A man wearing tactical gear outside a Kennewick elementary school on Wednesday allegedly led police on a chase before hiding under a porch.
A paraeducator spotted Jacob Corbin, 28, acting strange in a field next to Amon Creek Elementary School about 8:15 a.m.
About the same time, a concerned parent noticed Corbin was dressed in black, had a backpack and appeared to have “tactical” gear, according to a news release from Kennewick police.
Corbin was reportedly doing “karate motions in the air.”
The parent and the paraeducator contacted a school security officer. The district and the police department recently partnered on a program to hire retired police officers for Kennewick’s elementary schools.
The parent continued to watch Corbin while the security officer radioed police. The school also was placed on a lockdown.
When Richland and Kennewick officers arrived on the school, Corbin started heading south.
Corbin reportedly began jumping fences in the Hanson Park neighborhood on the 8600 block of West Third Avenue. He was found under the deck of a home and refused to come out.
When police tried talking with him, he wouldn’t respond, said the release.
“This became a complicated situation as it was unknown what Corbin possessed and he would not communicate or make an attempt to exit the porch,” the news release said.
Officers attempted to use pepperballs, which are paintballs filled with the same chemical that is in pepper spray. They fired them into the ground, hoping the fumes would be enough to force him out.
They also fired a rubber baton at him, which hit his leg.
After he still didn’t respond, officers cut a hole in the deck to reach him.
Corbin did not have a weapon but he was wearing a garment around his waist that is used to hold rifle magazines.
He was booked into the Benton County jail on suspicion of three counts of second-degree trespassing, obstructing an officer, resisting arrest and possession of methamphetamine.
Kennewick Commander Isaac Merkl stressed the importance of people reporting suspicious activity.
“This is especially important around our schools,” the release said. “We are grateful for the quick actions of the paraeducator and parent, the actions and communications from the school safety officer and the strong relationship with the Kennewick School District.”
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