Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Man on the lam
Law enforcement went to a domestic violence assault call Friday in the 1400 block of West Railroad Avenue in Shelton. The resulting standoff lasted nearly 12 hours.
Shelton police officers, along with the Mason County Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol and members of the Pierce County SWAT team were part of a 12-hour standoff Friday in the 1400 block of West Railroad Avenue in Shelton. Police later determined the person who was suspected of felony domestic violence assault was not in the home.
The Shelton Police Department and Mason County Sheriff's Office had a 12-hour standoff Friday on Railroad Avenue in Shelton.
According to a news release, David Thomas Sanchez, 27, is still at large and anyone who has information should contact Shelton Police. Sanchez was known by law enforcement prior to the incident.
Law enforcement responded at 2:15 p.m. to a radio call in the 1400 block of West Railroad Avenue, according to the release. Officers contacted a domestic violence victim and determined a felony assault had occurred.
The information indicated Sanchez was inside the residence with a gun. Shelton Police Chief Carole Beason told the Journal in an email afterward that the perimeter was secured as soon as enough personnel were on scene. They were unable to contact the suspect, but the victim believed he was still inside. Beason said they received anonymous information that the suspect fled the residence prior to police arriving and without the victim's knowledge.
Officers at the scene called in SWAT teams after several attempts to call the suspect out of the house.
"Officers attempted to contact the suspect for at least 30 minutes prior to initiating a SWAT call out," Beason wrote. "We continued hailing the suspect regularly while we waited for the SWAT team to arrive, develop a plan, and execute that plan. We also encouraged people we spoke to during the operation who know the suspect to convince him to surrender to police, but he didn't."
MCSO's SWAT team, Washington State Patrol's SWAT team and members of the Pierce County SWAT team responded to assist.
SWAT teams searched the residence, vehicles and other structures on the property and did not locate Sanchez. The location of the standoff is a known address to the city and has an active code enforcement case. The residence is still taped off because the structure is unsafe for habitation, according to Beason.
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