Olympia's Interim Police Chief comments on downtown rumble, then resigns

Skirmish on Sat., Sept. 4 resulted in Antifa supporter shooting Proud Boys supporter, police say

Posted

Update from Interim Police Chief Aaron Jelcick on recent shooting

Last Saturday, members of the Proud Boys and people allied with Antifa convened in Downtown Olympia intent on engaging in conflict with one another. Most of these people were not from our community. These two groups have a history of engaging in violent encounters with each other in different cities locally and across the nation. The encounter in Olympia ended in multiple people being assaulted, including one person being shot with a firearm. This type of behavior is inexcusable and cannot be tolerated.
 
The Olympia Police Department (OPD) continues to actively investigate multiple crimes committed by the two groups involved. Our detectives have reviewed video footage and interviewed witnesses, which have allowed us to confirm some things about the incident:
 
We can confirm that members of the Proud Boys were pursuing members of the group allied with Antifa when the two groups clashed at the Intercity Transit Station. We can confirm that the shots were fired by someone from the Antifa group, and the bullet struck a member of the Proud Boys.
 
The shooter left the scene before they could be identified by Police, but our investigators are tracking leads on them. Once identified, we will arrest and charge them for this crime.
 
We will be releasing video footage of what transpired to the public in the coming days. We continue to seek the community’s help to gather the facts. Anyone with information about the circumstances around the shooting, can contact crime stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 with what they know. If anyone witnessed or experienced an assault as result of Saturday’s activities, please call Police Dispatch at 360-704-2740 to report the crime.
 
OPD is also aware that the Proud Boys are advertising their plans to return to Downtown Olympia on September 18 as a response to the shooting. We know this is a point of great concern for many of our community members who are frustrated and angered by those who come to our city bringing violence and criminality. We want the community to know that OPD is undertaking advanced planning in preparation for September 18 right now.
 
We have a simple message to anyone considering coming to Olympia to respond to the shooting, to anyone making preparation to fight or to anyone who is willing to take part in violence on our streets: Do not come to our city. If you are already in our city, stay home.
 
To our residents, please know the Olympia Police Department will do all it can to protect the peace and safety of the Olympia community.

The above was provided by the City of Olympia on Thu.,  Sept. 10, yesterday. This morning, the city announced that Interim Chief Aaron Jelcick is retiring effective Sept. 30, 2021. 

Comments

4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • TonyW33

    Are the police also looking for the Proud Boys who were chasing and assaulting the Antifa people as they ran from the scene? One of the assaulted was the one who fired shots at the Proud Boys, and hit a member of that group who was leading the chase and hitting people with a club.

    Saturday, September 11, 2021 Report this

  • franiazgorski

    Whatever is happeng in Olympia.. it is not as bad as EVERYTHING in NYC .. so, I am dam looking forward to ANY part of the PNW next week...

    Saturday, September 11, 2021 Report this

  • Panagringo

    Maybe the police will start protecting people that are exercising their right to a peaceful protest without these antifa mobs going to try and shut them up instead of standing by and watching.

    Saturday, September 11, 2021 Report this

  • JstPlnOnry

    The OPD should investigate Candace Mercer’s involvement in inviting the PB to protect her and then lying about doing it. She’s the reason Tiny got shot. A vote for her for Olympia city Council is a vote for welcoming more problems to our city.

    Monday, September 13, 2021 Report this