Standoff ends with arrest of armed man who barricaded himself near a Tacoma school

A Pierce County sheriff’s deputy shot at an armed man before he barricaded himself in a shed near two Tacoma schools Tuesday.

The man, suspected of driving a stolen vehicle, was arrested after an hourlong standoff, which prompted lockdowns at the two schools and a third.

The incident started just after 11 a.m. when a deputy spotted an SUV with no registration or license plate, realized it was stolen and gave chase near South 69th Street and South Park Avenue.

The drive eventually stopped the car and got out holding a handgun, sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.

The deputy fired at the man, who did not appear to be hit. The man ran away and holed up in a shed behind a house near South J and 76th streets.

Two people were sleeping inside the shed when the man burst inside, but law enforcement officers were able to get them out.

Police surrounded the shed and called in a SWAT team.

Baker Middle, Birney Elementary and Fernhill Elementary schools were locked down but were never in danger, Troyer said. Streets surrounding the shed were closed but police did not evacuate residences.

About 12:15 p.m., the SWAT team used a “distraction device” to enable them to take the man into custody. He was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

At least one of the people in the shed, along with the suspect, were booked into the Pierce County Jail.

The property where the man fled to has been the subject of more than 20 calls from neighbors this year, police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said. A man who lives near the house said neighbors have called police regarding vandalism, narcotics use and illegally parked cars.

This story was originally published October 2, 2018 at 11:11 AM.