The 20-year-old man responsible for a several-hour standoff with police on July 15 in West Seattle (Herald coverage of that event is here) has been charged with two counts of domestic violence assault for alleged violence towards his ex-girlfriend in the days leading up to the stalemate with police.

The standoff ended shortly after 9 a.m. on Friday, July 15 in a peaceful, unusual fashion. At Seattle SWAT and Police swarmed the Delridge Way S.W. home where defendant Jory Lee Preston was holed up he managed to slip out of the house and meet up with his mother who drove him to the Southwest Precinct where he turned himself in, according to Seattle Police.

Preston remains in jail on separate charges of fourth and second degree assault related to domestic violence towards his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend. His bail was initially set at $100,000, but prosecutors asked and received an increase to $250,000 “because the defendant is likely to commit another violent offense” and has access to a number of firearms recovered from his house after the standoff, including a rifle, loaded revolver, a shotgun and a large knife. In addition to the most recent assault cases, prosecutors noted a February 2011 police report of Preston threatening to kill his step-father, according to court documents.

Not letting go – a history of alleged harassment
Preston’s ex-girlfriend told police the two had dated for two years, but their relationship ended in March of 2011. She said in the wake of their breakup “she has been constantly harassed by Jory” through a barrage of text messages and phone calls, many telling her she is forbidden to hang out with males. At times in the past, according to charging documents, Preston has allegedly used a pistol to prove his point, holding a gun to his ex’s head in one instance.

According to the probable cause documents, the first charge against Preston stems from the early morning hours of July 11 at Me-Kwa-Mooks Park on Beach Drive. Preston’s ex was at the park with a group of males when Preston allegedly showed up, verbally assaulted her and told her to get in his car. She refused and court documents allege he shoved her into the side of the vehicle. She again refused to leave with him and Preston allegedly told her she was not allowed to hang out with any males.

As he drove away he allegedly said, “I will go and throw you in front of a car.”

Three days later, on July 14, a large group of teenagers and young adults gathered at Camp Long cabin on 35th Ave S.W. for a party. Police were called to the party shortly before midnight and advised of a chaotic scene with screaming, yelling, windows being broken and a male overheard saying “he was going to get his gun and kill somebody.”

As police arrived they could see numerous shadowy figures running the opposite direction, but Preston’s ex-girlfriend approached the police crying and told them Preston had pointed a gun at her. As police interviewed several youngsters, some highly intoxicated (many had their parents called to come pick them up), the events of the evening unfolded.

According to charging documents, Preston’s ex was at the party with friends when she started receiving incessant text messages from him calling her derogatory names. Later, friends told her Preston had arrived at the party with two friends so she left the cabin to confront him and ask him to leave. Preston allegedly went to the trunk of his blue Chevy Cobalt, pulled out a .45 caliber handgun and pointed it at her stomach.

“(Expletive) you, you stupid (expletive). Get the (expletive) out of here,” Preston allegedly said.

Prior to their confrontation, other party goers told police Preston was punched in the face by a male at the party who wanted him to leave. He allegedly pulled out his gun at that point and cocked it, causing several partiers to flee. Witnesses also alleged Preston was responsible for the broken windows.

The standoff
According to witnesses, Preston’s nose was bleeding profusely after being punched in the face at the party. His friend’s took him to an urgent care clinic before they headed home.

According to court documents, after police ascertained Preston’s address on Delridge Way S.W. they went to the house and knocked on the door shortly after 1 a.m. The officer saw a subject that looked like Preston peek outside, see the police and run to the rear of the house.

An hour later three of Preston’s roommates came out of the house and said there were two more inside. One of the three admitted the defendant was inside. The SWAT team responded to the scene and police used a PA and bullhorn to request anyone in the house come out. Later, one of Preston’s roommates claimed they were hiding out in a basement room and could not hear the bullhorn clearly.

At some point during the standoff Preston slipped out and met up with his mother who drove him to the police station to turn himself in. A search warrant served on the house revealed an array of weapons inside, all of which were seized as evidence and became a contributing factor in Preston’s increased bail.