Tacoma police response for suicidal person in South Tacoma shuts down road for hours
A police response for a suicidal person Tuesday afternoon in South Tacoma led to about a quarter-mile of roadway being shut down for several hours while officers responded. Police said there was no risk to public safety.
South 56th Street was blocked from Madison Street to Washington Street, Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Shelbie Boyd said. Police responded at noon. She said it was an ongoing situation, and that at least 20 officers responded.
The News Tribune does not typically report on incidents where people attempt to hurt themselves, except in particularly public situations that affect surrounding areas. At about 2:30 p.m., Boyd said officers were still trying to contact the person.
Tacoma Fire Department also responded to the incident. Assistant Chief Sionna Stallings-Alailima said a fire engine was dispatched at about 12:20 p.m. for medical aid for a potentially suicidal person. A battalion chief was called to the scene about 20 minutes later.
In another phone call with the newspaper around 3:45 p.m., Boyd said the woman who threatened suicide pulled a gun on Tacoma firefighters. The standoff eventually deescalated after about three and a half hours, and the woman was arrested by police officers. According to Boyd, she will be investigated on suspicion of three counts of second-degree assault.
Boyd expected traffic in the area to be cleared around 4:15 p.m.
Resources are available for people who are in crisis or those worried about someone else.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
- Teen Link: 866-833-6546
- Lifeline Crisis Chat: suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/
- How to identify and help someone who might be at risk
Staff writer Allen Siegler contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 2:53 PM.
