Bail Set At $1 Million Dollars For Everett, Washington Courthouse Standoff Suspect

The man who caused the closure of several city blocks in Everett, Washington Monday by bringing multiple weapons into the lobby of the Snohomish County Courthouse made his first appearance in court today at a probable cause hearing.

After the suspect and his defense attorney objected to Judge Anthony Howard ruling on the case as he was in the courthouse yesterday during the incident, Judge Jennifer J. Rancourt from Cascade District Court took over via video and set bail at $1 million dollars for the man. (Editor’s note: Per our policy as the man has been arrested but not yet charged, we are not naming him-LD)

Judge Rancourt found probable cause for the arrest of the 32-year-old Woodinville man on a felony count of unlawful possession of a firearm in the 2nd degree which is a class C felony. She also found probable cause for four misdemeanors. The Snohomish County Prosecutor now has three days to file formal charges or release the man.

In probable cause papers a detective wrote that the man brought the following property to the entrance lobby of the courthouse.

Two high powered rifles (7.62×39 caliber) with affixed bayonets from the duffel bag he carried in. Both rifles had loaded magazines and chambered rounds. (The presence of chambered rounds indicates to me that that both rifles were prepared such that they could have been fired without additional manipulation);

A Glock 17 9mm handgun with loaded magazine from the holster on suspect’s chest (There were two 31 round magazines and one 17 round magazine for this gun removed from the chest rig that suspect had been wearing);

A Smith and Wesson .45 caliber handgun with loaded magazine from the concealed appendix carry holster;

A Smith and Wesson .44 mag revolver with loaded cylinder (believed to have been in the back of suspect’s pants when he entered the courthouse);

A Keltec .32 caliber pistol with loaded magazine recovered from a pouch from the inside of suspect’s left thigh pocket, fully concealed until it was removed post arrest;

Over 300 rounds of rifle and pistol ammunition;

Soft ballistic armor vest;

Vest with front and back hard ballistic armor plates; Two backpacks with ballistic armor inserts;

Numerous journals with rambling handwritten notations; At least six knives, a hatchet and a pair of brass knuckles.

 
According to probable cause paperwork filed by the detective, the man was upset over recent court rulings and demanded to see two Judges and the Snohomish County Sheriff to resolve conditions over a child custody ruling. The detective wrote the man told officers he brought the guns into the Courthouse to get official’s attention and make them listen to him.

Here’s the press release sent out by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office following today’s hearing.

Around 12:30 p.m. Monday, a 32-year-old Woodinville man entered the Snohomish County Courthouse armed with multiple firearms. The suspect entered into the lobby and was immediately confronted by law enforcement Marshals prior to the security checkpoint. The Marshals ordered the suspect to drop his weapons. The suspect placed two rifles on the ground but refused to disarm himself of additional firearms on his person. The Marshals contained the suspect in the lobby and placed the Courthouse in a lockdown.

More than 80 police units responded to the courthouse, including the Sheriff’s Office, Everett Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Region 1 SWAT and the FBI. SWAT negotiators arrived on scene and began communicating with the suspect in an effort to get him to surrender. Other municipal agencies throughout south Snohomish County covered priority patrol calls while deputies were on scene.

The Snohomish County Campus remained in lockdown for three hours. At approximately 3:30 p.m., negotiations with the suspect were successful and he surrendered without incident. The 32-year-old Woodinville man was arrested and booked into the Snohomish County Jail.

The suspect was booked for intimidating a judge, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, carrying a concealed pistol without a permit, disorderly conduct and entering where weapons are prohibited.

During the investigation, Major Crimes Unit detectives recovered two rifles, four handguns, over 300 rounds of ammunition, a ballistic armor vest, multiple ballistic armor inserts, six knives, a hatchet and brass knuckles from the Courthouse lobby.

The 32-year-old suspect had his initial court appearance at 1 p.m. today and his bail was set at $1 million.