An Olympia man was arrested after he allegedly robbed a store, punched an employee, gave chase to police, and assaulted officers who were trying to get him into a patrol vehicle.
According to reports by multiple Olympia police officers, Paul D. Sweet, 38, was arrested on Feb. 9 after a reported robbery at Bayview Thriftway on Fourth Avenue.
A store employee told police that he saw Sweet put several pieces of candy into his pocket.
The employee said he approached the suspect to ask him to return the candies and to put on a mask, but Sweet suddenly punched him on the left cheek, just below his eye, according to the police, who noted a fresh red mark below the employee’s left eye.
The employee was not able to confirm exactly what Sweet stole, but said the suspect exited the store without paying for the merchandise.
An officer who had just gone off-duty, but was still inside his patrol vehicle, located Sweet along Fourth Avenue.
The officer said he used his patrol vehicle’s public announcement system to tell Sweet to sit down because there was probable cause to arrest him.
The suspect looked at the police vehicle, the officer said, then started running away.
Several officers eventually caught up with Sweet, who claimed that they “[had] the wrong guy” and demanded “real cops.”
As he was being handcuffed, the suspect kept yelling and said he could not breathe, according to the police report. Sweet was medically cleared by the Olympia Fire Department.
Once at the patrol vehicle, an officer said, Sweet refused to take a seat and said he wanted to look around.
The suspect then began to pull away from an officer and tense his muscles, police said.
“I observed Sweet bring his head back and Sweet, with a rapid forward motion in my direction, struck me on my upper right eye,” the officer wrote, adding that the headbutt caused a “large knot” in his forehead.
“I could feel the pain travel from forehead down to my nose,” the officer added. “The impact of Sweet hitting me with his head caused me to stumble backwards a couple feet.”
The officer said he approached Sweet after regaining his balance, at which point the suspect kicked him in the inner right thigh.
Another officer who was attempting to control Sweet said the suspect kicked him in the left shin.
Sweet was placed in a restraint system. The suspect was booked at the Thurston County Jail for robbery and aggravated assault.
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AngelinaJo
Seriously
Friday, February 25, 2022 Report this
AngelinaJo
This saddens my heart and is a travesty you can see this person and read he was in obvious distress and had to be "MEDICALLY CLEARED AND COULDN'T BREATHE". from the police report. Before he was ever put in the police car the first time. In in no way making light or condoning a theft small.or large . What I'm saying to you is police were believed to be called upon in times where conflict cannot be resolved by one's selves and danger may be iminant. Or to assist maybe even to just assess a situation of conflict and properly or as best to assert there power to deescalate or resolve said situation subdue control regain control communicate servepeople all people people maybe There are a lot of words to describe the actions police could have taken.. OR NOT for that matter. WHEN THE PROBLEM OR CRIME THAT IS BEING COMMITTED ESCALATES AND ESCALTESONLY BY THE ACTIONS OR THE POLICE ACTUALLY CAUSING A NOW MINOR CRIME INTO A NOW DANGEROUS SITUATION RISING BOTH THE OFFICERS AND THE SUSPECTS PHISICAL SAFETY AND HAS NOW CAUSED HARM POSSIBLY GRAVE BODILY INJURY COULD OCCUR.. THAT WOULD BE ONLY OF THE FACT OF OFFICER INVOLVMENT.THAT ALSO SAID NEGLIGANCE BY OFFICERS IN FAILING TO SEE THAT MAN HAS VALUE. MR. SWEETS HAS VALUE... HES WORTH MORE THAN SOME BUBBLEGUM THAT HES ACCUSED OF TAKING . THERES NO PROOF HE STOLE ANYTHING THE CLERK COULDNT EVN SAY WHAT HE TOOK OR DIDNT KNOW WHAT HE TOOK... IS THIS REAL... ILL PRAY FOR YALL
Friday, February 25, 2022 Report this
JoeRogoski
Re: AngelinaJo,
It is difficult to understand your post.
It seems to say that theft and 'slugging a store employee' is OK because a person is experiencing a mental health crisis?
Perhaps incarceration is the avenue to help this person attain the help needed?
I don't see any over reaction by the police even after they were physically attacked by this person.
Perhaps if it was you that was head butted and kicked in the theoretical 'balls' you would have a more clear understanding of what our police department goes thru daily. They showed clear restraint and compassion dealing with this person despite his actions.
Please take your fight and rally for better mental health alternatives in our cities, counties and state rather than rally against our public servants that we need to maintain safety for all - including YOU!
Saturday, February 26, 2022 Report this
Cobbnaustic
@ JoeRogoski :Angelina Jo and her voting habits are the reason we are in this situation
Monday, March 7, 2022 Report this