Deputies Avoid Shooting Knife Wielding Cat Killer Suspect in Aloha

Aloha man accused of killing cat and resisting arrest and several other charges.

28-year old Ryan Daggett of Aloha is the suspect in the case. Photo: Washington County Sheriff's Office

(ALOHA, Ore.) - When you consider all of the police shootings that take place in the United States, it is worth noting every time officers are able to allow one more person to live. It spares a city, state or county agency the grief of a shocked and bereaved family's anger, and the negative fallout of ongoing media reports.

On that note it seems extremely fortunate that deputies were able to avoid shooting a man in a bizarre incident early Saturday morning in Aloha, Oregon. It began around 1:49 AM, when Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an address on SW Sammy Drive in Aloha to perform a welfare check.

The responding deputy made contact with 28-year old Ryan Daggett, Sgt. Vance Stimler with the Washington County Sheriff's Office said.

"Mr. Daggett was not cooperative and displayed unusual behavior. Additionally, deputies received information Mr. Daggett may have killed his cat."

Stilmer says Mr. Daggett told deputies to leave and shut his front door. Right after that the worst thing happened; a hostile subject approached the deputies with a weapon, Stilmer said.

"The responding deputies were just outside Mr. Daggett’s residence when Mr. Daggett came out of the house with a knife. He walked away from the deputies toward an unmanned patrol car and slashed two tires on the patrol vehicle," Stilmer said.

"The responding Sheriff’s deputies gave orders for Mr. Daggett to drop the knife. He threw the knife in the direction of the deputies. Mr. Daggett then advanced toward the deputies."

Stilmer says the man was given several commands to stop and get on the ground.

"He did not comply and was shot with a Taser, which had no effect. He was then sprayed with pepper spray, which also had not effect. Mr. Daggett then ran from the scene."

The deputies at no time fired their guns at the knife wielding, tire slashing and as it turned out, animal killing suspect.

"Deputies caught up with him and after a brief struggle, took him into custody." Stilmer says he was taken to Tuality Hospital and cleared to be taken to the Washington County Jail.

No details were available but Stilmer confirmed that the man was under investigation for intentionally killing a feline.

"Through the course of the investigation, Sheriff’s deputies learned that Mr. Daggett killed his cat earlier the evening before on May 30th."

He was lodged in the Washington County Jail on charges of first-degree Aggravated Animal Abuse, first-degree Criminal Mischief, Resisting Arrest, four counts of Menacing and Unlawful Use of Weapon