Olympia Police Department (OPD) responded to reports of a disorderly male wielding a screwdriver and displaying alarming behavior at Barnes & Noble on Black Lake Blvd SW the afternoon of December 12.
Dispatch received information from security personnel at Barnes & Noble that a male, later identified as Richard Yi, was allegedly brandishing a screwdriver at passing cars.
As officers were making their way to the scene, additional reports surfaced, indicating that the suspect had escalated the situation by exposing himself.
The responding officers, familiar with the suspect from an earlier encounter that day, located him on the west side of Buffalo Wild Wings.
Concerned about the reported weapons, the officer promptly handcuffed the suspect.
A 3-inch knife was discovered in a shopping cart, placed beside where the suspect was standing.
The suspect claimed he pulled out the knife for self-protection after being told to leave the property.
“The suspect said that someone had told him to get off the property and raised his fist at him. He said he pulled a knife out for his protection, but he didn't threaten anyone with it,” OPD stated in their police report.
“I noticed him (the suspect) laying his sleeping bag on the sidewalk and then he pulled his pants down and exposed himself,” a witness told authorities.
The act caused concern from witnesses due to the presence of young children in the parking lot.
The witnesses asked the suspect to leave the property because of the disorderly act, but the suspect allegedly became aggressive.
“He (the suspect) became verbally aggressive, picked up rocks, and started tossing them in my direction,” another witness stated.
The witness walked towards the suspect and continued to ask him to leave, when the suspect allegedly took out a knife from inside his bag.
“I retreated to the front of the store because the suspect walked towards me in sort of like a speed-walk and had closed the distance quickly,” the witness added.
Attempts to book the suspect at Thurston County jail were initially unsuccessful due to a medical issue.
After receiving medical clearance at Capital Medical Center, the suspect was transported back to Thurston County jail and officially booked on the charges.
The office of Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney has charged the suspect with second-degree assault and indecent exposure.
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causmik
Thank you for telling of this horrible incident. My goodness I will be sure to be aware of perverts exposing themselves with screwdrivers in front of food establishments. Holy Lord! What has Olympia become. Job well done OPD.
Friday, December 29, 2023 Report this