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04-7-22 Attempted Arson

Notification of Criminal Incident – Seattle Campus
April 7, 2022
Attempted Arson

This message is being communicated to all faculty, staff and Seattle campus students with the approval of the UW Police Department. This message is sent in the interest of public safety and in compliance with federal law requiring timely warning notification of crimes committed on or near campus. This is not a UW Alert message. For information regarding UW Alert and to sign up to receive UW Alert notifications, visit www.uwalert.org.

On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at about 7 p.m., UWPD officers responded to a report that a wall poster was damaged by fire near an elevator on the fifth floor of Alder Hall. UWPD officers responded again on April 7, 2022, at approximately 2 a.m. along with the Seattle Fire Department to the same location for a fire alarm and found a poster on fire. The fire also caused minor damage to the wall where the poster was attached.

There is no suspect information at this time in either incident.

If you witnessed this incident or have additional information about this crime or the suspect, please call the University of Washington Police Department, (206) 685-8973. To report a crime in progress, or other suspicious activities or persons, call 911.

These cases are being investigated by the University of Washington Police under case #22-0005966 and case #22-0005988.

Crime Prevention Tips for Similar Incidents:
• Remain vigilant of your surroundings.
• Remove yourself from potentially dangerous situations as soon as possible.
• Report suspicious behavior.
• Avoid confrontations.

If you suspect criminal activity, some helpful information to pass on to the police:
• Clothing descriptors: look for layers under the visible layer, other distinctive design identifiers, etc.
• Physical characteristics – height, weight, eyes, hair, mannerisms, scars/tattoos
• Direction of travel (by foot or automobile)

Contact the University of Washington Police Community Engagement Unit at 206-685-1916 for additional crime prevention information.