Officers on leave following domestic disturbance death

Two Monroe Police officers are on paid administrative leave after a 29-year-old man died after being taken into custody by law enforcement during a domestic disturbance response Tuesday night in the Echo Lake neighborhood of Snohomish.

Snohomish County Multi-Agency Response Team detectives are currently investigating the March 22 altercation between law enforcement and the man, who was tased during the scuffle, according to a SMART news release. A Snohomish County sheriff's sergeant, two deputies and a master patrol deputy are also on paid leave following the incident.

Snohomish County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 12000 block of 221st Street Southeast around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, after a woman reported a disturbance there. The deputies were confronted with the man shortly after they arrived, and requested backup.

It was eight minutes before other responders made it to the home, said Edmonds Police Sgt. Josh McClure, who is also the SMART public information officer. During that time deputies also sent out a help-an-officer call, because “their lives they felt were in danger,” he said.

Law enforcement from more than 13 jurisdictions ended up responding to the call.

Four minutes after a taser was deployed and the 29-year-old man was taken into custody, he became unresponsive, according to a news release. Resuscitation efforts by responding law enforcement were unsuccessful. 

SMART's investigation will determine the role of the deputies and officers involved in the force encounter, McClure said.  He said it would be “incredibly premature to make any statement about anything that was or wasn't necessary or relevant regarding force that occurred.”

McClure said it could take weeks or months to finish the investigation, which will presumably answer how many times a taser was used, and why the first responders called for backup.

Detectives began processing the scene, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses that night, according to the release.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner will determine the identification, cause and manner of death of the 29-year-old man.