More than 8-hour standoff in Rochester ends peacefully; wanted man arrested



ROCHESTER, Wash. -- A more than eight-hour standoff in Rochester ended peacefully Wednesday night when a man wanted on a felony warrant was taken into custody. The woman and baby in the house with him were safe, police said.

Thurston County sheriff's Chief Dave Pearsall said the man was wanted on a warrant out of Skagit County that involves the violation of a court order dealing with harassment and stalking.

The incident took place at Iris Place SW, near the South Sound Speedway, at 183rd and Old Highway 99.

Pearsall said a sheriff's deputy was driving by the house earlier Wednesday when he saw a man in the garage who he recognized as being wanted on a felony warrant. When the man saw the deputy, he closed the garage and ran into the house.

Pearsall said that they knew from the suspect's past that "he may be hostile to law enforcement" and SWAT was called in. At the same time, neighbors were evacuated for their safety, he said.

The chief said the man's 1-month-old baby was in the house with him, along with a woman who apparently was the man's girlfriend. The child and woman were unharmed.