UPDATE: Police standoff at Westwood Village Target, over after 6 1/2 hours

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | Westwood

(WSB photo)

5:55 PM: Police are at Westwood Village dealing with a person in crisis at or near Target. No reports of injuries so far but avoid that side of the center.

6:19 PM: Police are still talking with the person, who is reported to have a knife. They confirmed to us at the scene that everyone else was able to leave the store and the person is the only one inside. He’s someone with whom police are familiar from other similar incidents.

7:20 PM: Not resolved yet.

8:37 PM: No change. Police report they’re in intermittent contact by phone. We went back over for a look; the east half of the center is not affected.

9:55 PM: Standoff continues, after four hours.

11:13 PM: Sixth hour now, no change.

12:22 AM: SWAT officers have taken the man into custody inside the store. They entered the store after negotiators had spent hours talking to him, off and on, by phone. No injuries reported so far but medics will be called to check him out, as officers used a Taser. We mentioned above that police are familiar with this man from other incidents; among them was this one almost exactly a year ago at the same store.

Dinah January 21, 2022 (6:03 pm)

I’m here now. Was getting out of my car to go into Target when everybody came running out saying someone in the store had a knife. The police are in front with bull horn asking someone named Timothy to come out with his hands up.

Fauntlee January 21, 2022 (7:00 pm)

Just passed by. Tons of cops etc. it’s a real lockdown

Jim January 21, 2022 (9:06 pm)

9:00 pm target is still shut down

WSB January 21, 2022 (9:27 pm)

Yes, we’re continuing to monitor and making periodic updates above.

We’re also not publishing information/photos on police tactics/positions while this remains unresolved – TR

Funzo January 21, 2022 (9:41 pm)

Just went to target for something and saw this. Omg. Hope everyone’s okay.

L January 21, 2022 (10:45 pm)

All of Westwood is shut down.

ACE January 21, 2022 (10:51 pm)

Hoping for a safe resolution and one that comes soon for all involved.

F January 21, 2022 (11:54 pm)

Can’t they just go get the guy if it’s just one person with a knife?

Silver January 22, 2022 (12:04 am)

It has been interesting to listen to this on the scanner for the last hour. I would expect this will resolve quickly.

Anonymouse January 22, 2022 (12:08 am)

Can hear the siren and loudspeaker over in Arbor Heights unless that’s a new one.

WSB January 22, 2022 (12:31 am)

Same incident.

Silver January 22, 2022 (12:16 am)

12:15 PM police are now with the subject inside of the store in the produce aisle. He has set the knife down but it is still very close to him.

Silver January 22, 2022 (12:26 am)

12:23 AM taser applied, suspect in custody.

WSB January 22, 2022 (12:28 am)

Yes, got that, had been listening throughout. (All 6 1/2 hours.) Thank you!

flimflam January 22, 2022 (7:16 am)

6 1/2 hours? wow. also, “He’s someone with whom police are familiar from other similar incidents.”Has he faced charges in the past? Will he face charges for this incident? How many times can one do this before they are deemed dangerous and jailed?

WSB January 22, 2022 (12:58 pm)

Yes, there’s a lot of info I am researching for a followup, regarding other cases, though so far none of this type. He was charged just days ago for example for assaulting a law-enforcement officer; prosecutors asked that bail be set, a judge let him out on personal recognizance – TR

🤦🏼‍♂️ January 22, 2022 (7:53 am)

A testament to our society’s ability to manage health and well-being. And history literally repeating itself. Madness.

West Seattle Head Scratcher January 22, 2022 (9:07 am)

It’s compassionate to let people do whatever they want in life and then respond in the most expensive fashion.

Krell January 22, 2022 (8:16 am)

Sounds like this will keep happening with this same individual until he kills someone. This will be described as a tragedy about about which nothing could be done.

StupidinSeattle January 22, 2022 (9:36 am)

This comes after the two similar incidents at Admiral Safeway last Saturday, as reported in this blog. Also regular car jacking incidents occurring. Community safety is at an all time low in West Seattle. Support your new Mayor and City AG to deal with homelessness and crime in an effective way that makes the city safe for all of us again. Encourage City Council representatives to solve the crime problem rather than just allowing it to fester and grow.

