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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 12/02/2022 - Members of the Kittitas County Regional Tactical Response Team (KCRTRT) and the Kittitas County Regional Hostage Negotiation Team (KCRHNT) responded today to assist the Cle Elum/Roslyn Police Department with an armed barricaded subject at a local business, Moore’s Metal Work, at 1102 East First Street in Cle Elum.
Two employees of the Moore's Metal Work left the business and called 911 at around 11:30 this morning when another employee, 55-year-old Tom Hester, threatened the company’s owner and was reportedly walking around inside with a shotgun. The employees who left reported that Hester was damaging vehicles and equipment belonging to the business owner, who was not present at the time. Hester reportedly lived in a room at the business. Hester did not respond to requests or orders to surrender from Cle Elum Police Officers, and KCRTRT and KCRHNT responded for a possibly protracted standoff. Team members surrounding the business heard several gunshots from inside as the standoff progressed. Hester briefly came outside several times, sometimes shouting at the Team before going back in the business. Negotiators made repeated phone contact with Hester, his friends and family members in efforts to resolve the standoff. At about 3:30 pm, Hester peacefully surrendered to KCRTRT members and was taken into custody by Cle Elum/Roslyn Police. Hester is expected to be criminally charged for threats and property damage. The KCRTRT and KCRHNT are made up of officers and deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and local police departments who are equipped, trained, and supported by their home agencies. These interagency teams are a vital resource for smaller counties and communities like ours, where not every jurisdiction has the personnel or tools to support complex or specialized operations. Thank you to all the agencies that participate in and support our regional teams, and thank you to the people of Cle Elum for their patience and cooperation today as we worked to bring the best and safest possible conclusion to a dangerous situation.
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Chris Whitsett509-962-7525christopher.whitsett@co.kittitas.wa.us
