering how you feel and knowing this makes me feel lighter too. phew!!!!

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