A Kent man accused of assaulting a woman and fleeing from police was arrested this weekend after officers, a K9 unit, and a drone were deployed in a coordinated search, according to the Kent Police Department.
Police said the incident began on the East Hill of Kent when a 911 caller reported that a man had assaulted a woman inside a home before fleeing. The caller believed the suspect was intoxicated and might attempt to drive away.
Officer Thompson responded quickly and saw a motorcycle leaving the driveway. The rider matched the description of the suspect, police said. When the officer activated his emergency lights to stop him, the suspect refused to pull over. About 16 seconds later, police said, the man crashed his motorcycle and ran into a nearby yard.
Kent Police offered the following comments about the suspect:
- He struck his victim multiple times with an object, including hits to her head.
- He was armed with a knife at one point, caused damage inside the home, and was known to have access to firearms.
“In a word, he was dangerous, and his behavior had escalated to a felony crime,” police said.
Additional patrol units set up a perimeter while K9 Gambit and his handler, Officer Flesher, arrived to track the suspect. Officer Bertolacci also deployed a drone to assist in the search. After a loud announcement warning of the K9 track, Gambit began searching and circled a nearby backyard. Shortly after, the suspect, described as a man in his mid-30s, returned to the area of his motorcycle and surrendered to police without further incident.
“This is not the first case this month where Gambit’s mere proximity convinced a suspect to surrender,” police said.
He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of second-degree domestic violence assault and eluding.
“This case highlights how valuable K9 units and coordinated patrol responses are in safely locating and detaining dangerous suspects,” Kent Police said in their statement, noting that this is the second time this month that Gambit’s presence has led to a surrender.
Police also encouraged domestic violence victims to call for help, emphasizing that local, state, and national services are available to provide support and safety resources.
Resources include:
- DAWN (local)
- Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
- Are you abusing someone and want to stop? https://www.stopwa.com/
Victims can also call 911, text 911 in King County if calling is unsafe, or request an interpreter if they do not speak English.
