Street sweeper assaulted Saturday by suspect at Albertson’s parking lot

Man transported to hospital with serious injuries from attack in Port Orchard

By Mike De Felice

Special to Kitsap Daily News

PORT ORCHARD – A street sweeper responsible for cleaning up the Albertson’s parking on Southwest Sedgwick Road was assaulted late Saturday evening at the store parking lot and treated at a nearby hospital for serious injuries, according to the Port Orchard Police Department.

Police released footage related to the investigation and are hoping the videos will assist in identifying the subjects involved. The videos show the store’s parking lot and areas around neighboring businesses, Chief Matt Brown said.

At 10:45 p.m., police said they responded to the Albertson’s lot concerning a reported assault of the street sweeper, who was injured possibly by a baseball bat or other blunt object. The injured victim was still in his truck when officers arrived. The 29-year old man was treated for facial injuries and released from the emergency room, police officials said.

An unknown male in a gray four-door passenger car became upset after believing the street sweeper nearly hit his vehicle, according to officers. After an initial confrontation, the suspect left but returned armed with a weapon. The suspect broke the driver’s side window of the sweeper’s vehicle, struck the victim numerous times and then fled on foot, according to the police report.

The suspect is described as a heavy-set white male wearing a gray sweatshirt, blue jeans and a light colored hat, according to officers. The suspect’s vehicle, possibly a 2003-07 Saturn Ion, was occupied by two white females.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department at 360-876-1700 or email Officer Gapsch at jgapsch@cityofportorchard.us.

The suspect’s vehicle (seen here in surveillance video Saturday night), possibly a 2003-07 Saturn Ion, was occupied by two white females. (courtesy Port Orchard Police Department)

The suspect’s vehicle (seen here in surveillance video Saturday night), possibly a 2003-07 Saturn Ion, was occupied by two white females. (courtesy Port Orchard Police Department)