Bail is set at $25,000 for a man who allegedly drove recklessly through the City of Centralia, ran over multiple street signs and collided with two parked vehicles on Monday.
The man, identified by the Centralia Police Department as Donald R. Fletcher, 59, of Rochester, faces a felony first-degree malicious mischief charge in Lewis County Superior Court, as well as gross misdemeanor third-degree malicious mischief and reckless driving charges and two misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run to attended vehicles.
The crux of the case is medication related, according to defense attorney Rachael Tiller.
Conditions of release include a provision that he not drive a motor vehicle until further notice.
Fletcher was arrested after the Centralia Police Department received a report of an “erratic vehicle” at 4:25 p.m. on Nov. 20 at the intersection of Harrison and Reynolds avenues, according to the Centralia Police Department.
The initial caller described the vehicle as a gold Toyota Camry that was “going towards town, swerving and speeding,” according to court documents.
Additional callers reported the same vehicle “was driving in the oncoming lane of traffic and driving on the sidewalk.”
Fletcher allegedly crashed his vehicle through multiple street signs before hitting an occupied vehicle blue 2021 Honda CRV and crashing into the back of a trailer along Maple Street in Centralia. Law enforcement quickly located Fletcher, who had fled the scene down Iron Street. A Centralia police sergeant reportedly “drew her Taser and ordered the suspect to the ground,” but when Fletcher “kept walking,” the sergeant “grabbed his forearm with one hand and ordered him to get on the ground and stated he would be tased if not,” according to court documents. Fletcher complied at that point.
When questioned by an officer, Fletcher allegedly “provided two names, Jesus, and Donald Fletcher,” according to court documents. Fletcher reportedly said “nothing really” when asked what happened and later, when asked how the signs got knocked down, he allegedly said “I hit them.”
Fletcher allegedly admitted to hitting the signs with his “little piss brown colored Toyota” and to hitting a blue vehicle, which he said “went f—ing not far enough backwards,” according to court documents. When asked if he intentionally hit the blue vehicle, Fletcher allegedly said he did and would “hit any other car.”
The crash moved the Honda CRV an estimated 30 yards from where it was parked and caused damage that “easily will exceed $5,000” to the vehicle, according to court documents.
The trailer that was struck on Maple Street also sustained damage, as did the four signs the vehicle crashed through: a stop sign at Magnolia and North Iron streets, a no parking sign on North Iron Street, a stop sign on North Iron Street, and a Lotto sign at the Apex on Main Street.
Jail records indicate he was booked at approximately 7 p.m. on Monday. Charges were filed in Lewis County Superior Court on Tuesday and Fletcher had his preliminary hearing that afternoon.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 30.
