Ian A. Blair following his arrest in Seattle (King County Prosecutor’s Office).
A 31-year-old man in Washington is facing accusations of impersonating a U.S. Postal Service worker to hand-deliver an extortion letter to a couple, subsequently forcing his way into their residence and assaulting them.
Authorities have reported that Ian Alexander Blair was apprehended late last month, facing charges of burglary, assault, and extortion related to the incident.
According to a news release from the Seattle Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call around 2:16 p.m. on February 20, concerning an ongoing assault at a home on the 300 block of North 74th Street in the Phinney Ridge area. While heading to the scene, they were informed that the suspect was clad in a mail carrier’s outfit and was “attacking the homeowner.”
Upon arrival, witnesses directed the officers to the victims’ residence. Inside, they discovered Blair engaged in a fight with the 52-year-old homeowner while his 50-year-old wife looked on, clearly distressed.
Once the two were separated, officers inquired about Blair’s affiliation with the U.S. Postal Service. He initially resisted answering but eventually responded with a request for a lawyer, according to the release.
It was noted that beneath the postal uniform, Blair was wearing a Tyvek-style suit, commonly used for protection against hazardous materials.
“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.
