Update: SWAT standoff over in Highland Park, 1 in custody

| Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
12:32 PM: Thanks to multiple tipsters who say the SWAT team’s in the 7900 block of 18th SW and the road’s blocked off. We’re on the way. It started as a domestic dispute, according to SPD’s Officer Renee Witt, just before noon. They’re looking for someone accused of sending death threats to a relative via text message, and possibly also vandalizing the house with an ax, but Officer Witt says they don’t know if the suspect is in the house they’re responding to – the call came from a house nearby.

(Photos showing officers were added after incident ended)
1:03 PM: Adding photo of police blocking 18th SW down the street (since it is a SWAT situation, we are not publishing any images that would show the positions of the officers around the house). As is usual in potentially volatile situations like this, our crew is being kept fairly far back. We are also monitoring the scanner here at HQ.

2:02 PM: We’re back at the scene after a side trip to the Westwood apartment fire. The situation hasn’t changed much; police are talking with the suspect, who can be heard yelling. Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen was at the scene for a while. So was a TV helicopter that police asked to back off because of noise interference. We’re adding a few more photos.

2:16 PM: Police have gone in; suspect is reported to be in custody, and is being taken to the precinct.

2:48 PM: Added photo of suspect being cuffed – we’ve blurred his face; he’s in the tank top. He was last heard observing loudly that “20,000” police cars were in the neighborhood.

karen September 15, 2011 (1:33 pm)

1:32 – Chopper 7 just showed up.

buffalo September 15, 2011 (1:36 pm)

I am familiar with the house under siege.
Suspect trims his bushes two, maybe three times a day. House likely vandalized with hedge trimmer, not ax

Dawn September 15, 2011 (2:15 pm)

More Sirens sounding off here in the neighborhood again. This is crazy.

Debbie September 15, 2011 (2:22 pm)

If it were the other corner, I would tend to agree, but I guess I don’t pay enough attention to my neighbors.

the hobbit September 15, 2011 (2:31 pm)

jeez, and my neighbors think im a nuisance because my dogs bark…

Neighbor September 15, 2011 (3:57 pm)

I live right across the street. I know him. The picture of him getting arrested is where I normally park my car but I couldn’t even get home so I parked out back. You can see my back yard from his balcony where he was ranting and when he saw me get out of my car he waved at me and started talking to me but my husband got me in the house quickly. I have to admitt it was TENSE and my husband got the whole thing on film. He is mentally ill.

NotMe September 15, 2011 (4:16 pm)

How did you come to this diagnosis of mental illness? Or is that your opinon?

C B September 15, 2011 (7:14 pm)

I live around the corner from this guy. Don’t know if he’s “mentally ill” but my husband and I observe peculiar behavior from this man most of the time when we encounter him in the neighborhood. I avoid him while still being civil. There is definitely something strange about him.

Chris September 15, 2011 (7:31 pm)

Another winner wasting public resources.

mookie September 15, 2011 (7:44 pm)

@NotMe perhaps they’ve lived near him long enough to have witnessed a catalog of behaviors that indicate it. Not everyone needs a degree on the wall and the latest edition of the DSM at hand to come to that decision for themselves.

km September 16, 2011 (8:08 am)

I have met this person before and he actually has a big heart. He just waited too long to seek help. Sometimes people are in denial. I hope he gets the help that he needs.

NotMe September 16, 2011 (10:43 am)

…and that proves my point. Two completely different OPINIONS. None of you have any facts stating he is mentally ill. “different” or “challenged” does not mean “ill”. When you encounter someone “different” do you tell him/her they are mentally ill? do you tell folks they live with these things? No? Then why write them while you are protected with your anonymity? The real issue is, you don’t understand this guy. I, too, do not need a piece of paper with a pedigree on my wall to state that.
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You should stop where you are, mookie. Anything more would seem a little cruel after km’s comment.

CJ September 16, 2011 (5:01 pm)

NotMe, would you like a ladder to assist you off your high horse? Experts have shown it only takes two seconds to get an accurate idea of someone. We use this skill everyday to navigate the world.