Man who shot towards SWAT team in hours-long standoff arrested for assault

MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. - A man was arrested for six counts of first-degree assault and one count of reckless endangerment after an hours-long SWAT standoff in Medical Lake, Sunday night.

43-year-old Joshua Richards fired several shots, including one in the direction of the SWAT team in their armored vehicle outside from a home on N. Olson Hill Court.

Spokane County deputies responded to the initial report of an armed man inside the home, possibly suicidal, around 6:30 p.m. While deputies were on the scene, they said they heard what sounded like several shots being fired from the area of the suspect's home.

SWAT and crisis negotiators arrived to de-escalate the scene and at one point, Richards pointed a rifle at the SWAT team in their armored vehicle near the home.

Then, Richards fired a shot in the direction of SWAT, but SCSO said it didn't hit the vehicle or any SWAT team members.

Eventually, crisis negotiators were able to safely lure Richards from his home and he was peacefully taken into custody.

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