NEWS

UPDATE: HISTORY OF VIOLENCE & ALCOHOL LED TO SHOOTING

By: Lyle Evansiano December 22, 2009

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department's continuing investigation of David E. Crable, the man who shot two deputies Sunday afternoon in Eatonville, has produced a bevy of background of a man with a history of violence.

As more and more information is uncovered in video and additional background, Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer talks about the ongoing investigation of the police shooting near Eatonville, and the policies surrounding domestic violence calls for assistance.



In fact his own mother, Patsy Crable, feared for her safety enough that she sought a protection order against her son in May. In that order, she described him as armed, suicidal, violent and abusing drugs.

His brother Jason Crable had also sought protection nearly two years earlier.

David Crable, in turn, sought protection orders against both his brother and mother.

Legal records indicate that the Crables legal issues began in 2007 when Jason Crable's order citing David had threatened to "kill my dogs and damage my car". David was arrested for domestic violence after he and his brother fought a few months earlier in April, but Jason dropped the charges after the two brothers reconciled.

In a May filing in Pierce County Superior Court, Patsy Crable wrote David choked his 16-year-old daughter, and threatened to punch the girl in the face. Patsy Crable said she fled her own home in Spanaway, where Crable was living with his daughter, to move in with her other son Jason, who lived in Eatonville.

Then in June, David Crable pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to unlawfully displaying a knife and to damaging property belonging to a family member. He was ordered to pay $800 in fines and court costs, to have no hostile contact with his brother Jason, and to take parenting classes.

Crable was also charged with DUI in Pierce County in February 2008, and was given a two-year diversion in July of that year after finishing treatment. He was fined $966 and sentenced to 24 hours of community service.

Crable complied with the terms of the diversion agreement until the weapons and malicious mischief charges, which resulted in his court supervision being extended for three additional years and an order for an ignition interlock device to be installed on his car.

The deputies were answering a call about an unwanted person in a house and were met at the front door by one of two brothers, Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer told The News Tribune. When they entered the house, the second brother, opened armed with a handgun and a rifle, opened fire on two Sheriff's deputies.

"This is somebody that was laying in wait for our guys, armed themselves, with the intent on shooting them," Troyer told reporters near the shooting scene. "There's not much we're going to be able to do when somebody is hiding and arming themselves and we have somebody else inviting us into the residence and the second person opens fire on us."



Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said that one sergeant and one deputy were shot last night at 8:48 p.m. while responding to a dispute between two brothers near Tanwax Lake.

Both deputies were seriously wounded after they were "ambushed" while responding to a domestic-violence call, according to the Sheriff's Department.

The shooting suspect, identified as 35-year-old David E. Crable (pictured here), was shot and killed in the Monday night shootout near Eatonville, said sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer.

A deputy, shot multiple times, was in critical condition early Tuesday morning after being flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was undergoing surgery, Troyer said.

A sergeant, a longtime veteran, was shot once and was in stable condition at Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis. He has spoken with investigators, according to a law-enforcement source.

The Sheriff's Department did not immediately identify either deputy, but both are reportedly married and have children.

The sheriff's deputies were responding to a report of an "unwanted guest" at the home. The call reportedly was placed by Crable's brother. When deputies arrived at the house, Crable's brother invited them into the home. Crable, armed with a handgun and a rifle, opened fire at 9:07 p.m. from upstairs in the house, Troyer said. Both deputies, who were wearing bullet proof vests, returned fire.

A 16-year-old girl, identified as Crable's daughter, also was in the house.

After gunfire erupted, the girl and Crable's brother dragged one of the wounded deputies into an adjoining room, barred the door, began first aid and called 911, said Troyer.

Television cameras showed police holding up sheets to protect the privacy of one of the officers after arriving at Harborview Medical Center.

Pierce County sheriff's records show Crable was convicted earlier this year of exhibiting or displaying a weapon with intent to intimidate.

He also has been arrested for malicious mischief and assault and had a no-contact order by his 16-year-old daughter who lived with Crable's brother. Troyer said Crable had a history of "terrorizing" his family.

Second Legislative District Senator Randi Becker had this to say about last night’s shooting of two Pierce County sheriff’s officers who responded to a call in the Eatonville area:

“My heart and prayers go out to two officers and their families while they experience this difficult time. I hope that the officers are able to survive their injuries and be home with their families as soon as possible. I also send my best wishes to the entire law enforcement community, which I know is reeling. The shooting of one officer is too many – the shooting of seven of these brave officers, six of them in Pierce County, in recent months is simply unacceptable.

“As an Eatonville resident I am saddened that such senseless violence has come to our area again. We must not tolerate these attacks against those who have sworn to enforce the laws we make in the Legislature.

“I am committed to working with my fellow legislators to make sure that we do everything possible to prevent tragedies like these from happening. During a time in which the Legislature will be looking to make spending reductions, it is not acceptable to sacrifice public safety or the safety of those who protect us.”

On the heels of two seperate shooting incidents in the state, interest is high and coverage is nationwide. To follow the story live CLICK HERE