PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — The body of Deputy Dom Calata was escorted from St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma to the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office on Saturday.
>> Two deputies shot in Spanaway, one later dies at hospital
Included in the procession were a SWAT Bearcat, several Pierce County Sheriff’s Department squad vehicles and Calata’s family.
Several law enforcement agencies, hospital health care workers, including doctors and nurses, and members of the Washington State National Guard also came out to honor the fallen deputy for his service.
>> Community mourns death of deputy killed during SWAT operation
The 35-year-old deputy died at the hospital Wednesday after being shot in the head while serving a warrant at a mobile home park off Pacific Avenue in Spanaway.
He was one of two deputies shot that day by Jeremy Dayton who opened fire. Dayton was shot and killed by deputies.
Sergeant Rich Scaniffe, the second deputy shot, was at Calata’s bedside before he died. He was released from the hospital on Friday.
Investigators with the Tacoma Police department said a SWAT operation started at around 8:30 a.m. Members of South Sound Gang Task Force were looking to arrest Dayton on a warrant for second-degree felony assault.
Due to Dayton’s prior felony convictions, the task force asked the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team for assistance.
Pierce County Sheriff Ed Troyer said the suspect was in a stolen car and deputies closed the road to ensure citizens wouldn’t get hurt.
Around 11:50 a.m., they pulled him over in a mobile home park in the 19000 block of Pacific Avenue South just north of the Roy Y. The man didn’t want to cooperate.
Troyer said there was a gun battle and two deputies were shot.
Both deputies, Calata and Scaniffe, were rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma.
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