A 39-year-old man was arrested following an alleged assault that left another man hospitalized with facial injuries, the Olympia Police Department said in a report.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 20, near the intersection of Martin Way E and Devoe Street SE when a pedestrian carrying a box of books was passing by the suspect’s home.
The suspect, identified in a police report as Christopher McCracken, was outside his home when the victim passed by. He confronted the pedestrian before physically striking him in the face.
Emergency responders arrived first and transported the injured man to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia for treatment.
Medical staff at the hospital confirmed the victim suffered a broken nose and potential fractures to the nasal cavity.
A witness, a neighbor of the suspect, stated that McCracken acts like the neighborhood’s "block watch." The suspect and his wife are the subjects of many police complaints for being aggressive toward the homeless or transients near his residence.
“Christopher (the suspect) and Nyssa have previously stated they have a 9mm handgun and will confront, shoot and assault the homeless if not moved along from the area,” the Olympia Police Department report states.
The victim later told officers he believed the confrontation may have stemmed from the suspect’s suspicion that he took the box from his home, but said there was no provocation for the attack.
During questioning, the suspect initially denied any physical contact, but later admitted to hitting the man, claiming he believed the victim was reaching for his phone.
The suspect described the action as a “slap,” though medical findings suggest the force was substantial enough to cause significant injury.
Following interviews with the victim and a witness, and based on physical evidence, police placed the suspect under arrest for second-degree assault. He was booked into the Thurston County Corrections Facility.
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TheVirtualOne
I’m no fan of using violence to solve problems, but the City of Olympia continues to allow dangerous people roam our streets without any intervention. What are citizens supposed to do in this situation? I was parked in town near the Bread Peddler this morning and had to move my vehicle because a vagrant was acting out, making me very nervous. He was obviously on drugs. After leaving, I drive a few blocks away near Perceval Landing and went by another vagrant who was standing on the sidewalk in a zombie like catatonic position, head staring down at the ground. Again, an obviously tripped out druggie. So much for the walk I wanted to take near the waterfront. Unfortunately, this is what it is like living in many areas of our city now. Where are you police? What are you doing about this mayor and city council?
Thursday, July 3 Report this
BobB
OMG! He was reaching for his phone! I guess we all need to be more careful out there.
Thursday, July 3 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Funny!
Friday, July 4 Report this
TheGreatAnon
The inanity of TheVirtualOne is staggering. They express their fear of a pair of strangers who took no alarming actions toward them and yet is silent on the fact that there appears to be a violent vigilante across from the Intercity headquarters assaulting innocent Olympians. God help them should they be a rash as carrying a box of books in the area.
Friday, July 4 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Without you being there, how would know these vagrant druggies weren’t acting in a menacing manner? I could have gone on further with the details that alarmed me about their behavior, but I spared the further details because they were not the main point. Let me provide a few more details now. The individual near the Bread Peddler harassed 3 other individuals who happened to walk by during the 5-10 minute period of time I was parked nearby. The zombie druggie near Percival Landing frightened two little old ladies as they cautiously crossed the street within proximity of him. Nearly all businesses in the downtown area particularly have suffered because fewer people go there due to the hood like atmosphere that now exists. My main point is that public drug use and its effects on the community are crippling our city, with little to no response from our public protection agencies or politicians. I used to bring small children to the playground near Percival Landing until I found drug needles on the ground near there. I no longer do that, as I know many others do not. This is about taking our city back and making the public areas safer instead of allowing it to continue on a downward spiral into becoming a permanent place for crime, drug dealing, homelessness, and parks that are no longer safe. Remember the park near the artesian well? Millions of taxpayer money spent then taken offline for the reasons I am describing here. This is a bigger issue that needs addressing.
Friday, July 4 Report this
Mugwump
Dear TheVirtualOne,
Every word of what you assert about the persons at the Bread Peddler and Percival Landing may be true, but still, that is no excuse for physically assaulting another person. What you claim to fear most, being assaulted, is exactly what was perpetrated on the person in the story carrying a box of books. Perhaps stop and ask yourself how you would hope to be treated and go with that. There was, apparently, some dude who was some sort of philosopher who lived in Judea about 2000 years ago who used to say insane things like, "Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy."
Friday, July 4 Report this
TheVirtualOne
I don’t disagree with you, as I said in my original post. Violence isn’t the answer, but it would be helpful if some serious action took place to stop the invasion of drugs and users of them from taking over our city. That’s the point.
Friday, July 4 Report this
TheGreatAnon
TheVirtualOne I wrote "who took no alarming actions toward them ", them being you, which you conform in your rebuttal. You must be psychic because you know not only who's high but the emotional state of a couple old ladies observed at a distance.
You are right about the Artesian Commons park. It was a total disaster. As a person who led the fight to save the well I strongly opposed the park plan and said so to the head of the Parks department as a member of an advisory committee tasked planning the future of the well site. That said, 'millions' were not spent. IIRC, it was less than $400,000.
We do agree that public intoxication and untreated mental illness degrade the quality of life for everyone, duggies and loonies included. but projecting your fears on others isn't helping.
Friday, July 4 Report this
TheVirtualOne
I’m no psychic, but I do know how to observe behavior. Guess you’ll have to take my word for it as an eyewitness. As far as the cost of the artesian we’ll park, there were a considerable number of studies, consultants, staff time, and many other costs associated with the project and ongoing operation that, if included, would easily run the total bill up to what I suggested. Finally, I am not projecting my fears on anyone or anything. I am reporting the reality of the situation as it occurred, and is happening on an ongoing basis, especially in the downtown areas. I do spend a considerable amount of time there and some what is happening regularly. In addition to what I mentioned above, drug dealing and graffiti riddle the area on a regular basis. That’s not what a city, especially the capital of Washington state, should be like. Have a good weekend.
Saturday, July 5 Report this
Southsoundguy
Whatever, start stomping these people out.
Saturday, July 5 Report this
S2345S23456
ALWAYS WATCH YOUR BACK. Anything can happen anywhere. Is there an actual increase in attacks, or is the Jolt just reporting more?
Thursday, July 10 Report this