Knife-wielding Olympia woman allegedly attacks passing couple

An Olympia woman was arrested after allegedly throwing knives at a couple and punching them as they were passing by walking their dogs.

Felicia Lillian Peterson, 44, was arrested on Aug. 24 after a reported assault involving knives at an apartment complex on the 3200 block of Capital Mall Drive SW.

The reporting party told police that he and his girlfriend were walking their dogs southbound on Alta Street when he heard a window shatter and saw a woman, later identified as Peterson, throwing items out of her apartment.

The man said Peterson yelled, “What the f*ck do you want?” to which he replied, “Nothing,” then walked toward his apartment.

As he walked past Peterson’s apartment, the man said, the suspect came out wielding three kitchen knives which she threw at him. The man said he managed to get out of the way to avoid getting hit, but noted that the knives came within 12 inches of his head.

Peterson then turned to the girlfriend, according to the couple. The woman corroborated her boyfriend’s account and added that the suspect walked over to her and punched her right cheek, prompting her to put the suspect in a headlock and bring her to the ground.

When the woman released Peterson from her hold, the suspect began advancing and swinging at her, she said. The woman said she put Peterson in a headlock multiple times to protect herself.

The suspect eventually stopped her attacks and retreated to her apartment.

Police noted that the couple appeared visibly disturbed by the incident. The girlfriend’s right cheek was also described as being red and swollen.

Authorities called Peterson and her caregiver but neither picked up. Officers around Peterson’s apartment spent about 10 minutes advising her through a patrol car’s PA system that she was under arrest, but also did not get a response.

Later, officers saw Peterson exiting her apartment through a glass door on the south side and she sat down just outside of the threshold. She was then detained. The couple positively identified Peterson as the person who assaulted them.

Peterson was booked into the Thurston County Jail for second-degree assault and simple assault. Police said the suspect was “uncooperative and did not provide a statement.”

Three knives were recovered on Alta Street, including a small knife and two others that measured about 8 and 12 inches.