UPDATE: SW Roxbury police standoff over

(Added: WSB photos)

10:52 AM: Police are closing westbound SW Roxbury in the 28th SW vicinity and eastbound at 30th. They’ve been trying to stop a man who reportedly has been in multiple areas of West Seattle this morning swinging a shovel at people and signs. Officers have also told dispatch he appears to be armed with at least one knife. No injuries reported but avoid the area for a while.

11:09 AM: Our crew reports this is all centered around the service station on the south side of 30th/Roxbury right now (that’s the county side, but this all started in the city, so it’s SPD’s case). Officers are in a standoff with the man, who is by the propane area (right side of the photo above).

11:27 AM: The former Roxhill Elementary building, now home to several Seattle Public Schools programs, is in shelter-in-place, per police radio. (This is the last day of the school year, with one-hour early dismissal scheduled districtwide.)

11:33 AM: Officers just told dispatch that they’ve taken the man into custody. An ambulance that was standing by (for possible [corrected] “involuntary treatment”) is being sent in. An SFD engine too.

11:40 AM: Dispatch has been told that the school building can be told it’s OK to lift shelter-in-place, and that the other area containment will be broken down, which means SW Roxbury should reopen soon.

11:51 AM: Our crew reports the man has been loaded into the ambulance for transport. Meantime, Metro says its buses have resumed travel on Roxbury.

Actually Mike June 21, 2024 (11:42 am)

Thanks for your coverage on this–much appreciated. Gotta suspect that the guy may have some kind of a hitch in his get-along. I’m glad it sounds like nobody was hurt.

AG June 21, 2024 (2:30 pm)

Reply

Actually Mike, if I had a little trophy to award for unexpected but entirely appropriate use of “hitch in his git-along” today, it would be on its way to you. Thanks for having fun with the langauge today :-)

Rb June 21, 2024 (11:44 am)

I really appreciate the police and all the ugly work they muat do every day.

rachel June 21, 2024 (12:03 pm)

fire department was dispatched to the scene.

A June 21, 2024 (12:42 pm)

This person has been around Arbor Heights/Roxhill area for a few days, in peoples yards and yelling a lot. Yesterday he tried to come in my front door and this morning he threatened me in my driveway and threw things at the house while walking by. It seemed like mental health crisis and drugs involved. His face was bloody today. I hope he’s able to get the help that’s needed.

Mike June 22, 2024 (8:42 am)

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I additionally hope that, in the process of him getting the help he needs, he doesn’t kill anyone.

lucy June 21, 2024 (12:42 pm)

I hope this person is involuntarily admitted to psychiatric care. And I hope he is held there until an appropriate situation is available to him. Allowing him back on the streets to possibly harm people and property is not acceptable.

Beto June 21, 2024 (12:49 pm)

I walk on that area almost every day and I rarely see people acting strangely. Nonetheless I always keep my eyes open.

Andrea June 21, 2024 (4:53 pm)

Hopefully this was the result of an excellent use of the new 988 hot line for reporting people with mental illness in crisis.

James June 21, 2024 (6:59 pm)

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I tried calling 988 for a person who was completely naked and sleeping next to a building in California Ave SW. The person on the other side of the line informed me he was in a call center in New Jersey, and that 988, “people in crisis” as we know it, is primarily meant for people having suicidal ideations. He told me I needed to call 911 and request EMS and a public safety officer. The 911 operator patched me through to SFD who told me to ask the still naked person if they needed medical attention. SFD concluded their part and I don’t know if a public safety officer ever arrived. The person get dressed and made their way to the bus bench outside 7-11. I want a separate line/service in Seattle that helps people who may be experiencing mental health crises, but I don’t think 988 works as many of us thought or intended.
- ACG June 21, 2024 (8:05 pm)
  
  Reply
  
  Thanks for that insight, James. I didn’t realize that was how 988 works. I also thought it was a locally answered phone number that would get appropriate services enroute in mental health crisis situations.

flimflam June 21, 2024 (7:48 pm)

It needs to be MUCH easier to involuntarily commit someone. I’m sure I’ll be scolded but public safety is important.

Daiso Gal June 21, 2024 (8:50 pm)

OMG! So very scary. A swinging shovel can take someone’s head off. Thank you Seattle Police.

Endolyne June 21, 2024 (9:20 pm)

Hard to tell by the photo, but I’m pretty sure this is the same guy who walk up our very steep driveway this morning around 0730-0745 near Endolyne Joe’s on 45th. It looks like him. Luckily our neighbors saw him, called us, and we both came out and told him to get off our property or else we’d call the police. He yelled back ‘Go back inside and I’ll leave,’ dumping his beer out on his way down the driveway and moving down the hill towards Wildwood. Scary scenario… glad he was apprehended.