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Arlington police arrest 21-year-old man after standoff at cemetery

Left: An armored vehicle from the Marysville Police Department used to safely approach the man to establish communication and bring him into custody. 

Right: Drone footage shows the man on top of the vehicle in the wooded area of the cemetery 
 

ARLINGTON, Wash. — A 21-year-old Deming man was arrested after a standoff in Arlington on Saturday morning, police said.

Officers with the Arlington Police Department responded to a report of a suspicious person at the Arlington Municipal Cemetery around 9:15 a.m.

Those who called 911 reported the individual was acting in an unusual manner and possible gunshots were heard, police said.

Arriving officers located a man and a vehicle in a wooded area of the cemetery and said he was acting erratically and ignoring attempts by officers to communicate with him.

“Based on the man’s conduct and possible presence of firearms, officers backed out of the wooded area and requested assistance,” Arlington police said in a news release.

Personnel with Snohomish County Fire District #22 deployed a drone so law enforcement officers could observe the man safely.

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“Officers noted that the man had access to weapons and was clearly in crisis, continuing to act erratically, spray-painting his vehicle and then climbing on top of his vehicle. The man continued to ignore orders from officers,” Arlington police said.

Officers used an armored vehicle from the Marysville Police Department to safely approach the man to establish communication and bring him into custody.

Arlington Police Department officials said the man surrendered and was taken into custody after officers attempted to communicate with him for over an hour.

Officers said the man was transported to Cascade Valley Medical Center for evaluation and assessment and said he will be booked into the Snohomish County Jail on multiple charges, including unlawful discharge of fireworks, disorderly conduct and obstruction.

Police said they recovered drug paraphernalia, fireworks, a knife, throwing stars and a hatchet at the scene.

KIRO 7 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.