King County Sheriff’s Office deputies took a 54-year-old man into custody early Tuesday morning along southbound Interstate 5 near South 272nd Street in Kent after a short standoff that drew the response of about 30 law enforcement officers.
The man, wanted for felony domestic violence harassment in Issaquah, barricaded himself inside his vehicle, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Crisis negotiators, the Sheriff’s Office SWAT unit and the Washington State Patrol responded. Deputies took the man into custody without incident.
“Great job by KCSO and everyone on scene for bringing this scene to a peaceful and safe resolution,” said State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson in a tweet.
The incident started in Issaquah.
“We were assisting Issaquah PD who had probable cause to arrest the suspect for felony threats and assault of his girlfriend,” said Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Ryan Abbott in a Tuesday email. “He also had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest for DOC-escape, the original charge was first-degree arson.”
At the request of Issaquah Police, deputies checked the man’s Burien residence but didn’t find him at home, Abbott said. A short time later, deputies spotted his car and tried to stop him. The man refused to stop until finally pulling over on I-5 near South 272nd Street.
“Then he refused to surrender,” Abbott said. “He kept trying to start his car which wouldn’t start and refused to surrender. After about an hour, and just as our SWAT team and crisis negotiators arrived, he finally came out of the car and surrendered.”
All lanes of southbound I-5 near State Route 516 were closed for about an hour when the man stayed in his car. Drivers were diverted to State Route 516.
The incident began at about 12:24 a.m. Deputies had the man in custody at 4:10 a.m., Abbott said.
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