Genna Martin/San Francisco Chronicle through Getty
A pimp within the “prostitution underworld” was arrested by Seattle police on Sunday after one in all his prostitutes underneath him escaped—however not earlier than a citywide pursuit that concerned a firefight with an Uber driver, metropolis and state troopers, and leaping out of a third-floor window.
William Burt, referred to as Dick Capone, was arrested exterior a $1.4 million South Seattle dwelling he rented by means of Airbnb on Sunday. The fees included assault, kidnapping, selling prostitution, human trafficking, and a drive-by taking pictures, the Seattle Instancesreported Friday, and stemmed from his prostitution of no less than 4 ladies of their early 20s.
“The defendant leads a intercourse trafficking enterprise that has operated in no less than three U.S. states involving a number of victims, who've been exploited, harmed and maimed by the defendant’s violent and coercive actions,” King County senior deputy prosecutor Benjamin Gauen wrote within the expenses.
Burt, 30, was being stored on a $750,000 bond, and he's set to be arraigned on Thursday, in line with the Related Press. Prosecutors mentioned further expenses have been possible.
A 20-year-old California girl recognized as H.A. advised Burt she wished to go away on Nov. 2, in line with charging paperwork obtained by the Seattle Instances. Burt responded to the request with torturous circumstances, beating and pistol-whipping the lady earlier than locking her within the Airbnb for days with out her cellphone or funds. The group had been dwelling within the dwelling for a couple of month, the paperwork mentioned.
The lady was then bodily assaulted once more on Saturday, main her to make a daring escape. After she discovered the trail to the entrance door obstructed, she leaped out of a third-floor window and darted off—all whereas in simply her underwear and with a damaged ankle.
Burt and the opposite ladies finally caught as much as her, in line with an incident report, and compelled her to get into his Mercedes-Benz as he drove to the Emerald Motel, the place he purchased rooms for his prostitutes to finish their “dates.” As the opposite ladies went inside, Burt advised her at gunpoint that he would let her go away—however not earlier than he broke all of her tooth. Nevertheless, H.A. managed to interrupt free once more, discovering herself topless and in the midst of a freeway as she sought her remaining escape.
An Uber driver passing by grew to become that conduit, police mentioned. He urged the lady to leap into his van and sped off—with Burt in pursuit. The pimp fired gunshots on the Uber driver, who managed to return hearth together with his personal gun. The firefight led them each by means of Seattle’s Interstate 5 earlier than the motive force pulled right into a fuel station to await police. Nobody was injured by the pictures, the paperwork mentioned.
The lady was hospitalized for her accidents, which included a damaged leg, ankle, and a number of ribs. She had the pimp’s identify “Dick Capone” tattoed on her face, as did a number of ladies housed by Burt, police mentioned.