Police talk down alleged rape victim threatening to jump
SEATTLE - After hours of tense negotiations, police took a woman into custody who had been walking along the roof of the King County courthouse, threatening to jump.
The woman is an alleged victim in a sexual assault trial and was threatening to commit suicide amidst the trial of the accused rapist, sources tell KOMO News.
The woman had been walking for hours on the roof of the King County Courthouse and a skybridge that links buildings in the courthouse complex, threatening to jump, before she was talked down by negotiators.
The woman is a 21-year-old alleged sexual assault victim in the child rape case of State vs. Salvador Cruz, and she was scheduled to be a witness later in the trial. Sources say the woman is one of several alleged victims in the trial.
The woman's mother had been testifying through most of Thursday morning. The accused rapist, who is the mother’s ex-boyfriend, is acting as his own attorney and was cross-examining the mother.
The 21-year-old became upset as the trial proceeded, sources said. She bolted from the courtroom, went through a door that was left propped open by a maintenance crew and out onto the roof.
Once on the roof, the woman texted the deputy prosecuting attorney in the case telling him she was going to jump.
Police negotiators began talking with the woman as she walked along the ledge and roof of the courthouse and the skybridge connecting it with other buildings.
After hours of negotiations, the woman allowed officers to come closer and hand her a water bottle. She then was taken into custody by police and is now safe.
Two entrances to the King County Administration Building were closed during the standoff, along with some downtown streets. All are now reopened.
The woman is an alleged victim in a sexual assault trial and was threatening to commit suicide amidst the trial of the accused rapist, sources tell KOMO News.
The woman had been walking for hours on the roof of the King County Courthouse and a skybridge that links buildings in the courthouse complex, threatening to jump, before she was talked down by negotiators.
The woman is a 21-year-old alleged sexual assault victim in the child rape case of State vs. Salvador Cruz, and she was scheduled to be a witness later in the trial. Sources say the woman is one of several alleged victims in the trial.
The woman's mother had been testifying through most of Thursday morning. The accused rapist, who is the mother’s ex-boyfriend, is acting as his own attorney and was cross-examining the mother.
The 21-year-old became upset as the trial proceeded, sources said. She bolted from the courtroom, went through a door that was left propped open by a maintenance crew and out onto the roof.
Once on the roof, the woman texted the deputy prosecuting attorney in the case telling him she was going to jump.
Police negotiators began talking with the woman as she walked along the ledge and roof of the courthouse and the skybridge connecting it with other buildings.
After hours of negotiations, the woman allowed officers to come closer and hand her a water bottle. She then was taken into custody by police and is now safe.
Two entrances to the King County Administration Building were closed during the standoff, along with some downtown streets. All are now reopened.
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