Man in custody escapes at Sea-Tac Airport, takes light rail to Seattle's Capitol Hill station

Nicholas Deshais, The Seattle Times on May 5, 2025

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SEATTLE — Seattle police are searching for a man who escaped custody Sunday morning at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport before fleeing in handcuffs by light rail.

According to an airport spokesperson, Sedric T. Stevenson — described as a 5-foot-8 Black man with dreadlocks — was wanted out of Bowling Green, Kentucky, on unspecified warrants. He was being transported there by a "contracted agent," according to the port.

The agent lost control of Stevenson, 28, at about 11 a.m. Sunday during the check-in process at a ticket counter. Stevenson fled toward the light rail station just outside the airport.

Though he was pursued, Stevenson was able to board a northbound train, according to video seen by Port of Seattle police. Sound Transit security later confirmed he walked out of Capitol Hill station, more than a dozen stops north of the airport.

The footage showed Stevenson wearing white shoes, light gray pants and a white hooded sweatshirt over a white T-shirt.

Stevenson is now wanted for escape in the second degree.

It's at least the second time in three years he has reportedly fled from authorities in handcuffs. In November 2022, Stevenson led police on vehicle chase exceeding 100 mph and faced a list of charges, including driving on a suspended license and illegally possessing with a firearm, according to a local news report.

A Tennessee state trooper detained him on Interstate 65, which connects Bowling Green, Ky., to Nashville, Tenn. The trooper was trying to put Stevenson in his patrol car when Stevenson ran across the interstate and into the woods, his hands cuffed behind his back.

In that case, he turned himself in days later.

Port police said airport operations were not affected by Sunday's escape.

Seattle police did not immediately respond to a reporter's inquiry.