Seattle man arrested for allegedly assaulting care facility staff

A 23-year-old man was taken into custody after allegedly assaulting staff at a local care facility, and then later confessing to possessing and distributing child pornography. 

The suspect, identified as Zane Tyler Coufley, of Seattle, was involved in two separate assaults at Telecare Triage.

According to a Thurston County Sheriff’s Office report, the suspect punched a staff member multiple times on July 10, and again struck an independent clinical social worker during a conversation in a secured area on July 11. 

Staff on scene intervened and separated the individuals. One of the assaulted employees was medically evaluated, and the second incident was reported immediately to law enforcement. 

When responding deputies interviewed the social worker, he stated the suspect was recently transferred to the facility from Harbor View Medical Center in Seattle.

The suspect allegedly wanted to be put into seclusion and was being aggressive. He also told staff he wanted to be put in jail for committing crimes. 

During his arrest, Coufley voluntarily disclosed to deputies that he had been involved in downloading and sharing sexually explicit material involving minors. He admitted to storing the content on two laptops at his Seattle apartment and also made claims of participating in its production. 

“Almost all of the pornography depicts children under the age of 18. He primarily has pornography of children between the ages of (10) and (12) years old,” the responding deputy reported based on his interview with the suspect. 

Authorities alerted the Seattle Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which has launched a separate investigation into the child exploitation allegations. 

Coufley was booked into the Thurston County Corrections Facility for third-degree assault. Additional charges are expected.