A Centralia man faces four felonies in Lewis County Superior Court after he allegedly threw rocks at another man’s windshield before putting him in a headlock and biting him on Sunday.
The defendant, Austen C. Vermillion, 19, of Centralia, was charged with one count each of second-degree assault, third-degree assault, felony harassment and second-degree malicious mischief on Monday.
Of the charges, the second-degree assault carries the greatest maximum punishment of up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, the incident began when Centralia police responded to a report of a physical dispute at the TwinStar Credit Union on Gold Street.
When the officers arrived, a man at the scene reported that a suspect traveling on foot had thrown a rock through the man’s car window when he pulled up to the credit union. After the man exited the vehicle, the suspect threw another rock at the windshield, and then continued to throw more rocks at the man, according to the affidavit.
The man said he ran at the suspect in response. The suspect then put him in a headlock, bit him and attempted to claw his eye out, according to the affidavit.
Upon inspection, the officers reportedly verified a cut under the man’s eye and a bite mark on his left arm. The man also believed he had glass in his eye. According to the affidavit, a doctor at Providence Centralia Hospital said it was possible the man “could lose vision in his eye.”
A witness at the scene confirmed the attack and indicated the alleged victim was trying to defend himself from the suspect’s punches.
One of the officers located the suspect walking on Gold Street. After attempting to detain him, the suspect allegedly turned around and punched the officer in the face. The officer chased the fleeing suspect and “was able to restrain him after a brief struggle,” according to the affidavit.
While being placed in a WRAP restraint, the suspect, who was later identified as Vermillion, allegedly told another officer that he was going to kill him.
According to the affidavit, the officer “warned Vermillion that he could be charged for making a threat to an officer. Vermillion responded by saying it was not a threat, it was a promise.”
During Vermillion’s preliminary hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson noted the assaultive nature of the case regarding the alleged victim and one of the officers, along with the alleged threats made to kill another officer. He asked for bail to be set at $50,000 cash or surety.
Judge Paul Strophy ultimately settled at $25,000, citing Vermillion’s indigency status and lack of criminal history, while also acknowledging concerns for community safety. The judge ordered that Vermillion have no contact with the alleged victims.
An arraignment is set for Sept. 11. Don Blair has been assigned to represent Vermillion.
According to a press log from Centralia Police, Vermillion was arrested and released just days earlier on Sept. 5 for second-degree criminal trespassing after he allegedly entered and remained on a property he had been trespassed from prior.
Vermillion has no known felony convictions.
