MONTESANO, Wash. – A 34-year-old man suspected of stabbing a judge and shooting a sheriff's deputy with her own weapon in a courthouse struggle and then calling his mother for a ride has been arrested in Washington State Saturday.
"After we sent out information this morning, the suspects mothers contacted Thurston County officers who are now on scene trying to communicate with the suspect," Sheriff Rick Scott of Grey's Harbor County said.
The suspect has been identified as Steven Daniel Kravetz, the lone assailant in Friday's attack in Montesano, Wash., which injured Judge David Edwards and Deputy Polly Davin.
"He acted alone and we know him to be the assailant," Scott said. "We're operating under the belief that he's still armed."
Kravetz fled the courthouse with the officer's .45-caliber handgun after the attack and showed up about an hour or so later at the office of his former attorney and asked to the use the phone, Scott said.
The attorney had represented Kravetz a number of years ago and "didn't know anything was up," Scott said.
Investigators believe Kravetz called his mom, identified as Roberta Dougherty, at about 3 p.m. and that she apparently gave him a ride out of the area, Scott said.
"We don't know what her knowledge or involvement is," the undersheriff said, adding: "We're concerned for her welfare. We don't know what his mental, emotional state was following the incident."
Around noon Friday, the deputy responded to a report of a suspicious person at the courthouse and confronted a man, Scott said. During a struggle, she was stabbed with either a small knife or scissors.
The judge intervened, striking the assailant, who then stabbed him, authorities said.
Davin reached for her gun, but it was wrestled away by the man, who shot twice, striking her in the shoulder before fleeing, Scott said.
Both the judge and the sheriff's deputy were treated and released from a hospital hours after the attack.
"Why he was at the courthouse yesterday remains a mystery," Scott said, adding that his motive is unclear.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
