The person suspected of assaulting a man in his 70s who had been exercising Dec. 21 at Town Square Park in Federal Way has been arrested.
The suspect was captured by a Kent Police officer on Dec. 23 in the area of 248th Street and Pacific Highway, according to the City of Federal Way. The Federal Way Police Department (FWPD) believes this is the assailant.
FWPD was notified Tuesday by the Kent Police Department that they recognized the suspect involved in this assault case from prior contacts in their city. At approximately 9:26 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, officers from the Kent Police Department located the suspect in the area of 248th Street and Pacific Highway South in Kent. In the process of detaining the suspect, an officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect, a 30-year-old male from Kent, was treated on the scene by officers and medics before being transported to the hospital.
The Valley Independent Investigation Team (VIIT) is handling the officer-involved shooting investigation. Further information will come from the VIIT after required notifications are made, pursuant to state law.
“Right now, everything points to this as our suspect,” FWPD Deputy Chief Kyle Sumpter said. “We will release details of the suspect’s identity at the appropriate time. We are thankful no officers were injured today.”
Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell praised the FWPD Special Operations Unit for its swift action and the Kent Police officer for having a “hunch” the dangerous offender would be in the area of 248th Street and Pacific Highway.
“We’re unable to release the Kent Police officer’s name today, which is unfortunate as he deserves heroic credit,” said Mayor Ferrell. “All the accolades will have to be delayed as we are complying with Washington state protocol for officer-involved shootings. Our security cameras at Town Square Park were instrumental in helping us identify the suspect, but what gave us an advantage was the images of the assailant released by the King County Metro Transit. We thank King County Metro Transit and media outlets for helping us inform the Federal Way community about the dangerous suspect.”
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