Police surround house in five-hour standoff, but nobody home

Peninsula Daily News ^ | 7/17/06 | ANDREW BINION

[Millee]

A five-hour standoff between Port Angeles police and a reportedly suicidal woman with a knife Friday afternoon ended without a bang, or a whimper.

She wasn't there.

Police responded to a house on the 1500 block of South K Street at 1:30 p.m. after a woman told 9-1-1 dispatchers that her adult daughter had barricaded herself inside with a knife and was suicidal.

At least four officers and one Clallam County sheriff's deputy responded to the scene.

One officer watching the back of the residence was armed with an assault rifle.

Police closed off the street immediately in front of the house and began attempting to make contact with the woman.

First negotiators tried then the phone inside, then used a ``throw phone'' common in crisis negotiations, and finally blared a bullhorn siren.

Neighbors watch

Meanwhile, neighbors and children stood outside, watching.

A State Patrol bomb squad robot device was brought to the scene, Port Angeles Police Cpl. Kevin Miller said Saturday.

The robot was deployed inside the residence, but couldn't find her.

The house was empty the whole time, Miller said.

Officers cleared the scene at 6:17 p.m., he said.

[Millee]

Sheesh. I'm surprised they didn't try to blast her out of there.

[stuartcr]

Why would an assault rifle be necessary for a potential suicide with a knife?

[SittinYonder]

One officer watching the back of the residence was armed with an assault rifle.

An officer armed with an assault rifle?

[areafiftyone]

You should have posted a "BARNEY FIFE" Alert!

[Hegemony Cricket]

'Spose this will show up as an episode of "Cops"?

[Millee]

ping!

[cripplecreek]

Once a knife tastes blood there's no telling how far it's rampage could go.

[ClearCase_guy]

In the old Naked Gun movies there are two scenes I love:

First: Ocean beach, gentle waves lapping the shore. A cop has his back to the ocean, shouting into a bullhorn "Nothing to see here! Move along! Move along!" He is surrounded by a crowd of 20 - 30 onlookers. No one else is on the beach.

Second: Nightime, a fireworks factory is ablaze. Big flames leaping up, Rockets going off indiscriminatly. A cop has his back to the factory, shouting into a bullhorn "Nothing to see here! Move along! Move along!" There is no one standing near him.

[stuartcr]

You're probably right, it could throw itself hrough a window, into a policemans neck or something.

[VRWCtaz]

"Why would an assault rifle be necessary for a potential suicide with a knife?"

Use it or lose it.

[stuartcr]

???

[cripplecreek]

It's coming right for us!!!!

[varyouga]

An even better question is why you would need a robot.

[Overtaxed]

Once a knife tastes blood there's no telling how far it's rampage could go.

Just be glad it wasn't applesauce.

[phantomworker]

The lights were on, but nobody was home?

[cowboyway]

Why would an assault rifle be necessary for a potential suicide with a knife?

SOP

Besides that, cops don't carry deer rifles.

[VRWCtaz]

When "exotic" equipment is available in some PD's arsenals it tends to get used... regardless of situational need.

[Slings and Arrows]

Why would an assault rifle be necessary for a potential suicide with a knife?

"Suicide is against the law in this town, mister! Try it and you're going down!"

[Slings and Arrows]

I'm not sure this is actually funny...ah, who am I kidding? It's hilarious!

[martin_fierro]

A five-hour standoff between Port Angeles police and a reportedly suicidal woman with a knife Friday afternoon ended without a bang, or a whimper.
She wasn't there.

My God!

She cut her whole body off!