On Sunday, July 21, 2024, Kent Police assisted King County Sheriff’s Office deputies in safely detaining an armed, suicidal man on the West Hill.
Police said the incident was one of many challenging calls handled by Sergeant Clay’s crew that day.
At approximately 4:45 p.m., Kent Patrol Units were requested to assist with a call just outside the city limits. Witnesses reported that a 49-year-old Kent resident, intoxicated and armed with a handgun, had fired a shot inside his home before they called 911. With King County Deputies occupied with other calls, Sergeant Clay and Officer Pursley responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, they quickly assessed the situation and called a witness out of the house. The despondent man initially appeared at the doorway with his hands up but then retreated back inside. As he turned to reach for something dark on a nearby counter, officers made a split-second decision to intervene, discovering he was reaching for a beer. The man was safely detained without further incident.
King County Deputies arrived shortly after and transported the man to a hospital for mental health treatment. He was uninjured during the incident.
“Excellent job by Sgt. Clay and Ofc. Pursley with the tactics and communication that resolved this incident in the best possible way,” police said.
Anyone feeling suicidal is encouraged to call 988 to speak with a trained professional available 24/7.
