Sheriff’s department releases details of domestic violence call deputy died en route to
When Pierce County sheriff’s Deputy Cooper Dyson fatally crashed his patrol car, he was responding to a Parkland home where a man had assaulted his 6-year-old sister and was locked in a 7-minute fight with two deputies, the Sheriff’s Department said Monday.
The department posted details about the incident on its Facebook page, saying “We want you to know that Deputy Dyson lost his life trying to help save the life of others and we want you to know the type of danger our deputies are facing everyday as they continue to serve in our community.”
Dyson, 25, died Saturday when his patrol car crashed into a commercial building in the 1300 block of 112th Street East.
The Sheriff’s Department and charging papers gave this account of what happened:
Deputies were called out to a home on 113th Street South about 3 a.m. when a woman reported that her 22-year-old son, Demecies Dayton Craver, had assaulted his 6-year-old developmentally delayed sister and was high.
Dispatchers could allegedly hear him yelling in the background about “hella weapons” in the home and laughing about assaulting his sister, court records say.
Two deputies responded and met Craver’s mother at the door. She said she was concerned because he was trying to retrieve a shotgun from beneath his mother’s bed.
When Craver came to the door but tried to retreat back inside, one deputy grabbed his arm. Craver grabbed the deputy’s other arm and initiated a fight.
Deputies said Craver appeared to have “superhuman strength” and was “impervious to pain,” according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Throughout the 7-minute struggle, deputies tried hair holds, deploying their tasers twice, pepper spray and a neck restraint.
None worked.
“The suspect repeatedly yelled at the deputies to ‘kill him’ and ‘shoot him,’ as the victims locked themselves inside a bedroom,” according to the Facebook post.
They called for help and extra backup.
Dyson was the first to respond.
As he hurried to help his fellow deputies, Dyson’s patrol car struck a lumber business, rolled and caught fire 1 1/2 miles from the scene he was rushing to.
Dyson, who joined the Sheriff’s Department last year, died at the scene.
Another deputy arrived at the Parkland home to assist the domestic violence incident and brought K-9 Zepp.
When Craver refused to get on the ground or obey commands, Zepp jumped on Crarver’s chest.
The man allegedly put the dog in a chokehold and laid on top of him.
“As K9 Zepp’s body started to go limp, one of the first deputy’s struck the suspect in the head with a flashlight, causing him to lose his grip on K9 Zepp,” the department said.
Deputies pulled the suspect off the dog and took him into custody.
On Monday, prosecutors charged Craver with two counts of third-degree assault, harming a police dog, fourth-degree assault and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
He pleaded not guilty at arraignment, and Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Craig Adams set bail at $500,000.
In charging documents, prosecutors pointed out that responding law enforcement officers knew there was a gun in the house and Craver was fighting with deputies and trying to gain access to the weapon.
“This created a grave risk to all law enforcement,” according to charging papers.
Craver’s mother later told deputies he was on drugs and acting aggressively toward her and her young daughter.
He allegedly shoved his little sister, took a soda from the girl and called her stupid before following his mother around the house as she tried to speak with 911 dispatchers.
This isn’t the first time Craver has been in trouble.
He was charged with second-degree assault and felony harassment in September after he was accused of choking a woman in his home.
Charging papers in that case alleged that he told the woman: “’I could kill you right now’ while strangling her on the bed and mentioned that she was lucky his little sister was inside the house at the time.”
Craver made bail Sept. 20 and did not show up for his Dec. 19 court appearance. Commissioner Adams set bail in that case at $2,500 in September. He raised it to $500,000 Monday.
Dyson leaves behind a pregnant wife and 3-year-old son. Anyone who wants to donate to the deputy’s family can do so here.
Staff writer Alexis Krell contributed to this report.
This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 11:47 AM.
