A dramatic standoff in downtown Seattle came to a close Monday when a 36-year-old man was arrested following hours of negotiations with the SWAT team. According to a report by the Seattle Police Department (SPD), the suspect, who was taken into custody for felony harassment and property damage, had flooded his apartment and made violent threats to those attempting to intervene.

The ordeal began shortly after 10:00 a.m. when officers responded to a distress call from the 1500 block of 3rd Avenue. The SPD detailed that the building staff had reported a man who not only caused extensive water damage but also threatened to shoot anyone daring to enter his residence. The SPD recounted that the suspect had previously been seen armed with a handgun.

To ensure safety, the water supply to the building was cut off as officers engaged in attempts to make contact, only to be met with the suspect's resistance as he barricaded himself inside his apartment. It took several hours and an approved warrant before the SWAT team could forcibly enter the apartment, according to the SPD Blotter.

During the tense standoff, the man had at one point anchored himself with a rope to the waist and ventured onto the 5th floor ledge. He subsequently reconsidered his precarious position after another bout of negotiation, leading to him surrendering to the officers' custody. A subsequent search of his apartment revealed multiple magazines, live ammunition, and a gun safe. The suspect was subsequently booked into King County Jail.