Fact Check: "The chainsaw-wielding man refused to leave the pond for over an hour."
What We Know
On a Saturday afternoon in Pierce County, Washington, deputies responded to a report of a 32-year-old man who was allegedly threatening his parents with a chainsaw. Upon arrival, the man jumped into a nearby pond and refused to exit the water. Negotiations with the man lasted approximately 40 minutes, but he remained in the pond for over an hour before deputies resorted to using a lasso to pull him to safety. After being retrieved, he was taken to a local hospital for mental health evaluation and treatment (KOMO, NBC News).
Analysis
The claim that the man "refused to leave the pond for over an hour" is supported by multiple reliable sources. According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, the man indeed stayed in the pond for more than an hour after jumping in, despite attempts to negotiate with him (NBC News). This information is corroborated by bodycam footage released by the sheriff's office, which shows the duration of the incident and the eventual use of a lasso to extract him from the water (KGW).
The sources used in this fact-check are credible news organizations and law enforcement reports. KOMO News, NBC News, and KGW are established media outlets with a reputation for accurate reporting. The information provided is consistent across these sources, reinforcing the reliability of the claim.
Conclusion
Verdict: True. The evidence clearly indicates that the chainsaw-wielding man did indeed refuse to leave the pond for over an hour, as confirmed by multiple reputable sources. The situation escalated to the point where deputies had to use a lasso to safely retrieve him from the water.
Sources
- Deputies lasso chainsaw-wielding man from pond in Pierce County - KOMO
- Washington deputy uses lasso to retrieve chainsaw-wielding man from pond - NBC News
- Deputy uses lasso to pull man from Pierce County pond - KGW
- Deputy uses lasso to pull man from Pierce County pond - KTVB
- Video Shows Deputy Using Lasso To Pull Chainsaw-Wielding Man Out Of Pond - MSN