Domestic violence suspect rams patrol cars, shot by deputy, police say

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — A suspect is in the hospital after being shot by a Pierce County deputy.

According to the Tacoma Police Department, deputies responded to a domestic violence call Sunday evening at 70th Ave. E near 236th Street in Graham.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said when they arrived to the scene, the 49-year-old suspect was armed and suicidal.

“Our deputies arrived and the suspect, armed with a handgun, came out, pointed it at our deputies, a round was fired by our deputies at the suspect with the gun,” said Detective Ed Troyer, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.

Troyer said the suspect jumped into a car, rammed a deputy’s SUV, and took off.

Officers caught up to the car and laid down stop sticks to flatten the tires, but the suspect kept speeding on the rims.

“He continued to try to drive over the top of us and that’s when one of our deputies fired some rounds to put an end to this whole thing,” said Troyer.

Tacoma Police Officer Loretta Cool said the chase ended in gunfire when a deputy shot the suspect at the corner of 8th Ave. E and Mountain Highway in Spanaway.

“He was shot by a deputy. He sustained some non-life-threatening injuries. He was transported to the hospital for treatment,” she said.

The Tacoma Police Department is handling the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

Cool said the 49-year-old suspect has felony warrants and was wanted for aggravated assault. More information about the suspect will be released when he faces a judge later this week.

Troyer said two deputies were injured during the incident. They are expected to fully recover.

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