2 Seattle firefighters arrested in attack on homeless man

Police say an off-duty Seattle firefighter was stabbed on Saturday evening in Pioneer Square after the firefighter and two others attacked a homeless man.

According to police, two off-duty Seattle firefighters and a woman were walking through Pioneer Square after the Sounders game when they came across a homeless man sleeping near the Seattle Fallen Firefighters Memorial near the intersection of Occidental Avenue and Main Street. The memorial in Pioneer Square is a tribute to the Seattle firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

Police say the woman became angry about what she saw, yelled at the man for sleeping on the memorial, and started kicking the homeless man.

Steve Banfield was walking his dog nearby when he saw things escalate.

"While I was on the phone with 911, the second man of the original three got into a fight with another homeless man, taking the homeless man's walking stick from him and beating him with it," Banfield said.

Police said the homeless man tried to defend himself during the attack and stabbed one of the firefighters.

Officers later arrested the two off-duty firefighters and woman for investigation of assault. One of the firefighters was taken to Harborview Medical Center to be treated for a stab wound.

As of 9:30 on Saturday night, the firefighter was in stable condition at Harborview Medical Center.

The stabbed firefighter from Station 5 has been with the department for 15 years. He is now on disability as a result of the stabbing incident.

The Seattle Fire Department said Sunday that the second firefighter has been with the department for 17 years. He works at Station 32 in West Seattle, and has been on disability since January.

Police said the woman and off-duty firefighters were under the influence of alcohol during the incident.

"I don't think it was just the individual, I think it's the thing that's happening down here," another witness, Alvin Taliaferro said. "All homeless are put in a category, and people have a tendency to disrespect the homeless."