Unidentified male refused to come out of bathroom and later climbed into the ceiling, eventually causing damage to a pair of businesses

An unidentified male was arrested after an incident Wednesday morning in Hazel Dell.

On Wednesday (Dec. 6) at about 9:42 a.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies received a call for service at the Starbucks, located at 7720 NE Highway 99 in Hazel Dell, for an unwanted male that had been in the bathroom for approximately 40 minutes. 

Starbucks employees were requesting that the male be contacted and trespassed from the business. Deputies responded to the business and attempted to make contact with the individual. Deputies began attempting to negotiate the male out of the bathroom for approximately 30 minutes until the male climbed up into the ceiling, accessing the adjoining businesses. The male damaged ceiling tiles as he began stepping through the ceiling of the Starbucks. 

The male later accessed the Great Clips, located next to the Starbucks, by breaking through a dividing wall in the ceiling. While the male was doing this, deputies were still attempting to negotiate with the male informing him he was under arrest and needed to comply with commands. The male continued to refuse to follow commands of the deputies. The male damaged ceiling tiles of the Great Clips causing occupants of the business to evacuate.

Employees and customers were displaced from both businesses. One of the customers of Great Clips was getting his hair cut at the time, and had to exit the business.

After informing the male he was under arrest multiple times, no compliance and no dialogue being communicated, the use of a less-lethal platform was utilized. The less-lethal platform utilized was pepper-ball, which is a less-lethal platform that deploys a chemical irritant to gain compliance. The male continued to be non-compliant. At one point, the male damaged the sprinkler system causing water to flood the Starbucks. 

Clark County Fire District 6 personnel were also summoned to the scene to assist with a ladder in order to access the ceiling and later for the fire alarm and sprinkler system going off. Fire District 6 assisted with shutting off water to the building, as the water wouldn’t stop until it was done.

After more pepper-balls were deployed, the suspect became compliant and climbed down through the ceiling and was taken into custody without further incident. 

In all, Starbucks and Great Clips were closed due to the damage of both businesses. Both physical damage and financial loss were suffered by both businesses. 

The male was later transported to Clark County Law Enforcement Center, CCLEC, and booked on multiple counts of felony Malicious Mischief, Criminal Trespass, and Resisting Arrest.

Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.