Bomb squad, SWAT team called to rescue distraught veteran’s family held hostage

A man threatened to kill his family and himself while armed with two handguns and a shotgun on Mon., July 5 at the end of the three-day holiday weekend. 

A 50-year-old man barricaded himself in his garage in the Meridian Campus neighborhood in Lacey at about 8 p.m. and used a black marker to draw a cross on his forehead while telling his wife that he had made a target for himself because he had nothing to live for.

Following a conversation with his wife, the man had drunk half a fifth of rum, was high on marijuana and had taken an unknown amount of prescription medications.

The man’s wife told police that his behavior was “out of left field” and she had never witnessed him act in such a state prior. Police say the man’s told his wife that she “didn’t understand the demons he deals with and marijuana is the only thing that helps it because the pain is too much.” The man’s wife told police that her husband is a US military veteran with 100 percent disability due to a traumatic brain injury; he also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

After 25 minutes of warning orders ignored by the LPD, Thurston County SWAT was activated.

During conversations with a negotiator and also a neighbor, the man claimed that he had set C4 explosives around his residence, armed with firearms and a large number of explosives.

At 10:57 p.m., a single gunshot was heard from inside the residence, and afterward, the man could be heard inside screaming. Police reports indicate the man wounded one of his legs.

The SWAT team gave the man multiple commands over the public address system, but he did not comply. The man was taken into custody later, at 1:30 a.m. by the SWAT team, after which the Washington State Patrol bomb squad cleared the area.

One bullet hole was observed in the ceiling of the garage.

The man was booked into Thurston County Jail for harassment with threats to kill, malicious mischief, domestic violence, two counts of aiming or discharging a weapon and one count of resisting arrest.

There are many resources for people contemplating suicide. If you or anyone you know is dealing with this, here are some choices:

• The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 at either 1-800-273-8255 x 1, or by texting 838255. It is available to all Veterans, all service members and their family members and friends.
• Call 360-586-2800 to reach the Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties.
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255.
• Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.