EDMONDS – An Edmonds man who reportedly showed signs of escalating erratic and violent behavior was arrested Friday after he allegedly attacked a locksmith with a sledgehammer.
The man, 45, reportedly hit a Mukilteo locksmith in the face during a dispute over fees for the locksmith’s service.
The Edmonds man was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree assault with a weapon. He appeared Monday in Everett District Court, where bail was set at $100,000.
The morning prior to his arrest, the man was released from Compass Mental Health, where he underwent a three-day mental health evaluation. He was sent there after police arrested him for reportedly throwing hot coffee on someone in downtown Seattle, according to court records.
Edmonds police also recently seized firearms from the man’s house after he reportedly fired a gun inside. Officers came to the house a second time after he reportedly lit a fire in his driveway with gasoline, police wrote in court papers.
Friday, the man called police about 6:40 p.m. reporting gunfire at his home.
“He reported that shots were fired just to get the cops there quickly,” Edmonds police Sgt. Don Anderson said.
When officers arrived, they saw the man striking a van with a sledgehammer and then struggling with another man over the tool, according to court records.
The man then struck the victim, 47, in the mouth with the sledgehammer, knocking out a tooth and chipping several others, according to court papers.
The man reportedly refused to drop the tool and an officer used a stun gun to bring him under control, police said.
The man told police the locksmith wanted to be paid for coming to his house because he was locked out. The man refused to pay, telling the locksmith he’d already called another company.
The suspect called police and ran after the locksmith with a broom. He then grabbed a sledgehammer and attacked the locksmith’s van, breaking its headlights.
The locksmith tried to intervene but the man swung the sledgehammer at the locksmith, hitting him in the face, according to court records.
The suspect told police he was defending himself and his property.
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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