Police: Man suffering mental health crisis punches Kennewick officer

Officers say a man who threatened to hurt those at a medical clinic and later punched a Kennewick police officer in the face, may have had a mental health crisis.

Kennewick police officers say around 10:00 a.m. Tuesday Luke Romine entered the Total Care Clinic with a knife and started threatening those inside. Officers say when they arrived Romine ran into a back room and initially used a nurse as a shield, but officers were able to get the nurse to safety.

Then, Romine punched an officer in the face as he was being arrested. Kennewick police say it took about six officers to handcuff the man.

Kennewick police believe the man may have had a mental health crisis and he is now facing charges of assault in the 3rd degree.