Sheriff's deputy healing after being stabbed by suspect

Suspect is in serious condition after having been shot by the deputy

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A Thurston County deputy who was stabbed on Friday while responding to a call near Yelm is expected to recover following a long time of healing, the sheriff’s office posted yesterday on their Facebook page.

The deputy, who has thus far only been identified as a woman in her mid-30s, is recovering in Providence St. Peter Hospital.

The incident is under investigation by the Region 3 Critical Incident Investigation Team, headed by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. The team is activated for major police use-of-force incidents. On Friday, the deputy shot and injured the man who stabbed her, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO). The suspect was taken to a hospital in Seattle and is in serious condition.

According to a TCSO press release, the deputy responded to the 16900 block of Holly Street Southeast in Yelm at about 8 p.m. Friday, on a call of a disturbance at a residence. A 9-1-1 caller said a man in the home was making threats. Within two minutes of the deputy’s arrival, shots were fired and the deputy told dispatch she had been stabbed.

Although authorities have yet to publicly name the suspect — who has not yet been charged with a crime — Q13 Fox News identified him as Ronald Clayton. Clayton, according to Q13, is a registered sex offender who previously served a 10-year sentence for breaking into a house and raping a woman at gunpoint. He more recently served 24 months for failing to register as a sex offender.

Hours before the attack on Friday, according to Q13, Clayton allegedly cut off a GPS monitoring tracker on his ankle in Spanaway.

The injured deputy received an outpouring of support on social media following the attack.

“She is receiving excellent care at Providence St Peter Hospital and although her healing process will be long, we know that her strength and determination will persevere,” reads a Facebook post by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. The post goes on to say cards and well wishes can be sent to the office at: Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98502.

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