Bellevue therapist threatened with knife


December 29, 2009 · 11:14 AM

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A Bellevue mental health therapist escaped injury Thursday when a male patient pulled a 14-inch knife out of a briefcase and threatened to kidnap her.

The man, Christopher O'Sullivan, 41, of Bothell, is being held in King County Jail on $500,000 bail on a charge of second-degree assault.

According to police, the therapist was able to convince O'Sullivan to put the knife down and then called co-workers for help.

Police say O'Sullivan was at his regular session at Seattle Mental Health when he told the therapist he wanted to kidnap someone. When she asked who he wanted to kidnap, he said "you."

O'Sullivan has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and depression. His relatives told court officials that he was willing to do anything so he could spend the rest of his life in prison or a mental facility, charging documents said.

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