OLYMPIA, Wash. — Two police officers were stabbed and a man was shot by an officer after he set his neighbor’s apartment door on fire Thursday night, the Olympia Police Department tweeted.
Officers were called to the Fern Ridge Apartments in the 1300 block of Fern Street Southwest in what began as a fire call around 5:30 pm.
Emergency dispatchers received a report that a man had intentionally set his neighbor’s door on fire.
“I start hearing a major fight going on between these two neighbors, they unfortunately have really bad blood between them,” said Phoenix Holmes, a witness. She said the suspect was breaking items and lit the pile on fire in front of another neighbor’s door. “It was actually reaching up towards the ceiling,” she said.
When firefighters arrived, they said the man was combative and that was when police were called. But when police got there, investigators say the 72-year-old man pepper-sprayed them and refused to leave his apartment.
Police got a warrant and entered the man’s apartment. As soon as they got inside, the man stabbed two officers, police told KIRO 7.
“When they went into the apartment, it was an ambush-style attack on the officers, and that’s when one of the officers was able to pull his weapon and stop the threat,” said Det.-Sgt. Shannon Barnes with the Lacey Police and who is the spokesperson for the Capital Metropolitan Independent Investigation Team.
She said only one officer opened fire, striking the suspect.
“One of the officers got severely stabbed in the leg. The wound was terrible,” Holmes said. “To the family of the officer, I give you great kudos, and thank you for your service and support. You guys are amazing,” Holmes said.
Authorities said the suspect was airlifted to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Pierce County in critical condition.
On Friday, Barnes said the suspect will survive his injuries and will be out of the hospital in a few days to face charges.
An officer was taken to the hospital in serious condition, police said. The other officer suffered a non-life-threatening injury and was also taken to the hospital. Police announced that both were released from the hospital early Friday morning.
Police have not said why the man started the fire.
The Capital Metropolitan Independent Investigation Team, comprising law enforcement from Lacey, Tumwater and Yelm, was called in to conduct the investigation.
The stabbing is the fourth violent incident involving law enforcement over the last two and a half weeks.
“It’s heartbreaking. They’re here to protect and serve and they’re just doing their job,” said Kelly Deweese, a Shelton resident.
On March 26, Edmonds Police Officer Tyler Steffins was stabbed to death in Las Vegas while off duty and on vacation.
On March 25, Everett Police Officer Dan Rocha was shot and killed in the line of duty while confronting a felon in a Starbucks parking lot.
On March 15, Pierce County Deputy Dom Calata was shot during a SWAT operation and died the next day. Sergeant Rich Scaniffe was shot in the leg and is now recovering at home.