UPDATE: SWAT team at 35th/Dakota (with Monday followup)

(Reader photo of police blocking 35th)

9:42 PM: Thanks for the tips about a sizable police presence at 35th/Dakota, to which a SWAT team has just been added. Police will not comment except to say that they’re investigating a “suspicious circumstance.” They have 35th blocked at the scene. More information as we get it.

9:58 PM: Police have announced via PA that they have a warrant. If you’re in the area, you may hear other things such as “flash-bangs,” which are devices used to make noise to disorient anyone who might be inside. Meantime, combing back through dispatch audio, we found the original report that brought police here: Someone called 911 around 4:30 pm to say that their security camera showed what they thought could have been people bringing a body wrapped in a blanket out of the house. We don’t know whether police have confirmed that someone is currently in the house or not, and we don’t know whether anyone’s death has been confirmed.

11:32 PM: After searching the house and yard, officers have found one person. Whether that person is a suspect in anything isn’t clear, nor do we know whether police have yet found any evidence of a crime. The SWAT team will be wrapping up their work. They are calling for SFD medics to check that person out. (added) SFD dispatch has told responders that they’ll be checking out “an adult male said to have ingested cocaine.”

ADDED 10:03 AM MONDAY: In response to our inquiry, SPD spokesperson Sgt. John O’Neil confirms what we reported and adds what they’ve learned since:

Neighbors reported that they saw two people load a body in car and leave. This was on video they had. Based on the same footage, it appeared to be a female that had arrived there earlier. They called Police and we viewed the footage.

Based on what we saw, we obtained a warrant to search the house to look for evidence of a homicide. SWAT searched the house and spoke with the other person that was in the Neighbor’s video. He said he did indeed load a female in the car, but she was alive. She had overdosed. They took her to HMC. Officers confirmed that this was true.

They arrested (one person) for an outstanding Felony warrant for Robbery 2nd Degree.

William January 8, 2023 (9:51 pm)

Thanks for being on this, WSB. Was pretty 😮 driving by this on the way home just now.

Cait January 8, 2023 (9:59 pm)

Just heard three very loud bangs… flash bangs? I Hope?

WSB January 8, 2023 (10:08 pm)

Yes.

D January 8, 2023 (9:59 pm)

Just heard guns shots. What is going on???

WSB January 8, 2023 (10:08 pm)

Not shots. See above.

Pam January 8, 2023 (10:00 pm)

I saw the presence when I came home about an hour ago, just heard several very loud gunshots ☹️ (from my house on 37th and Andover)

WSB January 8, 2023 (10:07 pm)

Those aren’t shots. As noted above, they are deploying “flash bangs” – noisemaking devices typically used in situations like this.

Mama4 January 8, 2023 (10:03 pm)

Shots fired – that’s a question? Or flash bangs?

WSB January 8, 2023 (10:06 pm)

Flash bangs. Not shots.
- William January 8, 2023 (10:07 pm)
  
  Thanks, WSB. Yep, probably flash bangs. Crazy this is going on in this neighborhood. But then again nothing really surprises me these days.

Neighbor January 8, 2023 (10:05 pm)

Very scary to hear the flash bangs. Thanks for explaining it. Shot out of bed and hit the ground.

Tracie January 8, 2023 (10:06 pm)

Thanks for info. We live on 34th and heard the flash bangs. I thought they were gunshots so your info helped all of us calm down. Our neighborhood is hunkered down.

Cait January 8, 2023 (10:10 pm)

Can anyone confirm if it’s on the east side or west side of 35th?

Matty January 8, 2023 (10:20 pm)

All the police cars were on West side of 35th when we drove by.
Jorty January 8, 2023 (10:22 pm)

East side 4036 35th Ave SW
Slider January 8, 2023 (10:27 pm)

Per neighbors on 34th it’s at 4036 35th on the east side if the street.
JP January 8, 2023 (10:28 pm)

swat team truck was facing west on 35th
- JP January 8, 2023 (10:34 pm)
  
  sorry….east
Erin Grey January 8, 2023 (10:31 pm)

East

Andover house January 8, 2023 (10:20 pm)

East side. I’m three doors down.

Jorty January 8, 2023 (10:24 pm)

There were 3 overdose calls to 4036 35th Ave SW in 2022. There probably was a dead body, sadly. https://sfdlive.com/?address=4036+35th+Ave+Sw

Cait January 8, 2023 (10:47 pm)

Wow… caught on a doorbell camera?! That’s so spooky!
Nicole January 12, 2023 (9:51 am)

Hi, where can I find that page for pierce county?

Benn January 8, 2023 (10:26 pm)

4036 – 35th ave sw is where the police have said on PA that they are serving a warrant

Odd son January 8, 2023 (11:40 pm)

I thought the flash bangs were fireworks since Detroit won, the Hawks are in the playoffs.

WSB January 9, 2023 (10:08 am)

Story updated with what police tell us this morning. A person was carried out of the house – but was alive. – TR

Derek January 9, 2023 (10:14 am)

Prayers to the person who appeared to have OD’d. I know everyone around here likes to stick their nose up at drug users but not everyone who does drugs is a bad person. I hope they get a speedy recovery and everyone is okay.

West Seattle Vern January 9, 2023 (10:36 am)

Note to self: Don’t worry about the cost; call 911 and get an ambulance instead of freaking out the neighbors.

Lisa January 9, 2023 (11:16 am)

A house with a record of people over-dosing, a person who is coked up and another taken to the hospital for an overdose and they only arrested one person for an outstanding warrant? No drug charges?

Derek January 9, 2023 (11:54 am)

What good would that do? Possession charges shouldn’t exist. Stop the people selling them, not low level dealers either. The warrant was robbery, a bit different than run of the mill coke usage. Your CEOs and bosses use coke too. There’s a deeper issue with some people than just some possession.
- Josh January 9, 2023 (5:22 pm)
  
  Do you honestly think that a house with multiple OD calls the past couple months is not a distribution point?
- Rhonda January 10, 2023 (12:37 am)
  
  Possession charges absolutely need to exist in the same way prostitution Johns need to be held accountable for their role in human trafficking and the exploitation of women. Most dealers in Seattle only carry around amounts of the drugs they sell that would be considered for personal use and thereby escape prosecution. Zero possession laws means zero distribution enforcement, as well. It’s silly that state AGs sue companies that produce opioids for pharmacies and pain patients but they all but ignore those dealers who dispense smuggled opioids.
Rhonda January 9, 2023 (1:48 pm)

The Washington State Legislature reduced federally-outlawed drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor last session after the Blake decision. In Seattle one can possess an amount of drugs that would get them arrested for dealing anywhere but Seattle. This kind of incident is the result.
- Pdavis January 10, 2023 (10:20 am)
  
  WHY was the drug possession change from a felony to a misdemeanor?
Math Teacher January 9, 2023 (3:27 pm)

Hi Lisa. The state legislature decided 13 years ago that overdose crises should generally not lead to possession charges: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=69.50.315

NotOnHolden January 9, 2023 (3:41 pm)

Harm reduction resources are needed. Naloxone may or may not be helpful in these situations whether or not you “know” anyone that uses. Testing strips, too. My teenager and I both trained and carry naloxone doses because you never know who may need it one day.For King County residents https://www.kelley-ross.com/polyclinic/ll/For WA state outside of King County and helpful resources/info about preventing overdose https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/drug-user-health/overdose-education-naloxone-distributionTesting strips are another important resource.