Tacoma, WA – A routine security check near the 8300 block of Portland Ave. E turned into a tense encounter this week after a man allegedly assaulted a deputy and attempted to flee from the scene, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
According to deputies, the incident began around 8 a.m. on November 4 when Community Liaison Deputies returned to an area recently cleared of a homeless encampment. Deputies reportedly found a tent set up and contacted a man and his dog. When informed he was trespassing, the man allegedly refused to provide his real name and gave several fake identities.
Deputies say that after about 20 minutes of negotiation, the man was told he would be detained until they could confirm his identity. At that point, he allegedly threw his dog at one of the deputies and tried to run. Deputies reported that he slipped, fell, and continued to struggle with law enforcement until a taser was deployed and he was taken into custody.
The 55-year-old man was booked into the Pierce County Jail as “John Doe” because deputies could not initially confirm his identity. According to the Sheriff’s Office, he was booked for aggravated assault on a police officer, harassment, resisting arrest, trespassing, and animal cruelty. A fingerprint scan conducted at the jail later revealed his real name, and deputies say he had felony warrants out of Arizona and Ohio, along with additional warrants out of Olympia.
Animal control officers took custody of the dog, which did not appear to be injured, according to the Sheriff’s Department. The dog is now being cared for at the Humane Society.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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