PULLMAN, WA – A Pullman man was taken into custody Sunday afternoon following a tense standoff that prompted a significant law enforcement response in a residential neighborhood.
According to the Pullman Police Department, officers were dispatched around 10:40 a.m. on May 4 to a domestic violence incident at a home in the 1000 block of SW Monta Vista Circle. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Jayson Kramlich, had allegedly assaulted family members, threatened to kill them, and armed himself with a knife. Family members were able to safely exit the home before officers arrived.
Kramlich then barricaded himself inside the residence and reportedly claimed he was armed with a shotgun. He also made threats toward responding officers. Due to the escalating danger, the Whitman County Regional SWAT Team—comprised of members from the Pullman Police Department, Whitman County Sheriff’s Office, and Washington State University Police—was activated and dispatched to the scene.
Crisis negotiators made multiple attempts to communicate with Kramlich and convince him to surrender peacefully, but he eventually stopped responding.
Around 2:30 p.m., SWAT officers opened the front door of the residence and deployed a drone to assess the situation. Kramlich unexpectedly charged through the doorway and assaulted an officer. He was quickly subdued and taken into custody. Both Kramlich and one officer sustained minor injuries; Kramlich was treated at the scene by Pullman Fire Department medics, and the injured officer did not require medical treatment.
Kramlich was booked into the Whitman County Jail on several charges, including fourth-degree domestic violence assault, felony harassment, second-degree assault, intimidating a public servant, and resisting arrest.
Pullman Police Chief Jake Breshears praised the collaborative effort of the SWAT team, stating, “The professionalism of these officers during a time of crisis was instrumental in bringing closure to this incident, and crucial for ensuring the safety of our community.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
