A 31-year-old Kent man was arrested last week after allegedly attempting to strangle a toddler during a domestic violence incident before grabbing a gun, Kent Police said.
Kent officers were dispatched to an apartment on East Hill in the middle of the day after a woman called 911, saying her spouse had armed himself, according to a statement from Kent Police Department.
The 911 dispatcher at Valley Com 911 advised the responding Officers that a woman was calling because her spouse had grabbed a gun. The dispatcher heard screaming, and the woman stopped answering questions. They could hear a man yelling he suicidal. After a period of not responding, the woman finally relayed she had taken the gun from him.
“We want to recognize the dispatcher who stayed on the line, reported what was heard, and convinced the mom to exit with the kids,” police said in a statement. “Great work and a testimony to the difficult job dispatchers do every day. They are parents too, and calls with littles are emotional, but they do their jobs and do them well.”
Multiple officers arrived within minutes, and dispatchers convinced the woman to exit the apartment with her children, bringing the gun with her. Officers then entered the apartment due to concerns over the suspect’s suicidal statements and found him unharmed. He was taken into custody without further incident, according to police.
Investigators later learned that the situation escalated after an argument turned physical.
“This was an argument that quickly turned into the suspect grabbing the victim’s toddler around the neck. Mom stated he was trying to strangle her child, and she immediately intervened. She aggressively fought the suspect off her child. He then allegedly grabbed a gun. She said she wrestled it away from him,” police said in the statement.
The toddler suffered injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
“We know you are concerned. The toddler was injured and in pain. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and was talking with the officer before he left the scene. It could have been worse, so we are grateful,” police said.
Authorities commended the 911 dispatcher for staying on the line and guiding the mother to safety.
The Kent Police Department emphasized the unpredictable nature of domestic violence calls and encouraged those in crisis to seek help.
Resources for Help
- For Domestic Violence Victims: Call DAWN’s 24/7 Advocacy and Support Line: dawnrising.org
- For Advocacy and Additional Resources: Visit Project Be Free: project-be-free.com
- For Immediate Danger: Call 911
- For Those Struggling with Abusive Behavior: Contact STOP WA’s Kent Treatment Center: stopwa.com
- For Mental Health Crisis Support: Call 988
