Attorney Suspected in Massage Therapist Attacks in Bellevue, Seattle

BELLEVUE, WA-- Seattle news reports say an attorney arrested in connection with a knifepoint rape of a massage therapist in Seattle is connected to the sexual assault of a Bellevue massage therapist last month.

According to Seattle reports, the man, 47, is a lawyer and formerly worked in the Seattle City Attorney's office. Patch does not identify suspects on arrest, but  Q13 identified the man.

Bellevue Police spokeswoman Officer Carla Iafrate told the Seattle Times that investigators believe that the man is the suspect in the Bellevue case of a sexual assault of a massage therapist, though he has not been charged in the Bellevue crime.

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According to Q13 the man was arrested Monday at the Carnation Massage Clinic, at 602 NW 85th St. in Seattle. He apparently returned to the business at 9:30 p.m. after raping one of the massage therapists at knifepoint earlier in the day according to reports, and employees called police.

The man tried to run, but police caught him after a chase, reports said.

The arrest comes less than a month after an Aug. 28 incident, in which a Bellevue massage therapist told police she was sexually assaulted at knifepoint, Bellevue police reported.

The woman, 45, told police that the suspect scheduled a massage at the business in the 15200 block of NE 20th Street, started to make sexual advances towards her during the appointment.

According to the police department, when the woman refused his offer, he grew angry, threatened her with a pocket knife and proceeded to sexually assault her. The victim told police she recognized him as being a past client of the business, but she didn't know his name, police said. 

The man's arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.