By Tim Clifford

An overnight manhunt was ended on Vashon Island this morning at 4:30 a.m. with patrol officers from West Seattle and Burien assisting Vashon deputies.

Dispatchers on Vashon Island began receiving calls just before 6 p.m. on Jan.3 regarding an adult male fighting with his mother. Minutes after dispatching officers to this domestic disturbance more calls started rolling in reporting that the same man was now involved in a road rage incident, vandalism, and threats of violence.

A deputy spotted the suspect’s red ‘76 Ford pickup with no tailgate or license plate at 6:45 p.m. and attempted to pull him over. The suspect gave a short chase, eventually ramming the deputy’s patrol car several times. While on the 9800 block of Windmill Rd. the deputy began firing shots at the pickup truck before his patrol car became inoperable from the hits. After being fired at the suspect drove away and went into hiding.

For a couple of hours ferry service to and from the island was halted with officers watching the dock. When services were started up again all cars were checked and searched by officers before boarding.

Social media for news affiliates and the King County Sheriff’s department immediately began sending out updates on the incident, with the sheriff’s department tweeting that they were engaging in the search at 8:31 p.m. Another tweet from King County at 8:39 p.m. states “as this is an ongoing situation no further details on deputy movements or locations will be released at this time”.

A thread on the Facebook page for islanders called VashonALL shows residents giving real time updates from their front yards as well as discussing the fact that many on Vashon already knew the identity of the suspect. “He was and is a friend and co-worker “damn good co-worker/friend” and I am very concerned and worried about him” wrote one commenter. Another comment posted states “Police just left my house after searching the ravine” at 11:06 p.m.

According to a press release issued from the Sheriff’s department resident deputies on Vashon were assisted by patrol officers from West Seattle and Burien during the search.

At 4:30 a.m. the suspect was spotted on the 24600 block of Dockton Rd. S.W. hiding in an abandoned house. Officers chased the suspect on foot for a short while and used a TASER to subdue him. The suspect had no injuries and had not been shot.

The suspect was booked into the King County Jail on charges of felony assault, attempting to elude, and burglary. A period of administrative leave was given to the deputy who fired on the suspect per the department’s policy.