Carjacking Suspect Arrested After SWAT Standoff In Graham

GRAHAM, WA — A Pierce County SWAT team surrounded a house in the Graham area Monday morning after an armed carjacking suspect forced his way into the home and held an elderly man at gunpoint, according to the sheriff's department. Investigators announced the man was in custody shortly after 2:30 p.m.

The sheriff's department said the suspect, a 30-year-old man, carjacked a vehicle from a home on 245th Street East at 10 a.m. A few minutes later, a deputy spotted the stolen car driving nearby and began to pursue. The man turned on a dirt road off 86th Avenue East, then abandoned the car and ran through the woods and across a field.

According to investigators, the suspect entered a home on 82nd Avenue East and forced a 91-year-old man to the floor. The homeowner was able to escape and was not harmed.

A SWAT team, K9 unit and crisis negotiators worked to resolve the situation for several hours. The sheriff's department said the suspect was taken into custody Monday afternoon.

School resource deputies responded to nearby North Star Elementary School while the standoff continued. The sheriff's department said the school campus was safe and parents and buses would be allowed access as normal.