See a bunch of police cars staging at a Tacoma church? Here’s what’s up
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Tacoma Police staged near a Mormon church Thursday for an arrest operation.
- Officers used the South 12th and South Pearl location to detain a suspect.
- Police confirmed the arrest ties to a past case, not a current homicide.
Tacoma police officers were seen staging for an arrest operation near an LDS church in Tacoma on Thursday afternoon.
Over 15 police vehicles were spotted in the church parking lot at South 12th Street and South Pearl Street around 3:30 p.m. They had begun leaving by the time a News Tribune visuals journalist reached the scene just after 4 p.m.
“Officers took a suspect into custody from a past case,” Police Department spokesperson Officer Shelbie Boyd wrote in a text message Thursday. “People probably saw officers staging in the area.”
A 37-year-old man was arrested and charged by prosecutors with first-degree assault, drive-by shooting and second degree unlawful possession of a firearm, court records show.
The man allegedly shot at another man from his vehicle on May 21 outside of a gas station at the 6700 block of 6th Avenue, charging documents show. The victim had a laceration to his right hand, but it was unclear if it was from glass shards or bullets. There was also multiple bullet strikes to his car.
Prior to the shooting, the alleged shooter approached the victim while in his SUV and said, “I have seen you in the area and you are unwanted.” The victim told police he had previously been sleeping in the parking lot of a bank nearby, documents show.
The alleged shooter was identified as a cook who worked at a Central Tacoma cocktail bar in the 3000 block of 6th Avenue, documents show. He is being held at the Pierce County Jail on a $60,000 bail.
The man reportedly has previous criminal convictions including for third-degree assault in 2019, court records show.
She sent a message at 4:11 p.m. that officers should be out of the area shortly. She didn’t know which case the incident was related to yet, but wrote that it wasn’t a homicide.
The arrest operation was also the reason for a SWAT standoff observed near 6th Avenue and South Hawthorne Street Thursday, according to Boyd.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include information about a SWAT standoff related to the arrest.
This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 4:37 PM.
