The hunt for a fugitive who reportedly shot at deputies in the Tenino area, piercing a deputy’s vehicle last Thursday, is over, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
Damien Madison, 27, had been on the run since May 8, when authorities reported he shot at deputies in the Tenino area and pierced a deputy’s vehicle. Sheriff Sanders gave the update on Tuesday that his colleagues involved are doing well, and he emphasized he wants to make sure Madison stays locked up “for good” after the fugitive was arrested Tuesday near the Arizona-California border.
Sheriff Sanders explained in a press conference Tuesday afternoon he’s hopeful he can now sleep at night upon seeing a photo of the 10-time felon in FBI custody.
“Are you relieved to see him in cuffs after the scene we saw last week?” KOMO’s Jackie Kent asked.
“Yes, I haven’t slept since the shooting, so hoping tonight I can get some rest,” Sanders responded. “Happy to know the community is not in danger anymore, that no other police officers were killed. That was another concern of mine. We know with the statements he was making, he was potentially armed.”
The days-long manhunt started with a dramatic chase. On May 8, an SUV associated with Madison was spotted by a deputy but sped away after initially pulling over. Dash camera video shows deputies chasing the SUV, and they claim Madison was the passenger who tossed items at the deputy, trying to make the car crash, according to the TCSO. Those items included a large toolbox, a motorcycle helmet, a gun, and a chainsaw. A deputy avoided being hit by less than a foot, officials added.
Madison reportedly escaped into the woods, and the driver was arrested.
On Tuesday afternoon, “the FBI Criminal Apprehension Team and other agents took Damien and his mother into custody after coordinating a Grappler deployment on their vehicle near the Nevada-California state line with air support overhead,” Thurston County Sheriff Derrick Sanders said on his Facebook page.
Sheriff Sanders reports Madison had fled south with another accomplice, then it’s believed his mother picked him up. Law enforcement tracked them as they were heading to Arizona, where his mother lives. Sanders explained what happened next.
“Our federal partners threw a lot of resources at them, and from my understanding, conducted a pre-emptive grapple, so no emergency lights [and] no warning. They had a feeling that mom would flee and get to a high-speed chase to try and keep her son out of custody,” Sanders stated. “A stark warning to anyone who wants to engage in this kind of behavior: there is no escape. I can tell you right now, you may be able to get away from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office temporarily, but we’re going to ask for as much help as we can, and I can tell you right now, you’re not getting away from the federal government.”
Madison had several warrants out for his arrest, including for a drive-by shooting and first-degree assault. Sanders explained that authorities are working to get search warrants for the vehicle and are starting the extradition process for Madison.
There remain unanswered questions that KOMO News is working to get answers to, including the identity of his initial accomplice, and what charges she and Madison’s mother could be facing.
