SPOKANE, Wash. — A man was arrested following a lengthy SWAT standoff after he allegedly threatened to kill someone and barricaded himself in his home with a gun that was not used.
According to a press release from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday at around 3:30 p.m., deputies responded to the area of West Beiger Boulevard regarding a reportedly armed person who had threatened to kill someone.
Deputies said that when they arrived, the victim told them that the suspect, later identified as Jessie Marshall, 39, entered the victim’s motorhome and accused him of stealing a gun. Deputies said that an argument ensued and said, at one point, Marshall held a baseball bat and threatened to smash the victim’s head in if he didn’t give back his gun. Deputies said that the victim tried to calm Marshall down but continued to threaten him. Deputies said that a woman entered the scene and was able to persuade him to leave the victim’s home.
Deputies said that the victims were worried about Marshall’s increasingly aggressive behavior. Deputies said that they found the camper where Marshall lived and believed he had a shotgun in there.
Deputies said that they developed probable cause to arrest Marshall with felony harassment, knowing he was apparently in crisis, and with information that he may have a shotgun or possibly a rifle in the camper with him, deputies planned to call him out instead of approaching.
Deputies said that they tried to call him out with the help of a mental health professional but said that he remained uncooperative, ran from deputies, and entered his trailer after deputies unsuccessfully tasered him.
Deputies then called in SWAT, more deputies, K9 units, drones and crisis negotiators due to the possibility that the man might have had access to a gun and had barricaded himself. Deputies said that they also obtained a search warrant.
Deputies said that negotiators tried to get Marshall to surrender peacefully and at around 7:45 p.m., he exited his trailer and was arrested.
Investigators said that they located and seized the baseball bat and a modified short-barreled 12 ga shotgun, in violation of RCW 9.41.190, inside Marshall’s camper.
Marshall was charged with felony harassment-threats to kill and possession of an unlawful firearm, also a felony.
