By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A man set his home on fire during a court-ordered eviction attempt by Thurston County Sheriff’s deputies near Lacey, Wash., Jan. 28, authorities said.
• The incident began about 9 a.m. at a duplex on Carpenter Road Southeast when the tenant refused to leave.
• Deputies evacuated neighboring residents and used body-worn camera footage to document the standoff.
• The man exited the burning home armed with a hatchet and deputies used less-lethal tools and a taser to take him into custody.
• The suspect was transported to a hospital and is expected to face arson and related charges.
LACEY, WA — Body-worn camera footage released by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office shows a man setting his home ablaze Wednesday morning as deputies attempted to carry out a court-ordered eviction, officials said.
The incident began about 9 a.m. Jan. 28 at a duplex on Carpenter Road Southeast when the resident refused to exit despite nearly two hours of negotiation with deputies, according to the sheriff’s office.
Fire was seen erupting inside the unit while the adjacent dwelling remained occupied, prompting deputies to evacuate neighbors and establish probable cause for arrest on first-degree arson.
In video shared by the sheriff, the man emerged from the burning home holding a hatchet. Deputies deployed less-lethal rounds and a taser, and the man used the hatchet to cut taser wires before a second taser deployment.
Deputies dragged the man away from the unsafe structure and detained him. Lacey Fire District 3 responded to extinguish the fire and provided medical care before the man was taken to a hospital.
The sheriff’s office reported the man will be booked into the county jail on suspicion of first-degree arson, first-degree malicious mischief and obstructing a law enforcement officer.