End of Watch: 08/05/2000
Agency: Clallam County Sheriff’s Office
County: Clallam County
On Saturday, August 5, 2000 at about 1234 hours, Deputy Wally Davis of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the home of Thomas Roberts, for the report of a disturbance. A neighbor had called 911 to report Roberts was shouting and “going crazy.”
Deputy Davis arrived at the house alone and walked up to the house. His back-up was still on the way. As he walked onto the porch, Deputy Davis was ambushed by Roberts, who shot him with a 12-gauge shotgun.
A neighbor called at 1235 hours to report shots fired.
Upon arriving at the house, two deputies and a Port Angeles officer deployed shields to remove Deputy Davis from the porch. His gun was still in his holster. Deputy Davis was transported to Olympic Memorial Hospital in Port Angeles, where he died at 1337 hours.
Roberts had a long mental health history, but was never previously convicted of any crime that would keep him from having access to weapons. He barricaded himself in the house, but finally surrendered after a 25-hour standoff.
Roberts was convicted of aggravated first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in November 2002.
Deputy Davis had been employed with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Department for five years, and served in law enforcement for 25 years. He is survived by his expectant wife and three children from previous marriages.