KENNEWICK, Wash. – A man who escaped community custody was arrested near Highlands Middle School on Fri., May 3, causing the school to go into a precautionary lockdown, according to the Kennewick Police Department.
In a press release, KPD says Tyshawn Brooks, 19, was found by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Kennewick Police Criminal Apprehension Team near West 7th Avenue and Perry Street.
Brooks reportedly ran away from police into the backyards of multiple homes. A drone and a K9 were used to find him in the crawl space of one of the homes.
At around 2:42 p.m., Brooks came out of the crawl space and was arrested.
According to court documents, Brooks had been found guilty to first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and first-degree robbery. He was sentenced in 2022 to three years of community custody.
In a 2013 interview with NonStop Local, the Department of Corrections says community custody is like parole and has offenders check in regularly to keep tabs on their location, however offenders cannot get out of their sentences early.
If they do not check in, a warrant from the DOC is issued and police step in, like what happened with Brooks.
Community custody helps offenders succeed after finishing time in prison or jail by connecting them to resources, employment or housing options. It also holds them accountable if they violate supervision terms.
The Kennewick School District says Highlands Middle School was on lockdown from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. A NonStop Local reporter in the area said West 7th Avenue was blocked off temporarily.
