Many in South King County know that Washington State Patrol Trooper Raymond Seaburg was shot in Kent after pursuing a possible DUI suspect that turned violent.
What some may not know is that he is well known in Enumclaw, especially at the Enumclaw Police Department, having been posted at the local State Patrol office there for a number of years.
While the Feb. 16 incident, which involved eight-time felon Jason Joshua Posada — who is now also charged with first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement, first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and firearm theft — was widely reported in Seattle-area media, two sources speaking on background said that the coverage hasn’t adequately painted how close Seaburg came to being killed.
“He is lucky to be alive,” both said, verbatim.
A GoFundMe account has been created to support Seaburg and his family, which includes a daughter and two twins.
As of Feb. 27, more than 900 donations raised about $111,847 of the $125,000 goal in three days. Not only have King County friends, family, co-workers, and residents contributed to the fundraiser, but out-of-state law enforcement as well, from Ohio and South Carolina.
To contribute to the fundraiser, go to gofundme.com/f/help-support-trooper-seaburg-family.
A brush with death
Trooper Seaburg, a 21-year veteran with the State Patrol, had been recently brought off Enumclaw detail to work on a special assignment to reduce violent crime on state highways and freeways when he attempted to pull over Posada on state Route 167.
Posada allegedly fled, first in his car and, after colliding with another vehicle, on foot, official court documents read.
Seaburg pursued him into an apartment complex and took Posada to the ground.
Posada continued to resist arrest and pulled a firearm from his waistband, which was when Seaburg pulled his own weapon and attempted to shoot Posada; however, his gun did not fire.
Seaburg then wrestled to get control of Posada’s gun, but the gun discharged and Posada claimed he was shot in the eye. (According to documents, Posada did suffer what appeared to be shrapnel damage to his eye and face.)
Seaburg then attempted to separate from Posada, but that’s when Posada reportedly shot Seaburg multiple times; first responders found him shortly after with nine entry/exit wounds in his leg and hand.
What’s not been reported — but was mentioned in the GoFundMe — was that Seaburg’s femoral artery was severed when he was shot, and a tourniquet had to be applied by emergency personnel to save his life.
Femoral artery injuries can result in death or limb loss; a patient can bleed out in minutes if immediate life-saving action is not taken, and penetrative injuries like what Seaburg suffered has a far higher death rate than other femoral artery-type injuries.
Despite his injuries, Seaburg advised officers which direction Posada fled, and he was arrested later after a K-9 unit was brought to the scene.
Seaburg was taken to the Harborview Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit in Seattle.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.