Olympia | The JOLT News Organization, A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

Police Blotter for Fri.- Sun., April 16-18, 2021

Lacey Police Department On 4/16/2021 at 01:08 a.m. in the block 4600 of Martin Way E, police arrested Jordan Johnson on suspicion of an out-of-town warrant. On 4/17/2021 at 02:17 a.m. in … more

4/19/21

Another Intercity Transit bus driver harassed, this time threatened with a knife

A man threatened an Intercity Transit Bus driver at the downtown station with a knife after being told not to board with an open container of liquor on April 15, 2021. Warren Belford, 36, was … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/19/21

Attack on Asian woman at Lowes not found to be racially motivated

A Lacey woman was beaten with a traffic cone at the Lowes store in south Lacey on April 6, 2021 at 9:49 a.m. Seattle media suggested that due to the victim’s Asian ethnicity, that it was … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/16/21 | 1 comment

Image of Gary Stanley after his arrest on April 13, 2021.

Dispute over use of Wi-Fi leads to felony arrest

A couple’s disagreement over the usage of a Wi-Fi modem became a case of felony assault on Tuesday. Gary Stanley, 40, was arrested after getting in a fight with his girlfriend, the alleged … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/15/21

This is the vehicle police say belongs to Timothy Petrozzi. As of mid-day April 15, 2021, it remains parked next to gasoline pumps at the location where Petrozzi was arrested earlier in the day.

Accused stalker of elderly couple was arrested, jailed and denied bail early this morning

A man accused of repeatedly stalking and harassing an elderly Olympia couple, Timothy Petrozzi, was captured early this morning by Olympia Police. Based on the circumstances, the police worked … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/15/21

Hospital worker randomly attacked at convenience store on Monday

A medical worker experienced a random physical assault at a local convenience store on Monday evening, April 12, while on his break from his job at St. Peter Hospital. Olympia Police were already … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/14/21

Woman assaulted after referring to third-party as a "dumb redneck"

A good Samaritan witnessed a domestic violence situation happening at a local gas station and called 911. Olympia Police were able to apprehend the alleged attacker within minutes of her call to … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/14/21

Corylee Bartlett on April 12, 2021 standing on a play structure prior to his arrest. He is speaking with a police officer who is standing below the structure.

UPDATE: Police monitor suspect standing on monkey bars for three hours to prevent him from becoming injured

Corylee Everett Bartlett, who was out on parole awaiting a May 15 jury trial for a December 2020 protection order violation, was arrested again on Sun., April 11 for domestic violence and burglary at … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/13/21

Lacey Police provided this image of the car they say Corylee Everett Bartlett crashed in at North Thurston High School in 2015.

Hand sanitizer-drinking suspect held on four felonies after arrest yesterday

Corylee Everett Bartlett, who was out on parole awaiting a May 15 jury trial for a December 2020 protection order violation, was arrested again yesterday for burglary and other charges at the 2500 … more

By Danny Stusser | 4/12/21

The north section of the homeless encampment on Deschutes Parkway was mostly cleared of debris by 11:00 am on the first day of the project, Wed., April 7, 2021.

UPDATE: Cleanup of homeless encampment on Deschutes Parkway has begun

Day One of the cleanup project at the Deschutes Parkway homeless encampment started at 9 am today. Workers from Advance Environmental more

By Danny Stusser | 4/7/21

This shows a portion of the debris spread outside of the tents and other temporary shelters that are on private property along the west side of Deschutes Parkway across from Capitol Lake in Olympia. Image taken on April 5, 2021.

Olympia has contracted to clean homeless encampments on Deschutes Parkway

In a couple days, Advance Environmental will begin to clean the sprawling homeless encampments along Deschutes Parkway as a response to waste accumulation and environmental impacts at the camps on … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 4/5/21 | 1 comment

Location of 1210 West Bay Drive NW, Olympia

Olympia council approves development agreement on West Bay Drive after developer agrees to $250K Home Fund donation

In a vote of 6-1, the Olympia City Council approved a development agreement with a developer interested in constructing housing and amenities along the waters of Budd Bay on West Bay Drive NW. The … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/31/21 | 2 comments

This image is of the shield that every officer in the Olympia Police Department wears or carries.

Search for new Olympia police chief is on hold

One of the four finalists to become the permanent Olympia Police Department chief had previously been reprimanded in Kalamazoo, Michigan for grabbing a man by the throat during an arrest. The … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/26/21

The area at Beaver Creek considered for rezoning is highlighted in this image.

Rezoning effort to allow warehouses to be built near Beaver Creek receives 155 comments opposed

The Thurston County Commissioners voted unanimously to move a rezoning issue to the Official Docket of Comprehensive Plan amendments, after receiving 155 public comments against the rezoning. At … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/25/21 | 1 comment

Oly council hears opinions about proposed 478-apartment development on West Bay Drive

A public hearing at the Olympia City Council meeting last night drew a crowd of opposition and proponents of a potential project that would bring large development along West Bay Drive. At the … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/24/21

Olympia man accused of armed robbery, firing gun in hotel room

A man is being held in the Thurston County Jail on $100,000 bail after authorities say he robbed someone at gunpoint and fired a shot inside an Olympia hotel room. Bruce L. Tolle, 33, is facing a … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/23/21

This is a north-facing view of the property on which a developer is proposing to construct five mixed-use buildings and parking. The location is on West Bay Drive in west Olympia.

Gilman said he will vote against West Bay Yards development agreement

Prior to what’s sure to be a lively public hearing tomorrow for a potential large development along West Bay Drive, one member of the Olympia City Council announced he will vote against a … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/22/21 | 1 comment

Public hearing set for contentious West Bay Drive development project in Olympia

A public hearing is scheduled at 5:30 on Tuesday, March 23 for a large development project planned along West Bay Drive that would bring housing and business development opportunities to the … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/12/21

An array of solar panels is set to be installed on sections of Olympia High School's roof during the summer of 2021. A corner of the gymnasium is visible just to the right of the tree in the center of this image.

Olympia High School to be site of community solar project

Sometime over the summer, solar panels will likely be installed atop the roof of the gymnasium at Olympia High School as part of a partnership between the district and Puget Sound Energy to increase … more

By Cody Neuenschwander | 3/11/21

The City of Olympia already provides some sanitation services to the people who are camping along Wheeler Ave. SE in Olympia. This image, taken on March 9, 2021, shows portable toilets, a handwashing station and garbage dumpster. The land belongs to the State of Washington and is assigned to the Dept. of Transportation as it sits next to Interstate 5.

Homeless Camps - What’s Next?

It’s no secret that the homeless camps generate a lot of interest, frustration, concern, and a whole range of emotions from local folks. Seems there are almost as many ideas of what to do … more

By Pat Cole | 3/9/21