Assault suspect was hiding in the attic under insulation, Thurston Sheriff says

Two men were taken into custody after an incident that ended in the attic of a Tenino home, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said in a social media post.

It began Friday morning when sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a report of shots fired off Tilley Road in south Thurston County. However, detectives determined that no shots were fired, but that a victim was beaten with a metal pipe, Sanders said in his post.

Deputies found one of those suspects in the attic of a Tenino home in the 1200 block of Central Avenue East. The man refused to surrender, Sanders said.

“Due to the severity of the crime and the knowledge of an outstanding firearm, K9, SWAT, and drone operators were requested as a search warrant was obtained for the house,” Sanders said in his post.

SWAT members finally climbed up and detained the man.

Two suspects were ultimately arrested, according to Sanders.

Saturday’s Thurston County jail log showed that two men, ages 40 and 33, were arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, second-degree assault with a weapon and fourth-degree assault.

This story was originally published September 7, 2025 at 11:41 AM.