A26-15817 Assault 1 Arrest, SWAT Mission (Photo)
- 07/20/26
PRESS RELEASE
A26-15817 ASSAULT 1st DEGREE INVESTIGATION
JULY 20, 2026
At 0111 hours of July 20th, 2026, Cowlitz 911 received a call from a male in the 1500 block of West Side Hwy, Kelso, requesting law enforcement remove his wife from the property. The caller, identified as 58-year-old resident James M. Wood, mentioned suicide during the 911 call. Deputies had previously received information indicating that Wood had communicated an intent to force police to shoot him. Deputies were able to contact Wood by phone at this time.
At 0157 hours, Cowlitz 911 received a call from Wood’s wife, who reported that Wood was armed and had held her against her will. The female had fled to a neighboring residence. Deputies responded to the area and safely removed the female from the area. Deputies learned Wood had reportedly pointed a pistol at her, threatened her life and would not let her leave the residence for a period of approximately four hours. Wood had also reportedly assaulted the female, leaving visible bruising. The female confirmed Wood was armed with two pistols inside their trailer.
The Lower Columbia SWAT Team was activated, and a search warrant was obtained by deputies. Wood complied with commands and was safely taken into custody. During the service of the search warrant, deputies recovered two pistols and other evidence from the trailer. James Wood was booked into Cowlitz County Jail on charges of Assault 1st Degree – Domestic Violence, Unlawful Imprisonment – Domestic Violence, Assault 4th Degree – Domestic Violence, and Interfering with the Reporting of Domestic Violence.
Undersheriff Troy Brightbill
Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office
A26-15817 Assault 1 Arrest, SWAT Mission (Photo)
- 07/20/26
PRESS RELEASE
A26-15817 ASSAULT 1st DEGREE INVESTIGATION
JULY 20, 2026
At 0111 hours of July 20th, 2026, Cowlitz 911 received a call from a male in the 1500 block of West Side Hwy, Kelso, requesting law enforcement remove his wife from the property. The caller, identified as 58-year-old resident James M. Wood, mentioned suicide during the 911 call. Deputies had previously received information indicating that Wood had communicated an intent to force police to shoot him. Deputies were able to contact Wood by phone at this time.
At 0157 hours, Cowlitz 911 received a call from Wood’s wife, who reported that Wood was armed and had held her against her will. The female had fled to a neighboring residence. Deputies responded to the area and safely removed the female from the area. Deputies learned Wood had reportedly pointed a pistol at her, threatened her life and would not let her leave the residence for a period of approximately four hours. Wood had also reportedly assaulted the female, leaving visible bruising. The female confirmed Wood was armed with two pistols inside their trailer.
The Lower Columbia SWAT Team was activated, and a search warrant was obtained by deputies. Wood complied with commands and was safely taken into custody. During the service of the search warrant, deputies recovered two pistols and other evidence from the trailer. James Wood was booked into Cowlitz County Jail on charges of Assault 1st Degree – Domestic Violence, Unlawful Imprisonment – Domestic Violence, Assault 4th Degree – Domestic Violence, and Interfering with the Reporting of Domestic Violence.
Undersheriff Troy Brightbill
Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office
