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Man arrested after threatening students near Spanaway Middle School, deputies say

SPANAWAY, Wash. — A man was arrested on suspicion he threatened students near Spanaway Middle School on Monday, police said.

Deputies responded at 1:35 p.m. to reports of students being threatened by a man in a passing car. The school was subsequently placed on a lockdown that lasted around 20 minutes.

Police learned that a group of students were running around the school track when the man yelled at the students and threatened to shoot them before driving away. They later found out that the description of the vehicle matched that of another car in the neighborhood. Police went to the house, but the car wasn't there, and continued searching.

Around 3 p.m. the suspect's car returned to the house. Deputies ordered the man to exit his house. Eventually he stepped out on the porch, but began making threats and removing his clothing to show he wasn't armed. It became clear to officers that the man was experiencing mental health issues, police said.

They were eventually able to convince him to come out of the house where he was taken into custody without incident. When he was informed that he was being taken to jail, he became angry and spit on deputies, police said.

The 34-year-old man was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of felony harassment and threats.

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