Update: SWAT team standoff in Highland Park, man arrested

(Cameraphone photo added 1:08 am – we & other media are of course not being allowed too close)
ORIGINAL 11:53 PM REPORT: We have no official info on this yet but multiple reports from neighbors: Police are reported to be negotiating with someone inside a home around 11th/Henderson (map). A neighbor tells WSB officers told her it had something to do with domestic violence. She also says she was advised to stay in her home, and that the officers are using megaphones (or something amplified) to try to talk the man out.

12:24 AM: The standoff is still under way; the man has not responded to police’s attempts to reach him, and – as commenters in the area have mentioned – they are trying other tactics. Also, per Twitter, police now have a public-information officer heading to the scene – they confirm it began as a domestic-violence-assault call. (Whether there was a victim, is not clear; there were no medic/aid calls on the 911 log in that area.) On the media hotline, Det. Mark Jamieson says there was concern the man may have access to weapons, and that’s the reason for the major response.

1:10 AM: Commenters from Highland Park are adding some incremental info on what they’re hearing; we’ve got someone at the scene but media is being kept way back, about half a block away (TV crews are there too).

1:14 AM: Commenter Julia says police “got him out.” Waiting for official confirmation of that.

1:21 AM: Police are definitely now inside, and saying on the scanner they haven’t found any guns.

1:29 AM: Det. Jamieson has talked to us and other media. The 40-year-old suspect is being taken to the precinct for processing. Officers are searching the house, including what’s apparently a detached garage where the man was holed up. We have the whole media briefing on video and that’ll be back here at HQ in a few minutes so we can upload.

2:22 AM: Here’s the entire 4-minute briefing. As you’ll hear Det. Jamieson explain – as SWAT vehicles depart in the background – it started with an assault report involving 2 people, though he says neither was seriously hurt.

8:34 AM: The summary on SPD Blotter has a few additional details about the victims in the initial assault call, describing the victims as his “juvenile nephew” and a friend of that boy, as well as noting that the home belongs to the suspect’s sister.

36 Replies to "Update: SWAT team standoff in Highland Park, man arrested"

  • MB May 27, 2010 (11:59 pm)

    I can hear them loud and clear. They keep repeating “David, come out…we aren’t going anywhere.” I haven’t heard anything like this in a while. We are on 12th and Cloverdale. Sounds like they may have dogs as well, unless it’s just neighborhood dogs barking at the noise.

  • d May 28, 2010 (12:05 am)

    Yeah, my dog alerted me to it too. Lots of talking over the megaphone. I can hear them on 9th.

    Hope it turns out ok.

    • WSB May 28, 2010 (12:10 am)

      Thanks, Highland Parkers. We’ve got a couple people nearby on Twitter, plus one on FB, as well as decent scanner traffic, so I’m staying on the desk rather than heading out there, for now … but will update with anything new from any of the above sources.

  • MB May 28, 2010 (12:16 am)

    I feel like such a dork. I really need to be asleep right now, but all I can do is lay here in bed, in the dark, next to the open window, phone in hand, checking the blog…all while my husband and dogs snore away :) So much for a good night’s sleep.

  • Julia May 28, 2010 (12:17 am)

    There are police cars blocking either side 11th on Trenton and Henderson, they have been trying to talk David out of the house for 40 mins or so. It appears that children live at the house, and that the police are trying to light the house as much as possible. They just shot a smoke grenade.

  • Julia May 28, 2010 (12:18 am)

    Mb, you’re not a dork, it’s very exciting… Hopefully no one gets hurt!!!

  • MB May 28, 2010 (12:21 am)

    They fired something loud, not a gun shot though.

    • WSB May 28, 2010 (12:23 am)

      They have various tactics to use – including things that are loud – to try to get suspects out. Just please be careful not to mention anything that you might SEE regarding where police are or what they are doing – it is a very important tenet to which media commit regarding coverage of SWAT incidents, not to tip off the target regarding what’s being staged, since you have to assume they COULD be online (or when it’s during live TV, watching TV, or whatever) … thanks … TR

  • d May 28, 2010 (12:25 am)

    There was an explosion, but it did not sound like a gun report. Maybe a gas cannister, or something? The officer continued to speak after the explosion so I’m hopeful, if not certain it was not a gun shot. The guy is in the garage with weapons.

    Fingers crossed here.

  • MB May 28, 2010 (12:25 am)

    I agree, poor kids. They seem to be firing more grenades now. My dogs are now wide awake and my veteran husband is still sleeping like a baby…guess he’s used to such noises.

  • Mookie May 28, 2010 (12:32 am)

    TR, a PIO is en route to the scene…

    • WSB May 28, 2010 (12:42 am)

      Thanks, Mook, got that on Twitter seconds after they tweeted. Have rousted the early watch and he is en route too.

  • Julia May 28, 2010 (12:35 am)

    The smoke was quite visible from a distance, (at least a half block). I don’t think I was giving away any pertinent info.
    Things are getting a little more rushed now.

