Man Arrested After Violent Knife Assault, Standoff

Kennewick police were busy late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning after a standoff occurred with an assault suspect.

51-year-old Bert Morgan is in the Benton County jail after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. Police were called to the 2000 block of South Rainier Place after 9pm. The woman said Morgan climbed on top her while she was sleeping, stuffed a rag in her mouth and knife to her throat.

She resisted, and he fled when she began to scream for help. After her calling 911, police later learned around 3am that Morgan had returned to the location, and located his vehicle there. It was determined he was inside the residence but he refused to leave despite police using bullhorns, emergency lights and calling his phone.

After getting a search warrant, police stormed the home and he was arrested without incident. He's facing a multitude of charges.