UPDATE: Police standoff at 36th/Roxbury ends after 8+ hours

2:38 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police tell us they are dealing with a person in crisis, possibly armed, near 36th/Roxbury, and have blocked Roxbury in that area. They tell us nearby Summit Atlas middle/high school is in lockdown as a result. No injuries reported thus far but avoid the area.

3:27 PM: Not resolved yet. A dispatcher recapping the situation described it as having started when the person “brandished a rifle at a neighbor’s window” and was then seen by officers with “a pistol.” They are reported to be inside a house.

4:06 PM: As noted in comments, Summit Atlas has since let out for the day. Meantime, SWAT team officers have joined the response. The person who’s the focus of all this is reported to be a man in his 60s.

5:04 PM: Not resolved yet. Note for traffic purposes that Cambridge also is blocked west of 35th SW.

5:34 PM: Officers are continuing to use a PA system to ask the man to surrender.

5:58 PM: If you just heard an explosion in the area, that’s a “flash-bang” deployed by SWAT. … Shortly after that, another one.

7:13 PM: They’ve now advised the man via the PA that they have obtained a search warrant and if he doesn’t come out, they’re going in.

7:31 PM: Still trying to convince him to surrender, with another flashbang, in the standoff’s sixth hour.

8:01 PM: Now seventh hour. Police report the man has been firing a “pellet” gun among other erratic behavior.

9:01 PM: Eighth hour. SWAT officers are continuing to try different tactics, and continuing to tell him via PA that he’s under arrest and needs to surrender.

10:02 PM: Ninth hour. No change.

10:14 PM: SWAT officers reported to dispatch that they’ve moved in and are taking him into custody. They’re calling for SFD to come check him out for exposure to gas (which they used multiple times earlier) and for “Taser deployment.”

10:26 PM: Officers tell dispatch he’ll be taken to the hospital.

45 Replies to "UPDATE: Police standoff at 36th/Roxbury ends after 8+ hours"

  • Farrah October 1, 2021 (3:01 pm)

    My kiddo advises that they are in full lockdown in Summit Atlas School currently.

    • D-Mom October 1, 2021 (3:38 pm)

      Mine just got home and said the same thing. Assuming the danger is over? Since he was allowed to walk home, but he said the buses were up the hill from school rather than their normal spot. Hmmm, hearing sirens now. 

      • WSB October 1, 2021 (3:45 pm)

        The situation isn’t over but it’s apparently stable enough that Summit Atlas let out.

        • Adam Matsuoka October 1, 2021 (4:01 pm)

          student from summit atlas here, the school dismissed while blocking one of the exits (the closest one to 36th and Roxbury)otherwise we dismissed pretty normally

  • Anonymouse October 1, 2021 (3:59 pm)

    Have been hearing the sirens since about an hour ago, nothing showing up on Real Time 911 so I figured it was a county thing. Hope it all gets resolved with no injuries.

  • Ollie October 1, 2021 (4:08 pm)

    Saw a Seattle SWAT vehicle drive towards the scene on Roxbury, scary 

    • Michael October 1, 2021 (5:17 pm)

      Yeah it flew by me on 35th at avalon a bit ago.

  • Katherine Taylor-Hurley October 1, 2021 (4:12 pm)

    SWAT vehicles flying up Avalon just now (4:12pm)— full lights and sirens. Related?

    • WSB October 1, 2021 (4:18 pm)

      Yes. As noted above, SWAT has joined the response.

  • Paul October 1, 2021 (5:11 pm)

    As of 5pm, Swat team still on 36th SW between Cambridge and Roxbury.

    • WSB October 1, 2021 (5:14 pm)

      Still working to get the guy to come out – including PA announcements. These incidents sometimes can last many hours.

  • valvashon October 1, 2021 (5:30 pm)

    See how much better a couple of guns makes your life?

  • Sal October 1, 2021 (5:59 pm)

    SWAT just set off a flash bang.

  • mickey October 1, 2021 (6:12 pm)

    I live on east 35th and Cambridge.  Heard two loud bangs.  Cop cars parked across the street.  Can see SWAT from my window. People walking about like usual.  Traffic busy AF.

  • Paul October 1, 2021 (6:24 pm)

    At 6:15pm, the situation is unchanged. I live a few houses from the scene. Police have fired 2 warning shots. They know the person they are dealing with has a history of mental health issues. 

  • B October 1, 2021 (6:27 pm)

    Two more flash bang suspect doesn’t appear to be apprehended yet still trying to talk him out over PA

    • WSB October 1, 2021 (6:41 pm)

      No, he has not yet surrendered nor otherwise taken into custody. We’ll definitely update when that happens. He’s been going in and out of his house, so they know where he is.

  • WSbliss October 1, 2021 (7:33 pm)

    Another flash bang around 7:31 PM.

  • Praying October 1, 2021 (7:39 pm)

    Praying for all involved. Be safe.

  • Fawna October 1, 2021 (8:42 pm)

    Situation still in standoff, man has not come out of house. Loudspeaker announcements continue.

