Out-of-control man faces felony charge after multiple alleged infractions in Lacey

A man was charged with a felony after allegedly spitting in the face of an officer who arrested him on suspicion of trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Eijah Francis Cornell, 40, was charged with third-degree assault by the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney on Aug. 16. Cornell listed his address as “Transient” in Tumwater.

Lacey police arrested Cornell on Aug. 10 after receiving multiple complaints from various callers about a man later identified as Cornell.

The first caller reported that a man on the 8000 block of Martin Way E appeared to be “high” and was harassing employees. Over the next several hours, multiple other reporting parties complained of the following:

• The man appeared to have a knife and seemed to be following someone
• The man threw a knife at a vehicle, possibly scratching the paint
• The man rushed at one individual’s car
• The man was waving a stick around, acting aggressively, and trying to start fights
• The man threatened an elderly woman that he would “slit her throat.”
• The man was harassing Big Lots on Marvin Road NE customers and exposing himself

Police found Cornell near the Costco on Marvin Road NE. An officer said Cornell was “yelling inarticulately and gesticulating wildly.” The suspect refused to speak to police and walked off toward Martin Way E.

The responding officer was initially unable to establish a crime because the reporting parties who requested a call back declined to be listed as victims. The elderly female who was allegedly threatened had also left the scene when police arrived.

The officer said he followed Cornell across Marvin Road to the Big Lots store and spoke with him there, during which time the suspect took off his sweater and took a fighting stance.

Big Lots staff told police that they had authorization from the Lacey Police Department that forbid Cornell from being at the lot.

The officer said he informed Cornell about the trespass authorization, prompting the suspect to walk off the lot and onto Quinault Drive NE.

Police continued to follow Cornell due to his “erratic and dangerous behavior,” noting that the suspect yelled at passing cars while walking along the sidewalk.

Near an LA Fitness gym on Galaxy Drive, a man reported that Cornell swung a leash at him and his dog while he was walking. The man said he thought that the suspect was trying to start a fight with him and requested Cornell’s arrest.

Due to this series of events, police established probable cause to arrest Cornell. The suspect was located at a Safeway on Marvin Road NE and arrested without incident.

Cornell was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car. When an officer opened the car door to speak with him, the suspect spit in the officer’s face.

“I could feel liquid hit my face immediately after he spit,” the officer said. “The male then began screaming and threatening to kill me.”

Cornell was booked into the Thurston County Jail for third-degree assault. Authorities also issued a sector citation for disorderly conduct and second-degree trespassing.

The suspect was initially booked under the alias John Doe as authorities struggled to positively identify him. Later Cornell verbally identified himself and the police were able to positively identify him with a photograph from Kitsap County, where a prior arrest warrant was issued from.

CORRECTION: August 24, 2022 - The headline was corrected to reflect that Cornell was charged with only one offense.  We regret our error.