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Barricaded Standoff Situation in North Seattle Resolved, Suspect in Custody

A 45-year-old man is now in custody following an hours-long standoff with police in North Seattle Wednesday morning.

The incident began shortly after 4:30 am when residents began calling 911 to report a domestic violence disturbance occurring on the third floor of an apartment building in the 13700 block of Midvale Avenue North.  Officers arrived and observed the suspect actively assaulting a female with a baseball bat, but could not get to her because the suspect had barricaded the door.  The apartment also had bars on the exterior windows.  The suspect continued to barricade the front door, even drilling screws into the door.  The female victim was able to get to a bedroom in the apartment, where SWAT officers were able to cut the bars on the window and get her out.  The Seattle Fire Department was on hand to evaluate the victim and it was determined that she did not need immediate hospitalization.

The suspect was able to access the attic area of the third floor and traverse between the third floor apartments.  Officers were able to evacuate the residents living on the floors to a waiting Metro bus.

Negotiators attempted to establish dialogue with the suspect throughout the morning, but the suspect was not interested in speaking with police.  SWAT officers were finally able to take the suspect into custody at 11:40 am.

The suspect will be booked into the King County Jail for felony domestic violence assault.  Detectives will handle the follow up investigation.