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Capitol Hill nightlife safety group drafting survey to better track drugged drink incidents

A safety sign example from a meeting held last month to discuss the spiked drinks issue (Image: @seattlepd via Twitter)

A safety sign example from a meeting held last month to discuss the spiked drinks issue (Image: @seattlepd via Twitter)

It’s been a month since a spike in reports of drugged drinks rattled Capitol Hill’s nightlife scene.

Even though bar and club owners remain on high alert, Seattle Police say they are not investigating any specific incidents directly related to drugged drinks.

“That’s not an indicator it isn’t happening,” said SPD spokesperson Sean Whitcomb. Getting victims to report when they have been drugged, even in cases when no assault occurs, continues to be a challenge for police.

To improve reporting, the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce is working with SPD and business owners to develop a mechanism to better track where drugged drinks are happening and how often. Executive director Sierra Hansen said the chamber is working with technical advisors to help devise a plan and hopes to have more details in the coming week.

Whitcomb said SPD is also working with Harborview Medical Center to encourage sexual assault victims to report incidents to police in hopes of identifying suspects. “No one is letting down their guard, quite the opposite. Everyone is gearing up,” Whitcomb said.

Members of SPD’s Joint Enforcement Team continued their regular meetings with Capitol Hill nightlife owners Wednesday night to discuss the issue.

Bar Sue owner Ian Carey previously told CHS he first became concerned about an uptick in drugged drinks on Capitol Hill when he himself was drugged a few months ago at a neighborhood bar. When a Bar Sue patron reported being drugged last month, Carey decided to start offering free “date rape drug detector” tests. Other bars and restaurants have followed suit. SPD is encouraging anyone who thinks they have been drugged to notify police.

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