Port Angeles woman arrested after standoff

Police: Woman had knife, threatened to light herself on fire

PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles woman was arrested Thursday after a standoff with police following a domestic disturbance at her westside residence.

Dana E. Parker, 35, surrendered peacefully shortly after 9 a.m. at her house on the 1900 block of West Sixth Street near Crown Park, police said.

She had barricaded herself inside the residence after her relatives had left, police said.

Police were called at about 3:20 a.m. Thursday to investigate a report of a woman who was “out of control, suicidal, had a knife to her own throat, was threatening to light herself on fire, and had attacked and strangled a victim,” police said.

The woman had brandished a handgun, charged a victim with a knife and had lit items on fire, police said.

After confirming that all of the victims were outside the residence, police surrounded the house and began negotiations with Parker.

The talks were led by a Port Angeles police officer and Clallam County sheriff’s deputy who have specialized training in negotiations, Deputy Chief of Police Jason Viada said.

“Obviously, given all the factors that we were dealing with, the potential for tragedy was substantial,” Viada said in a Thursday interview.

“But we were able to bring the incident to a peaceful resolution through negotiation.”

Parker was evaluated at Olympic Medical Center before she was booked into the Clallam County jail for investigation of second-degree assault with domestic violence, Viada said.

A woman who was allegedly strangled reported a neck injury but declined medical aid, Viada said.

Police established a command post at Crown Park during the incident. Police found ammunition inside the house but had not found a firearm as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Elwha Police, Sequim police and State Patrol assisted Port Angeles police.

“Our officers did a really great job of making this arrest without tragedy,” Viada said in a telephone interview.

“I think they deserve recognition for that, and I also appreciate every agency that we called being willing to say yes and send resources.”

Parker is expected to make an initial appearance in Clallam County Superior Court today.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.