  • d May 28, 2010 (12:44 am)

    The negotiating officer over the speaker is still imploring him to just pick up the phone and talk…

  • diane tchakirides May 28, 2010 (12:49 am)

    So is this happening on 12th SW?

  • Mookie May 28, 2010 (12:54 am)

    Sounds like they can hear him talking inside, and he’s being asked to come out and follow instructions…

    • WSB May 28, 2010 (1:01 am)

      Again, please do not discuss specific things you’re hearing on the scanner re: what exactly police plan to use. I have just had to delete a comment. Chances the guy is reading this are pretty low, but nonetheless, there is no reason to take a chance. Patrick is at the scene with other media types – the scanner frankly has more info than what they can see where they are, since they’re being kept behind lines – but we’re there standing by.

      • WSB May 28, 2010 (1:02 am)

        Diane, according to Patrick, they are staged at 11th/Henderson. I am about to put up a photo, it’s not great but maybe it’ll give you a bit of an idea.

  • terrified May 28, 2010 (1:08 am)

    i am a close neighbor and i am petrified. i am afraid to go outside.

  • Julia May 28, 2010 (1:11 am)

    It’s all over. They got him out.

    • WSB May 28, 2010 (1:12 am)

      Media at the scene is being kept far back but it does sound on the scanner like something has changed – TR

  • MB May 28, 2010 (1:14 am)

    Great news! Terrified, hope that puts you at ease. Now I shall sleep…finally :)

  • d May 28, 2010 (1:16 am)

    I haven’t heard anything for a good ten minutes.
    Hope that is the case.

  • dt May 28, 2010 (1:16 am)

    Thanks everyone for the updates…i’m glad no one was hurt

  • MB May 28, 2010 (1:18 am)

    Thanks as usual wsb…don’t know what i would do without you!

  • jacob May 28, 2010 (1:21 am)

    Thank god it sounds like it ended well. I was wondering about those blasts.

  • terrified May 28, 2010 (1:26 am)

    The swat team man just knocked on my door and said they have the guy.

  • d May 28, 2010 (1:29 am)

    Thank you SPD & WSB.

    You are the best.

    • WSB May 28, 2010 (1:38 am)

      We’ve been updating the main story … someday there will be a way to weave it and “comments” (you guys’ info is more than “comments,” it’s part of the coverage, really) together … thanks to everybody for contributing. Glad indeed it ended well. Uploading Mark Jamieson’s briefing now and will add the clip when we have it; Patrick’s going back to the scene (we’re only a few mins from H-Park) to see if he can get a shot of the house now, since we’re missing that.

  • 3 men w/hats May 28, 2010 (3:37 am)

    The 3 men w/hats will be releasing the “Ballad o Davie Garage”. by the weekend. Stay tuned

  • Alki Resident May 28, 2010 (6:45 am)

    Julia-Domestic Violence is not that exciting.Having the swat team to your home isnt exciting and its embarrassing.Having kids in the home w/dv is beyond words.Having ptsd from it is even worse.Just ask me and my kids,its not exciting.We LIVED through it.My ex’s girlfriend cant say the same,she didnt live through it,he killed her and himself.

  • jb May 28, 2010 (8:18 am)

    Thanks WSB! I came home at about 12:30am last night and drove past the cops that had blocked off the street on Trenton. I was home alone and pretty scared when I then heard the explosion about 5 minutes later. Cheers to you for having info about what was happening, I couldn’t find it anywhere else. Thanks to your reporting, I knew what was going on, it put my mind at ease to know that the situation was contained and I was not in any danger. Thanks!!!

  • MB May 28, 2010 (8:22 am)

    Pretty sure that’s not at all how julia meant it! Geez…

  • uglybrowncrow May 28, 2010 (1:43 pm)

    So horrible!

  • Highland Park Resident May 30, 2010 (2:04 pm)

    I live in the best figgin’ neighborhood. Have to worry about flying bullets all the time. I’m a chronic insomniac and can’t tell you how friggin often I hear gun shots in this neighborhood. Foreclosing on house soon, getting the heck outta here!

  • Steve June 2, 2010 (11:36 am)

    Hey Highland Park Resident, where are you going to go that doesn’t have crime? I live in Highland Park and we’ve been lucky enough to have no problems. My neighbors are friendly and we all enjoy living here.
    I often read here about how people are disgusted by the crime in West Seattle and intend to leave. Eastside bound? Here’s one week in the life of Kirkland. Compare it to West Seattle and you’ll see things are fairly quiet over here.

    Between May 19-26, the Kirkland Police Department reported 294 traffic violations (at least three DUIs), 18 car accidents, five burglaries, 10 noise complaints, seven thefts, 13 car prowls, 20 alarm calls, four malicious mischief calls, six domestic violence calls, three calls for fraud, 10 calls of disturbance, five incidents of harassment, nine hit and runs and two animal control calls. At least 28 people were arrested.

    Good luck wherever you end up.

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