Sword-wielding man causes trouble inside Edmonds Starbucks
EDMONDS, Wash. -- A surly, sword-wielding Starbucks customer led Edmonds police on a high-speed chase Sunday afternoon.
Employees at a Highway 99 Starbucks called police at roughly 3:30 p.m. after a man with a sword entered the store and became confrontational with employees.
As Edmonds police officers pulled into the Starbucks, they saw the armed man in the parking lot. The officers told him to stop, but the man instead got into his car and sped away on 220th Street SW, according to police.
Officers gave chase, and speeds soon reached nearly 100 miles per hour with the suspect running numerous red lights. The officers called off the chase and warned nearby police agencies to be on the lookout for the man.
Back at the Starbucks, police learned that the man had been following and harassing a female Starbucks employee. The 22-year old woman told police she recognized him from the local community college she attends. She said the pair had a class in common and he had somehow found out where she works and had taken to bringing her gifts.
On Sunday, Police say the man tried to contact the employee and was told to leave. He did, but came back soon after armed with a sword. The man didn't threaten anyone directly with the sword, though police say he did reach for the female employee.
Investigators traced the man to his address in unincorporated Lynnwood and asked Snohomish County Sheriff's deputies to look for him there.
A 7:45 p.m., deputies spotted the man parked in his car outside the home. Edmonds officers, along with a K-9 unit, arrived at the house and tried to get the man to get out of his car.
He refused, so police shot out his rear window using a less lethal SAGE round. The man then decided to get out of the car and was arrested.
The 30-year-old was booked into Snohomish County Jail on suspicion of burglary and attempting to elude police.
Employees at a Highway 99 Starbucks called police at roughly 3:30 p.m. after a man with a sword entered the store and became confrontational with employees.
As Edmonds police officers pulled into the Starbucks, they saw the armed man in the parking lot. The officers told him to stop, but the man instead got into his car and sped away on 220th Street SW, according to police.
Officers gave chase, and speeds soon reached nearly 100 miles per hour with the suspect running numerous red lights. The officers called off the chase and warned nearby police agencies to be on the lookout for the man.
Back at the Starbucks, police learned that the man had been following and harassing a female Starbucks employee. The 22-year old woman told police she recognized him from the local community college she attends. She said the pair had a class in common and he had somehow found out where she works and had taken to bringing her gifts.
On Sunday, Police say the man tried to contact the employee and was told to leave. He did, but came back soon after armed with a sword. The man didn't threaten anyone directly with the sword, though police say he did reach for the female employee.
Investigators traced the man to his address in unincorporated Lynnwood and asked Snohomish County Sheriff's deputies to look for him there.
A 7:45 p.m., deputies spotted the man parked in his car outside the home. Edmonds officers, along with a K-9 unit, arrived at the house and tried to get the man to get out of his car.
He refused, so police shot out his rear window using a less lethal SAGE round. The man then decided to get out of the car and was arrested.
The 30-year-old was booked into Snohomish County Jail on suspicion of burglary and attempting to elude police.
So everyone who works at Starbucks should be issued a sword, right?
@CoffeeCity @Starbucks Where was the good guy with a sword?
I guess he was simply upset with their prices and decided to bring a sword to argue his point.
I'm wondering what crime he actually committed prior to running from the cops, and I'm wondering by what justification the cops believed they had the right to temporary detain the man for questioning.
@mdunnThe laws surrounding blades is rather vague. Small pocket-knifes are definitely OK. Fixed-blade or larger knives are in a funky limbo that amounts, if the people around you don't mind, and the cops don't mind, it's not a problem. If it becomes a problem, then it IS a problem. Carry a fixed-blade hunting knife out hunting, you are like OK. Carry the same knife wearing gang signs in Seattle, it will likely NOT be OK. Carry a sword with a cloak and a "yes, m'lord, no, m'lady", it'd likely be OK; swinging it around, screaming crazy-talk, not OK.Â
Laws here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.41.250
@RN1 based on the article saying "The man didn't threaten anyone directly with the sword" it would appear that he didn't swing it around screaming crazy talk. I wasn't there obviously, but it doesn't sound like he was trying to conceal the sword, so RCW 9.41.250 doesn't apply. Â
@mdunn @RN1 Â
Wow....you are putting a lot of thought into this article. I can only say that between what happened, what the press knows, and what the press is reporting might not be what happened in this incident. I can guarantee you that a crime occurred somewhere, and that is why E.P.D. became involved. We will know more as details come out. Until then, your best guess is as good as anyone elses.
@mdunn It is illegal to carry a knife with a blade (in public) more then four inches. (Misdemeanor) The article also mentions that the suspect became "confrontational with employees", I do not know exactly what that means, but I am assuming it means he was asked to leave and would not (trespassing) and/or threats were made. Again, I am just reading between the lines and assuming the latter.
Furthermore, in EMC 5.24.014(B)(2)(c), the prohibition is nullified for people "carrying such knife in a secure wrapper or in a tool box while traveling from the place of purchase, from or to a place of repair, or from or to such person's home or place of business, or moving from one place of abode or business to another, or while in such person's place of abode or fixed place of business."
