Tumwater, Wash. — A Tumwater police officer is recovering after being ambushed and attacked by a man with a hammer. Tyler Crespo says he was at his Tumwater apartment Monday night when there was a knock on the door. "The cops came to the door looking for two people I guess," said Crespo. Tumwater police officer Austin Cady came into the Tumwater apartment looking for a runaway and was ambushed by a man hiding in a bathroom. Tumwater officer Jen Kolb said. "The suspect jumped out of a bathroom that was located right next to the door and attacked him with a hammer."
Police say Mark Thomas, who was wanted on a warrant, hit the officer repeatedly on the head stunning him. Tyler was hiding and said he heard a commotion and then a door slam. Kolb says that was the sound of the officer being rescued by his partner. "The officer that was behind him grabbed that officer from behind and backed him out of the apartment. They retreated and he was pretty badly injured."
Moments after attacking, Thomas gave himself up and was arrested on assault charges. When KIRO-7 South Sound Reporter Richard Thompson tried to speak with other eyewitness at the Alpine Village apartments, an official at the complex arrived and ordered Thompson and photographer Jay Johnson to leave the property.
Eyewitness Tyler Crespo said about 20 or 30 officers were on the scene and he says he feels sorry for the injured officer. "It's pretty sad he got hit," said Crespo.
Cady has been with the Tumwater police department less than a year. He was treated and released from the hospital, and is recovering at home. Kolb says it is unclear when he will be able to return to work.
KIRO