Lagartija Nick January 22, 2022 (11:46 am)

There is absolutely nothing similar between this incident and the two incidents at the Admiral Safeway. There have only been 2 or 3 carjackings over the past year, so while scary they can hardly be called regularly occuring. Stop with the hyperbole. On a side note, how long must we officially wait before we can start personally blaming the new Mayor and City Attorney when crime and homelessness haven’t been eradicated from the city?
- StopCuttingDownTrees January 22, 2022 (1:48 pm)
  
  “Only 2 or 3 carjackings”? Even ONE is unacceptable. I was car-jacked on 35th SW three decades ago and I can tell you it’s a life-or-death situation that no one should ever face. Shame on you.
  - Lagartija Nick January 22, 2022 (2:37 pm)
    
    Did you miss the part where I said it was scary? Did you see where I said it was acceptable? No? Then shame on you for putting words in my mouth I never said.
    - StopCuttingDownTrees January 22, 2022 (4:03 pm)
      
      Carjackings are FAR more than “scary”. One of my closest friends was murdered by a carjacker in San Diego in 1988. Again, shame on you and your indifference to victims of violent crime.
    - Lagartija Nick January 22, 2022 (5:36 pm)
      
      Wow, I never said any such thing. Now you’re just being willfully obtuse and rude. Be best.
- Mel January 22, 2022 (1:49 pm)
  
  I’d say 3 carjackings in WS in a matter of 2-3 weeks is a cause for concern.
  - Lagartija Nick January 23, 2022 (2:09 am)
    
    There have not been 3 carjackings in the last 2-3 weeks. This is false information.
    - WSB January 23, 2022 (2:27 am)
      
      We reported on 1/13 and 1/18 West Seattle carjackings. A longtime commenter said they’d heard about one recently on the county side of 28th/Roxbury via social media. I am not able to seek confirmation of that without specifics – KCSO doesn’t have a cross-referenceable log comparable to SPD’s Tweets by Beat.

targetshopper January 22, 2022 (11:38 am)

It’s crazy that the person in crisis had been live tweeting during the entire standoff. Reading his past tweets it seems pretty clear this was planned for at least a day and had mentioned the intention of taking hostages at Target. I had family in the store at the time this went down and it’s quite traumatizing for them to have gone through this.

Mel January 22, 2022 (1:51 pm)

I’m sorry for your family member. This city never seems to care about the victims of these incidents. I often shop there with my children. It’s terrifying to think what could’ve happened to those in the store. Westwood is turning into a crime ridden area I don’t want to visit.
Ron M January 22, 2022 (3:17 pm)

How do you know he was live tweeting?
WS Res January 22, 2022 (4:35 pm)

Wait, what?
Seattle resident January 23, 2022 (5:28 pm)

I’m so sorry. He has also done this at the Burien Fred Meyer and I believe the White Center Dollar Store. He will continue to do this again. He usually tweets his plans or posts about past occurrences.

Gumby January 22, 2022 (2:11 pm)

Sounds like the same guy who threatened my son and his girlfriend with a knife at Westwood Village a few weeks ago. They got away, contacted the police, and filed a report. In Seattle, if someone threatens you with a knife, the perp is a “person in crisis”, and there is no “crisis” for the victims.

Rick Rose January 22, 2022 (4:58 pm)

“Normal” people don’t exhibit this kind of behavior. Mentally ill and substance abusers do. Current policy doesn’t treat the mentally ill and enables continued substance abuse. I’ve worked with those who’ve struggled with substance abuse for nearly 5 years. They say to a person they are 2 different people when using and when not. The solution is not politically correct in today’s environment Public substance abuse results in jail or rehab. Period. That gives them the opportunity to get clear minded enough to see the value of their lives. Current laws kill not only the abusers but those in the pathway to their drugs or who end up as victims of their intoxication. Blame the current politicians and those who vote them in. Solution: Write your lawmakers. Change the laws to outlaw public intoxication. Require minimum 7 days jail or 60 days in rehab or we’ll vote someone else in next time.

The More You Know January 22, 2022 (6:52 pm)

I had no idea that public intoxication wasn’t illegal in Washington. Every other state where I’ve lived it has been illegal and I’ve known quite a few people arrested for it.

Audifans January 22, 2022 (7:20 pm)

I see that Tasers get someone’s attention and move things along right nicely. Yep, these individuals need to be sidelined for the public good and safety

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