Fitness test ordered for man accused of murdering popular Seattle dog handler

LOS ANGELES — A judge ordered a competency evaluation for the man charged in Seattle last month with stealing a car and fatally running over an 80-year-old woman who worked as a dog walker.

Jahmed Haynes, 48, failed to appear for a scheduled arraignment at the King County Courthouse Thursday morning. A lawyer for Haynes cited an unspecified problem at the jail before Thursday's hearing and expressed concerns about bringing Haynes to trial.

Haynes has yet to appear in court on charges including first-degree murder, assault and cruelty to animals in connection with the Aug. 20 car theft and killing of Ruth Dalton and the stabbing of her dog, Prince.

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“I honestly believe this is a coward's way out,” Dalton's granddaughter Melanie Roberts told KOMO News after the hearing. “I saw this coming, as I told the detective from the beginning when he failed to show up for his appearance. He's going to build this defense. He deserves to see every single one of the people who support the woman he kidnapped.”

Roberts said Dalton's supporters had registered to watch the trial from as far away as Australia after the case attracted international attention.

“It makes me so happy to see everyone who came out to support us – complete strangers, the dogs, the people who spoke. It was touching, it was moving,” Roberts said.

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There was a public memorial walk for Dalton and her dog Prince on Wednesday. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell spoke, as did Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison, Acting Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr, and Council Members Tanya Woo and Joy Hollingsworth.

Dalton was a well-known member of the Seattle community, working as a dog handler and volunteering for various animal welfare organizations for two decades.

Robin Alloway, a friend of Dalton, attended Thursday's hearing to support the family.

“I want justice for Ruth,” Alloway said. “This is the worst thing that could have happened. It's mind-boggling. (Haynes) has always been an unpredictable human being. We shouldn't have to put up with this. No one should have to put up with this.”

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Haynes is an eight-time convicted felon who spent about 30 years in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter, trafficking in controlled substances, robbery and assault.

This week, the King County District Attorney's Office released surveillance video of the car theft in response to requests from media outlets, including KOMO News, for the data to be released.

The video shows Dalton parking her vehicle on Martin Luther King Jr. Way East, south of Harrison Street, and remaining there for several minutes. A man dressed in blue and wearing a face mask, who police say is Haynes, approaches Dalton's car, walks past, and appears to look into the vehicle. The man walks past Dalton's car again before approaching the passenger side and getting into the vehicle. The video shows the car driving out of frame and colliding with another vehicle.

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Investigators said Haynes kidnapped Dalton at knifepoint, pushed her out of the vehicle, then ran her over while fleeing. Dalton had several of her client's dogs in the car. Several of the dogs escaped from the car during the carjacking and crash – but Dalton's dog, Prince, remained in the vehicle.

According to charging documents, Haynes then drove Dalton's car to Brighton Playfield in south Seattle, where he stabbed Prince and abandoned the car.

Haynes was arrested the next day by Seattle police after fingerprints in the car were linked to him. Investigators say Haynes had Dalton's car keys and a bloody knife on him when he was arrested.

Haynes' next hearing is scheduled for late September.

“Maybe I can finally face this man face to face,” Roberts said.