Sheriff's Office

For Immediate Release

PR #: 1500074
Date Issued: Jun 26, 2015 - 2:49pm

Sheriff's Office uses less-lethal force to subdue armed man barricaded in restaurant bathroom

CONTACT: Bob Harmon
Washoe County Sheriff's Office
Office 775-785-6235
Cell 775-722-5517

Washoe County Sheriff's Office Patrol and SWAT team members are being credited with saving the life of a Sun Valley man who barricaded himself while armed with a knife in the bathroom of a Sun Valley McDonald's early Wednesday morning.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24 2015, Deputies responded to the McDonald's at Sun Valley Boulevard and 1st Avenue on a report of an unwanted subject armed with a knife on the premises. The subject was later identified as Kyle Cassaday, age 27 of Sun Valley.

In the hours before the McDonald's call, Deputies had been searching the area west of Sun Valley Boulevard for a suspicious person who was reportedly entering residences claiming to be in need of assistance because he was being followed. The suspect in the McDonald's call matched the description of the suspicious person call.

Deputies responding to the McDonald's found that Cassaday was armed with a knife and had barricaded himself in one of the bathroom stalls. When Cassaday refused to comply with commands from Deputies to surrender, Deputies evacuated the McDonald's and the adjacent Quick Stop, and established a safe perimeter.

Because Cassaday was securely confined within the bathroom, supervisors decided to call on the Sheriff's SWAT and Hostage Negotiation teams in an effort to take the suspect into custody without the use of lethal force.

Cassaday did attempt to charge Deputies on two occasions while armed with the knife and was repelled by the use of less-lethal force. At approximately 2:00 a.m., the SWAT team was able to take Cassaday into custody without the use of lethal force.

Once Cassaday was in custody, Deputies discovered the suspect had stabbed himself in several places. Cassaday received immediate first aid and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Charges of are pending at this time. Investigators say that Cassaday is expected to be charged with felony charges of Resisting a Public Officer with the use of a Deadly Weapon, Assault on a Peace Officer and three counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information related to Cassaday and his activities on the night of June 23 is asked to contact the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Patrol Division at (775) 328-3350.


The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to preserving a safe and secure community with professionalism, respect, integrity and the highest commitment to equality. Sheriff Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was created in 1861. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office strives to ensure public safety by building trust and creating partnerships within the diverse communities in which we serve. We will promote the dignity of all people supported by our words and actions through open communication while fostering an environment of professionalism, integrity and mutual respect.

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