City Council member taken into protective custody

Chad Sokol Evergreen reporter Rachael Trost Evergreen contributor

Pullman City Council member Derrick Skaug was taken into protective custody Wednesday afternoon after Pullman Police responded to reports that Skaug was running around his apartment holding a knife.

In an interview with Murrow News 8, Sgt. Sam Sorem of the Pullman PD said, “We responded to a report of an adult man, college age, that was acting bizarrely. Some of the behavior (included) throwing belongings – we are assuming his belongings – off the balcony. We were told he had a knife in his hand.”

Police began receiving reports Tuesday night of a man acting strangely. They responded Wednesday afternoon with guns drawn to Skaug’s address at Meadow Brook Apartments in Pullman.

“We entered the apartment, and he locked himself in the bathroom,” Sorem said. “So we basically had a dialogue through the door for a while, and eventually he came out.”

Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson said Skaug remains a member of the Pullman City Council.

“If he sends a letter of resignation, he will be resigned from the Council,” Johnson said.

He said Skaug was appointed – not elected – to his seat on the Council. He said two individuals are running for election to the position, which will take place in November.

Sorem said police did not arrest Skaug.

They took him into protective custody and transported him to Pullman Regional Hospital, where doctors will decide the best course of action.

“Ultimately it’s a welfare check,” Sorem said. “And it looked to me like he needed professional help, so we took him into protective custody, which we are allowed to do.”

A member of Skaug’s family commented on Skaug’s Facebook page and said, “Derrick is okay and with family.”