Officials: Judge stabbed, officer shot in Washington state

By Phil Gast and Deanna Proeller, CNN

updated 8:46 PM EST, Fri March 9, 2012

Officers take cover outside the courthouse after the stabbing and shooting incident in Montesano, Washington.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Both of the wounded are in satisfactory condition
• A judge and an officer were wounded at a courthouse in Montesano, Washington
• Authorities scour neighborhood for suspect

(CNN) -- Officers from multiple agencies in western Washington state were looking for a suspect who fled a courthouse Friday after allegedly shooting a female officer and stabbing a judge who came to her assistance, officials said.

Undersheriff Rick Scott said the man gave his name as Michael Thomas when the officer approached him shortly after noon inside the Grays Harbor County Courthouse in Montesano.

"He attacked her with a sharp-edged instrument," Scott said. "The judge came to her aid. She attempted to draw her weapon" but the suspect fired twice, hitting her in shoulder. The judge was stabbed in the neck.

Superior Court Judge David Edwards and officer Polly Davin were in satisfactory condition at Grays Harbor Community Hospital, spokesman David Quigg said.

"They are comfortable and doing well," said Quigg, declining to detail the extent of their injuries.

The suspect was still on the loose, Scott told CNN.

CNN Seattle affiliate KIRO aired footage of officers in a residential neighborhood in Montesano.

"They believe he could be in a location in the area," said Trooper Russ Winger, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol. "They believe he is armed."

Scott said officials were not certain of the suspect's true identity.

The incident occurred in Montesano, the county seat for Grays Harbor County, west of Olympia and near the Pacific Coast. Many offices and buildings were placed in lockdown.

According to KIRO, a man garnered the attention of courthouse employees and the officer approached him.

The suspect was well-dressed and possibly carrying a briefcase, Winger said.

Montesano Police did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment.

Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Edwards to the bench in December 2007.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/09/justice/washington-courthouse-incident/index.html?eref=rss_latest

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