By Steve Hunter
shunter@kentreporter.com

Kent Police arrested a 30-year-old Kent man for allegedly pointing an AK-47 assault rifle at several people during a chase last Saturday along State Route 167.

The man, driving a white 1998 Honda Civic 4-door, allegedly pointed the rifle at a father and his two young children in Auburn and then fled the scene with Auburn Police officers in pursuit, according to probable cause documents filed by the Kent Police.

The man also used his vehicle to strike three motorcycles with the riders mounted.

He later pointed the gun at drivers in Kent before police used a pursuit intervention technique and the subject lost control resulting in his vehicle overturning just as he was getting onto the 84th Street northbound on-ramp to Highway 167.

As officers surrounded the vehicle, there was a brief exchange of gunfire as gunshots were heard inside the vehicle. Police took the man into custody at about 6:30 p.m.

The man made his first court appearance on Monday when a King County Superior Court judge set bail at $750,000. He remains in custody in the county jail. County prosecutors expected to file charges against him on Wednesday, after the Kent Reporter’s press deadline.

The man faces potential charges of first-degree assault, second-degree assault, felony eluding a police officer and reckless endangerment.

Around 4:45 p.m., Kent officers responded to a call in the 10200 block of Southeast 240th Street for another report of a subject, driving a white Honda, who had pointed a gun at another driver. The car then fled west on SE 240th Street. Officers quickly located the vehicle at the intersection of James Street and Central Avenue.

The vehicle matched the description of the vehicle that had fled from Auburn Police. As the suspect travelled north on Central Avenue, he tried to elude the officers during a pursuit.

A short standoff between the police and the subject took place as officers attempted to get the suspect to come out of the vehicle. Owing to the circumstances and the potential dangers involved, Valley SWAT responded to the scene and the suspect was safely taken into custody.

The subject appears to have sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision and gunshot wounds to his arm. Medics were on scene to provide the necessary medical attention, and he was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

“It appears this suspect’s actions threatened the public during several incidents (Saturday) and it was fortunate he was taken into custody without further risk to the community. In these types of circumstances, safety to the community, the officers, and the suspect is our highest priority,” said Kent Police Assistant Chief Derek Kammerzell.

Because of the volatile circumstances, both lanes of travel were temporarily shut down on Highway 167 for safety and containment purposes.

The investigation is being handled for Kent Police by the Valley Investigation Team, which is composed of surrounding police agency investigators. The officers involved in the discharge of their weapons have all been placed on administrative leave, which is standard practice in incidents like this.