Seattle mayor has home vandalized after violent city protests Windows were broken about midnight Wednesday

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, shown here at an April 18 press briefing, had his house vandalized after he issued a proclimation of civil emergency Tuesday to try and stop anarchist violence. (Lindsey Wasson/seattlepi.com) less Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, shown here at an April 18 press briefing, had his house vandalized after he issued a proclimation of civil emergency Tuesday to try and stop anarchist violence. (Lindsey ... more Photo: Lindsey Wasson, Seattlepi.com Photo: Lindsey Wasson, Seattlepi.com Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Seattle mayor has home vandalized after violent city protests 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn had rocks thrown through windows at his home in Greenwood early Wednesday.

Police believe the same anarchist group that damaged several downtown buildings Tuesday is responsible. Officers did not immediately have a detailed suspect description and have not made arrests.

McGinn's wife called 911 about 12:35 a.m. after being scared by glass breaking and finding a rock on the ground next to glass shards. She looked out and saw two people.

"Suspect #1 was looking at her and waved," Officer Chris Anderson wrote in a police report. "The other individual was standing near suspect #1 but she was unable to describe the suspect. They both walked away southbound on Dayton Av N."

McGinn's wife then found a second window broken on the home's west side, through that rock broke through only the outer of two panes. The rocks were placed into evidence and police took several photos of the damage.

A police dog searched the area for suspects, but was unsuccessful. A neighbor's surveillance cameras were not recording at the time, and additional evidence wasn't found, according to the incident report.

McGinn has lived at the home for several years with his wife and their two children. He and Seattle Police Chief John Diaz are expected to discuss the vandalism and Tuesday's violence at a noon news briefing.

This is the second time people angry with McGinn have come to his Greenwood home. On April 20, about 60 people gathered at Mayor Mike McGinn's house to protest homeless people being evicted from The Jungle – an area under Interstate 5 where it's illegal to camp.

Several officers were prepared that night and on hand to prevent vandalism, though many were instructed to wait nearby to avoid showing such an obvious presence. The demonstrators remained peaceful that night and left shortly after McGinn talked with them.

McGinn, supported by other city leaders, made an emergency proclamation Tuesday afternoon allowing police to confiscate items that may be used as weapons during the demonstration. That was done in reaction to anarchist violence.

The damage done during the May Day marches caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage to Seattle businesses and public buildings. Eight people were arrested, including a man who shattered a glass jar on the face shield of an officer, and police are still searching for several other suspects.

The protests turned violent shortly after noon, and city leaders responded with emergency action. During afternoon protests, police were more forceful and there was less violence by angry demonstrators – many of whom shouted vulgarities at police.

Many of the evening protestors were peaceful, but it was a core group of anarchists – Mike McGinn called them the "black bloc" of roughly 75 people – who ruined the long-planned protest for immigrant and workers rights.

Protestors shattered windows at a downtown Seattle Wells Fargo shortly after noon Tuesday, and the anarchist protestors threw rocks through windows, shattered glass door panels and set off a smoke bomb at the old federal courthouse near Sixth Avenue and Spring Street.

The violent demonstrators calling for the end of capitalism and school were mostly teens and adults in their early 20s.

Diaz had briefed McGinn on the potential for violence two weeks ago, and though police expected a major disturbance, both acknowledged there was little that could be done to stop angry mobs intent on causing havoc. Police used undercover officers and had officers in riot gear near Westlake Center and at other locations.

Protestors threw paint bombs of florescent green and blood red, damaging businesses and sidewalks near the downtown library. Anarchists turned on photographers, and KING/5 photojournalist Richard Departee was struck in the face with a wood pole. He kept rolling with blood dripping down the left side of his neck. Another reporter, KOMO/4's Joel Moreno, was doused with red paint near Westlake Park Tuesday evening.

After anarchists left the former federal courthouse, they turned to windows at Niketown, the Taphouse Grill, American Apparel and other locations – and police moved in faster. The Homestreet Bank in the 1300 block of Sixth Avenue had a large window shattered and a Bank of America in the 500 block of Olive Street had windows shattered during the afternoon rally.

But it was primarily the anarchist damage at the old federal courthouse and the Wells Fargo location that moved city leaders to take further action.

At 3:02 p.m., Mayor Mike McGinn signed a proclamation of civil emergency after discussions with other city leaders giving police "the authority to confiscate any weapon or implement reasonably perceived or believed to be capable of being used as a weapon."

Click here to read the proclamation of civil emergency.

Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or at caseymcnerthney@seattlepi.com. Follow Casey on Twitter at twitter.com/mcnerthney.