  • Question Authority October 1, 2021 (9:12 pm)

    Has Tear Gas been banned?  There’s  a reason for using it in situations like this which unfortunately can drag on indefinitely. 

    • WSB October 1, 2021 (9:47 pm)

      They’ve already tried gas, multiple times.

      • WSB October 1, 2021 (10:19 pm)

        …and as updated above, it’s over.

  • Peggy October 1, 2021 (9:32 pm)

    Could a couple of Leo’s swing by the casino and Safeway parking lots? Just a slow cruise by once or twice. It’s Friday night, and all.

    • WSB October 1, 2021 (9:45 pm)

      Those are KCSO territory. Different agency.

  • Tiffany October 1, 2021 (10:36 pm)

    Ambulance just arrived. I hope everyone is safe. 

    • WSB October 1, 2021 (10:52 pm)

      The man will be taken to the hospital but since it’s AMR and not an SFD medic unit, that indicates his condition/injuries are not expected to be life-threatening.

  • Neighbor October 1, 2021 (10:41 pm)

    We’ve known this man for over 30 years. He’s a good guy with serious mental health illness, and I pray he gets the help he needs. Relieved they didn’t shoot him. 

    • StopCuttingDownTrees October 1, 2021 (11:04 pm)

      SWAT teams very, very rarely have to kill suspects. That’s why they arrive with overwhelming firepower: so the suspects give up peacefully.

      • WSB October 1, 2021 (11:15 pm)

        Well, in this case the suspect didn’t “give up.” They looked for an opening after many hours of watching and trying flashbangs, gas, persuasion … and then went in, They also had to get a warrant first, and that took a few hours.

        • Mike October 2, 2021 (9:07 am)

          They also had to get a warrant first, and that took a few hours”

          • Rhonda October 2, 2021 (1:18 pm)

            They wouldn’t have waited for a warrant if he had a hostage or was an imminent threat to others. But since they had him surrounded with overwhelming force and he was alone, a warrant was necessary.

    • wsresident October 1, 2021 (11:44 pm)

      Thank you for sharing this.  I think sometimes when we read these things we assume the worst and figure it’s just a bad guy.  I hope he gets some help. 

  • Fawna October 1, 2021 (10:57 pm)

    Likewise. They were incredibly patient.

  • Fawna October 1, 2021 (10:58 pm)

    SWAT vehicles just pulling away now.

  • Blbl October 2, 2021 (12:07 am)

    More mental health funding, please. 

    • Michael October 2, 2021 (9:19 am)

      Totally agree more funding Healthier community. 

  • DRC October 2, 2021 (7:47 am)

     Should not have taken 8 hr. what a waste of time and money

  • Jared October 2, 2021 (9:37 am)

    Wow, thank you SPD for your brave and professional work.  That was an excellent outcome for all, including the unfortunate person in crisis.

  • aa October 2, 2021 (12:21 pm)

    I am glad this person is ok and I can’t help but think about how much money and resources were spent for the hours it took trying to talk this person down.   I don’t think we should assume that mental health problems are a result of lack of funding.  If you have health insurance you can get mental health services in equal measure to your medical benefits.  If you are on medicaid or medicare,  you have mental health benefits.  Of course its not that simple.  And there are many people who do not avail themselves of the services even though its an option.  Many people decide to go off their meds.  More funding is not going to stop someone who decides to stop caring for themselves.  And to reiterate- I know its not that simple.  

    • Katia October 3, 2021 (6:51 am)

      Just wanted to respond that there is a huge mental health crisis going on. A shortage of therapists in Seattle is happening for everyone. Even if this man was willing and able to go to an agency for services he would not be seen in a timely matter because of how hard it is to get an appointment these days. It is not the same as going to the doctor at all. Until we pay mental health workers more this will continue.

  • Joe October 3, 2021 (3:43 am)

    As a friend of this person since the 1960’s, I am glad that he hopefully will receive the support he needs.  Beyond the mental issues that have obviously increasingly become part of his life, he is a kind and caring person.  I pray that yesterday’s event will help make his tomorrow better. 

    • Praying October 3, 2021 (6:40 pm)

      Thanks for sharing, Prayers and best wishes that he may have help and support and kindness and may recover. Any idea what led up to this incident of guns drawn at the neighbors? Understandable if you don’t know or don’t want to comment, just wondering.

  • J.A. October 4, 2021 (4:59 pm)

    A nosy neighbor lady across the street prematurely called the police on this man for being “disruptive” – evidently while on his own property.  The level of “manpower” was unnecessary and as someone else said, a huge waste of time and money.  But really, the big takeaway is how these situations are created.  Some snitch of a human-being with nothing better to do than spy on the block calls police, sells an exaggerated story and we get SWAT, flash-bangs, multi-street lock down, tazers, helicopters, warrants. Really??!!  For a 68 year-old retired widower that weighs 110lbs soaking wet, unarmed and probably couldn’t even hold up a real gun.  This scene was embarrassing for the law, as some finesse could have been used here.  And as for you snitches – you should be held responsible for creating these messes.  Maybe every once-in-a-while, mind your own business.    

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