RAYMOND — A medical emergency call in Raymond took a wild turn after a man threatened an ambulance crew, resulting in his arrest. The incident unfolded on Feb. 8 at 2:30 p.m. on 13th St.

The Raymond Fire Department was dispatched to the call after a man called 911 and reported he was having a medical emergency.

Jason T. Stonehouse, 51, had a warning attached to his dispatch records due to previous aggression toward emergency responders.

The warning prompted the Raymond Police Department to respond and check out the scene for safety reasons. An officer drove through the area to confirm it was safe but didn’t immediately contact Stonehouse.

Crew threatened

According to court records, upon contact with the ambulance crew, Stonehouse stated he was going to retrieve a firearm from inside his residence and planned to shoot them. The ambulance crew took cover behind a police vehicle while an officer confronted Stonehouse.

Additional units were requested to the scene.

“As I approached the residence, Stonehouse had been seated on the porch with an item on his lap,” Officer Michael Oropeza-Ramirez states in court records. “Stonehouse then stood up, grabbed a brown holster from his lap, and took out a small, black item that appeared to me to be a firearm.”

“The firearm was black, shiny and appeared to be a revolver, which is a type of pistol. When Stonehouse removed the revolver from the holster, he removed it with his left hand and brought it out of the holster and brought it up to his head height,” Oropeza-Ramirez added.

Oropeza-Ramirez drew his firearm in preparation to protect himself and the ambulance crew.

“Stonehouse advised me multiple times, ‘If you come onto my property, I will shoot you,’” Oropeza-Ramirez stated. “Due to Stonehouse’s behavior up to that point and the revolver in his hand, while he said this, I was fearful that Stonehouse would attempt to kill me with the firearm.

“I told Stonehouse that I will walk away if he puts the gun away. Stonehouse continued to yell at me for approximately one minute. Stonehouse appeared to me to be very upset and was screaming and yelling in a belligerent manner. Stonehouse eventually advised me that he would put the gun away but doesn’t want Raymond Aid. I observed Stonehouse put the firearm back into the holster and then placed the holster on the chair beside him,” Oropeza-Ramirez added.

Ambulance crew members told Oropeza-Ramirez that the man just suddenly snapped and said he had a shotgun and pistol and would kill them after a “cooperative” initial encounter.

The exact reason for the sudden escalation is not apparent. Comments from Stonehouse suggest it may have been due to displeasure with the care he previously received at Willapa Harbor Hospital.

According to the ambulance crew, Stonehouse had three firearms inside his residence, and after threatening to shoot them, they said they would leave. He replied that he would shoot them the next time he saw them.

“Both [responders] advised they felt this was a credible threat as Stonehouse has a history of being difficult and attempting to assault them,” Oropeza-Ramirez stated in court records. “Both advised they felt it was something that caused them fear and that Stonehouse was capable of carrying out, especially because after they left, Stonehouse went into the residence to retrieve the firearm.”

Additional response

South Bend Police Department Officer Eric Fuller responded to the scene, and as backup, the duo worked with guidance from RPD Sgt. Arlie Boggs about how to tactically take Stonehouse into custody — either with a ballistic shield to approach or talking him away from the residence and firearms.

“I made phone contact with Stonehouse and asked him to leave the gun inside the residence,” Oropeza-Ramirez stated. “Stonehouse kept advising that he is just protecting his house and doesn’t want anyone to walk on his property. I advised him that we are trying to move the ambulance, but I don’t want my people getting shot at when they do.”

“Stonehouse advised me that he can leave the gun outside, and I can come and talk to him inside the residence,” Oropeza-Ramirez added. He did so and eventually agreed to speak with officers ourside.

Oropeza-Ramirez and Fuller were able to make peaceful contact, which allowed the ambulance crew to escape the area. However, the peaceful contact was short-lived after Stonehouse became hostile toward Oropeza-Ramirez and would only talk to Fuller.

That chat apparently did not go very well and resulted in Stonehouse attempting to retreat back into his home with at least two firearms still inside. Fuller was able to grab onto the man’s shoulder and stop his retreat.

After being evaluated at the hospital, Stonehouse was arrested for two counts of felony harassment for threatening to kill the ambulance crew.

He appeared for a preliminary hearing in Pacific County Superior Court on Feb. 11, and Judge Donald J. Richter ordered that he be held without bail and undergo a competency evaluation.