Kirkland dentist charged with assault

KIRKLAND, Wash. — A Kirkland dentist is charged with assault in the second degree. Police say the dentist intentionally assaulted a man outside of his practice with a deadly weapon: a gun with a laser sight.

Thomas H. Seal, DDS, has a dental practice right next to Juanita Pub. According to the police report, Seal, 64, came out on the second floor balcony of his practice after hearing noise in the parking lot around 2:15 a.m. on Dec. 28.

Investigators said that Seal pointed his Glock with a red laser sight at a man in the parking lot. The victim told police he saw the red light on his face and chest, and could see the man was holding a gun.

The victim is a military police veteran and told police he has a concealed weapons permit, and if he'd been carrying his weapon, he would have shot Seal in self-defense. Instead, the man called 911.

When police questioned Seal, he claimed it was only a laser pointer and handed a laser pointer to officers, according to court documents. However, the laser pointer didn't work since the batteries were dead, the investigating officer wrote in the police report.

According to court documents, Seal let officers into his practice and they found a black Glock 19 with a red laser sight sitting on a dining table near the balcony.

It was what else he told police that has them concerned. Charging documents said that Seal claimed he trained Navy SEALs and Delta Forces, and that he was currently working for a governmental agency, but wouldn't say which one.

Then he told police that he "knew how to kill someone very easily."

The dentist did not want to talk about the incident and referred KIRO 7 to his attorney.

Seal will be arraigned on the assault charge on Wednesday morning at the King County Court House.

Cox Media Group