The language here is tricky, because it's not clear how the "ors" and "ands" line up. One interpretation of this statute is (in a secure wrapper of in a tool box) and (any of the subsequent things) but that wouldn't make sense, because of the last clause: "while in such person's place of abode." Surely the law wouldn't make it illegal for you to carry your big knife in your own home, unless it's in a secure wrapper. So it seems to me like the law is supposed to be interpreted as (in a secure wrapper or in a tool box while traveling from the place of purchase, from or to a place of repair) OR (from or to such person's home or place of business) OR (moving from one place of abode or business to another) OR (while in such person's place of abode or fixed place of business). I think it's safe to say that we are all always moving from one place of abode or business to another. Â
The only thing that would make this law stick is if the the secure wrapper or tool box condition was in addition to all of the subsequent conditions, EXCEPT the last one, and if a sheath doesn't qualify as "secure wrapper" and if it can be demonstrated that he was carrying the blade while trying to be sneaky. I think that's unlikely to stick. You are probably right about being asked to leave, however, and if he refused, he could certainly be charged with trespassing.
Obviously, he erred when he refused to stop for police. That's when he went from a trespassing charge and a weapons charge that likely wouldn't stick, to a felony.@Ventura66The story said there were no threats. In the City of Seattle, you are correct that there is a limit on the length of a blade. There is no such limit in state law, that I could find
Upon further research, however, it would appear that Edmonds Municipal Code 5.24.012 classifies a fixed blade longer than 3.5in, or a sword as a "dangerous knife" which the EMC 5.24.014(A)(2) makes illegal to "furtively" carry. Furtive means "Attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive; or Suggestive of guilty nervousness." To me, it seems like the EMC makes it illegal for him to carry it if he was attempting to be sneaky about it, which doesn't sound like was the case
@Ventura66Â Your assumption is correct ,, and not stopping when a cop says to is called"eluding" if I remember correctly.
@Snoop there's no question that the law was broken when he refused to stop. If you read my original post, I was wondering what crime he had committed PRIOR to running away from the police. Sounds like trespassing perhaps.
He wasn't saying there can be only one was he?
I will have to give credit to Indeedy from the Everett Herald comments section for this awesome comment.
"Perhaps Starbucks is not the best place to LARP.
You may also be surprised to learn that despite the fact that you may be a level 42 warrior mage ranger with +5 hit damage with an exact replica of the claymore from Highlander (the movie, not the TV show of course), girls do not think that is hot."
Swords seem to be weapon of choice in Seattle. I'd worry about a stalking gift giver with a sword
Maybe he was time-travelling?
Not a peep from the sword control crowd? I heard it was an assault sword.
@Heisenberg Â
It's only an assault sword if it has a covered handle....because then it is more dangerous.
@Ventura66Â @Heisenberg now if it was a claymore then it would be banned but if it was a rapier then it would not be because it is not a two handed sword.
@beetle73@Ventura66@Heisenbergyes, the Zweihander has that evil, assault forward grip portion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweih%C3%A4nder .
We need a bill to prevent these types of incidents.Â
@SandyBeach Sorry. Bill was home with the flu today. Walter was filling in for him, but was at the other Starbucks.
What a freak, this is why women under the age of 50 should be banned. Look at what they do to poor innocent male victims!
Well thank god the cops didnt kill this sword wielding psycho stalker. That would be a real shame, women really benefit from the character that comes from constantly having to look over their shoulders in fear of The Edmonds Samurai. Im sure one day he'll be successful in catching his prey Thanks libs!
So that is why we heard sirens speeding by at work. Going in the direction of home. Beautiful Washington just keeps getting better.
He's lucky he pulled this garbage in WA state. I know plenty of other states where they won't put up with this, and if an armed citizen didn't stop him, the police would have rammed him off the road.
WTF, people?! RT @komonews: Sword-wielding man causes trouble inside Edmonds Starbucks http://t.co/t44q2cjN
Humm, Seafair pirate having a really bad day Arrrrr
And protecting ourselves from psychos like this is a bad idea why?
Hiii-Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lots of out of work ninjas right now.....you know..........the economy and all......ya know
â@komonews: Sword-wielding man causes trouble inside Edmonds Starbucks http://t.co/7yR4r4m0â
Time to pass a law banning all swords. Someone could have been killed.
@James127Â need to pass a law banning dumb pass a law comments in here.
we get it.... though it was much funnier about 3000 times ago when it was originally told
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DzcOCyHDqc
@georgefkind of funny he made that scene because he had diarrhea.
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@stephaniedvorak You mean y'all got crazy folk running around up there in WA too?? Sword-wielding man??
@tc1261 Kinda makes you think of Lone Vengeance, huh? Did me ;)
@stephaniedvorak LOL!! :)
Stalker. Creep. And yep, @Funky-Munky is right, he needs some mental health assistance. Never to own a gun now.
@SargeMcCÂ I wouldn't give him a spork.... yikes.
"Causes trouble"? Â Seems a bit understated...
Wow, what a friggin' whackadoodle.... Glad he's in jail....  Next step.... Mental Health Facility!
Idiot, leave people the f alone if they don't want to date you. Grow up.
@Citizen#3457899654Â It's not a matter of growing up. Â He sounds like a mentally ill person who is fixated on someone. Â This isn't juvenile behavior, it's stalking behavior. Â I would be very worried if I were this girl (or her parents).
Something tells me she won't be visiting him in jail.
@Ankle Biter Which begs the question: What would Rihanna do?