Officers arrest barricaded Wahkiakum suspect
Published 7:31 pm Thursday, April 30, 2026
SKAMOKAWA — A standoff between law enforcement and a barricaded subject ended Thursday evening in Wahkiakum County following an incident that began last night, April 29.
Deputies from the Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) and the Lower Columbia SWAT Team successfully arrested the suspect at about 8:40 p.m. Details about the circumstances of the arrest were not immediately available.
The incident began Wednesday around 6 p.m. when WCSO responded to the report of multiple people assaulted, and all injured at a residence in Skamokawa.
Units first on scene found three individuals with head injuries, including one who was critical and later airlifted to a trauma center.
Assistance was requested from neighboring agencies including the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Longview Police Department and Pacific County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO). PCSO was cleared before arriving on scene, according to reports.
Reports have provided varying details about how the assault’s occurred. At present, it is believed the suspect pistol whipped the victims in their heads and may have also used a baseball bat.
Law enforcement was on scene for several hours Wednesday night. That police response was called off after officers suspected the suspect had fled into the woods.
According to at least one official, law enforcement was called back to the scene this morning after the suspect returned and began causing a “ruckus.”
WCSO deputies and SWAT rushed to the scene. The suspect barricaded himself inside a residence and refused to surrender for hours prior to his arrest.
The suspect — currently unnamed but identified as a 30-year-old Black male — is expected to face one count of first-degree assault, and potentially two counts of second-degree assault. More details, including his name, will be available later.