Share and Follow
Ian A. Blair following his arrest in Seattle (King County Prosecutor’s Office).
A 31-year-old man in Washington state has been accused of donning a U.S. Postal Service uniform to deliver an extortion letter to a couple, subsequently forcing his way into their home and launching an attack.
Authorities have charged Ian Alexander Blair with burglary, assault, and extortion following the alleged incident, which led to his arrest late last month.
The Seattle Police Department reported that officers responded to a 911 call about an ongoing assault around 2:16 p.m. on February 20. The incident took place at a residence on the 300 block of North 74th Street in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. As police made their way to the scene, they were informed that the suspect was disguised as a postal worker and was actively assaulting the homeowner.
Upon arrival, witnesses directed officers to the victims’ house, where they discovered Blair engaged in a physical altercation with the 52-year-old homeowner. The homeowner’s 50-year-old wife was reportedly witnessing the struggle in distress.
Police intervened to separate Blair from the homeowner and inquired about his affiliation with the U.S. Postal Service. Initially, Blair declined to respond but eventually requested legal representation, saying, “Lawyer,” according to the police statement.
Underneath the mail carrier uniform, police said Blair was wearing a Tyvek-style suit, a disposable garment typically worn to protect from hazardous material.
“Police learned the victim answered the door after the doorbell rang,” the release states. “The suspect stood in the doorway with a piece of mail. He told the victim to open it in front of him. The victim thought that it was strange but opened the mail. The letter demanded an amount of cryptocurrency. The suspect then forced his way inside, assaulted the victim and his wife.”
Officers searched Blair’s bag and found a number of items, including black Gorilla tape, two rolls of heavy-duty black plastic bags, large zip ties, Tasers, a tourniquet, a lint roller, an electronic signal blocking pouch, a black beanie, a prepaid burner phone, a face mask, dark sunglasses, and a box of plastic gloves.
Court documents obtained by Seattle NBC affiliate KING provided some additional details about the alleged attack. According to the documents, Blair’s letter sought money from the victim in exchange for information he claimed was relevant to a civil lawsuit involving the victim.
Blair rang the victims’ doorbell and handed him an envelope, directing him to open it immediately. It read, in part:
My price for this is ten bitcoins: five paid up front, and five more paid once I deliver the information.
It also turns out I am in possession of some information that would be of interest to the other side, regarding you and your activities. If you do not take this offer with one week, I will make an offer to the other side – and I’m sure he’ll jump at the chance to put you in trouble with the law.
Blair allegedly pushed his way into the home while the owner was reading the letter, then punched and strangled the wife when she tried to help her husband.
Blair was booked into the King County Jail where he is being held in lieu of $1 million bond. It was not immediately clear when he was scheduled to appear in court.