By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- A 46-year-old man died after detonating an explosive device during a standoff with Puyallup, Washington, police Wednesday afternoon, sending four officers to the hospital.
- Police said the man forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, assaulted her and fled when she called 911.
- Officers located him at a residence in unincorporated Pierce County, where they attempted negotiations before he detonated the device as they moved to arrest him.
- A police K-9 was also taken in for medical attention; it was not immediately known whether the officers or the dog were injured in the blast itself.
- The type of explosive used has not been disclosed, and the incident remains under investigation.
PUYALLUP, Wash. — A man died Wednesday after detonating an explosive device during a standoff with Puyallup police, an incident that sent four officers to the hospital, according to a police news release.
Officers responded around 3 p.m. to a report of a domestic violence-related burglary and assault at an apartment complex in the 900 block of Ninth Street Southeast. Police said the 46-year-old man had forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, tackled her to the ground and punched her in the head, then fled when she was able to call 911. Officers found the woman at the scene and treated her for her injuries.
Police located the man at a residence in the 7300 block of 166th Avenue East in unincorporated Pierce County, near Sumner. Officers surrounded the property and attempted to negotiate his surrender. When he eventually came outside but would not comply with commands, officers used a drone to monitor him, along with pepper balls and a police dog.
As officers moved in to arrest him, the man detonated an explosive device, killing himself and sending four Puyallup police officers to the hospital. The police dog was also taken in for medical attention. It was not immediately known whether the officers or the dog sustained injuries from the blast itself, and the type of explosive used has not been disclosed.
The investigation remains ongoing.