A text to 911 led Pierce County deputies to an apartment complex in Tacoma, where they encountered a man accused of violating a protection order. The incident, which quickly escalated, ended with the suspect leaping from a third-floor balcony and sustaining serious injuries.
According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department blotter, the message was sent at 9:17 am on January 13th indicating that a female was in danger, and unable to make a voice call for help. Deputies arrived at the Ellyson Apartments located on the 2100 block of 104th St. S. Once on scene, they verified that a domestic violence no-contact order was indeed in place against the male subject.
The situation escalated when deputies made contact with the male in the apartment, as he became uncooperative and made multiple attempts to grab a deputy's firearm. A significant struggle ensued before the male subject jumped from the balcony in an attempt to evade capture. Despite his efforts to escape, he was immobilized by the fall and subsequently taken into custody by the deputies waiting below.
The man was transported to a local hospital for evaluation of the injuries he suffered from the fall. The scope and gravity of his injuries were not disclosed. In a move indicating the seriousness of the situation, the Pierce County Sheriff's Office has handed the ongoing investigation over to the Tacoma Police Department, a common practice in incidents involving potentially serious misconduct or conflicts of interest.
