Witnesses called 911 at 9 p.m. Friday to report a man in crisis had just threatened gym staff in the 1800 block of Yale Avenue with a knife and rock. The witnesses said, before making the threats, the man had entered the establishment to use the restroom but was refused entry by gym staff. The witnesses went on to say the man left just moments before officers arrived.
Officers searched and found the suspect a block away. Officers contained the area and used deescalation tactics to calm the situation and take the knife-toting man into custody without further incident.
For more information on the Seattle Police Department’s crisis intervention program you can read the latest report here.