Assault, Arson Suspect Brought Down by Police
An assault on an elderly woman led to a standoff and confrontation with a suspect, and a fire in an apartment unit Saturday evening.
Around 5:30PM Kennewick Police and SWAT were called to the Heatherstone Apartments at 1114 West 10th and found a 64-year-old woman had been assaulted and had a significant injury to her head. At the same time, police say a 21-year-old male suspect, whose name was not released, broke out of a second floor unit window and was waving a pair of knives.
The woman was able to be moved to a safe location and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, but the man continued to be combative and refused to follow police commands.
Then police heard a fire alarm from inside the unit, and smoke began to pour out. Nearby units were evacuated as negotiations with police and SWAT continued to try to get the man out. Finally, non-lethal methods were used to drop the man after he climbed on onto the second story breezeway. He was apprehended without further incident.
Fire crews were able to put out the blaze, and the man is now facing Felony Assault, Arson, Unlawful Imprisonment and other charges. No word on the condition of the female victim.