3 Puyallup police officers were wounded by gunfire in January standoff, investigators say
A third Puyallup police officer was injured by shotgun blasts last month during an hours-long standoff with a domestic-violence suspect at an apartment building, according to investigators.
Police and the Pierce County Force Investigation Team — which investigates police uses of deadly force — initially said two officers were wounded when Muelu Salanoa Jr. allegedly shot through the door of an apartment Jan. 24 at 1715 E. Main Ave. while police tried to break it down following nearly an hour of negotiations with the suspect. In a news release issued Thursday, PCFIT said it had confirmed a third officer was hurt.
The Puyallup Police Department officers haven’t been identified by PCFIT, but charging documents filed against Salanoa in Pierce County Superior Court showed two were detective Gregory Reiber and officer Brian Sutphin. Salanoa, 37, was charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting them.
None of the officers’ injuries were life threatening, investigators said. The third officer was struck in the hand, and a spokesperson for PCFIT said Thursday that the injury wasn’t initially disclosed because it wasn’t thought to be related to the shooting. According to charging documents, the 12-gauge shotgun Salanoa allegedly used was loaded with birdshot.
The nearly six-hour standoff led to multiple exchanges of gunfire between police and Salanoa. Investigators confirmed Thursday that six Puyallup officers fired their weapons during the incident. All six were placed on administrative leave while the deadly force investigation continues.
Salanoa was struck in the hand by police gunfire. Court records state he was treated at Tacoma General Hospital before being booked into the Pierce County Jail. It’s unclear whether the man will face additional charges, but that is a possibility, said Adam Faber, spokesperson for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Puyallup police initially responded to the apartment complex at about 1:17 p.m. after Salanoa’s ex-girlfriend called 911 and said the man forced his way into her apartment and threatened to shoot up her place of employment and shoot her, according to charging documents.
Investigators said when one police sergeant and three officers arrived, the officers escorted the woman to safety while Salanoa locked and barricaded a front door. After 55 minutes of negotiating with him, police tried to enter, and Salanoa allegedly fired a shotgun through the door multiple times. Officers returned fire.
This story was originally published February 9, 2023 at 4:18 PM.
