Around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, officers from the Centralia Police Department responded to a call for service from BNSF Railway alerting them of an individual who had drawn a firearm and pointed it at one of their train crews.
According to the Centralia Police Department, the initial incident occurred by the stock ponds north of Chamber of Commerce Way.
An eventual chase ensued and was carried out by multiple agencies. The incident ended in an officer-involved shooting. According to Centralia police, the suspect, who was not identified, was immediately taken into custody.
The information comes via a Wednesday afternoon news release from the Centralia Police Department. The department reported that officers identified a possible subject after arriving in the area.
“Officers attempted to make contact with the subject, and as officers drove towards the suspect, the suspect started running towards the railroad tracks,” the release stated. “While running, he drew a handgun and started shooting at the officers.”
According to the department, the suspect fired his firearm at three officers, one detective sergeant from Centralia police and two officers from the Chehalis Police Department.
“The suspect then ran through the brush south towards the railroad tracks towards Chehalis,” the release stated. “Officers from the Centralia and the Chehalis Police Departments, deputies from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, and officers from the Department of Corrections responded to the area where the suspect was last seen.”
The suspect was located north of the closed Mattress Ranch store in Chehalis, still armed. A negotiator with the Centralia Police Department proceeded to negotiate with the suspect. Officers, meanwhile, worked to establish a perimeter.
According to the release, the suspect ignored commands and “continued to walk towards officers and deputies.”
Because the suspect had already discharged his firearm, both the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 5 were shut down as a precaution.
At some point, an officer used a “less-lethal foam round in an attempt to take the suspect into custody.” This measure was apparently unsuccessful. A Centralia detective then shot his firearm and struck the suspect.
Multiple witnesses reported hearing gunshots.
“The suspect was immediately taken into custody, and officers rendered first aid,” the release stated. “EMTs from both Medix and Chehalis Fire were on the scene and took over medical care. The suspect was then transported to Centralia Providence Hospital.”
In compliance with state law, the Washington State Office of Independent Investigations (OII) was notified. The detective involved in the shooting has been placed on leave, per standard protocol.
According to the release, OII declined to respond to the incident. Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza requested that the Region 3 Independent Investigation Team (IIT) conduct the investigation. The team was reported to be on the scene.
The Centralia Police Department noted that the information released was preliminary and the investigation ongoing. The department added that it would not be involved in the independent investigation.
Additionally, the department stated that all future communications would come from the IIT, including the names of the suspect and the involved officers.
“Once the IIT investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office for review,” the release stated, before thanking all the different units and organizations involved in responding to the incident.
“The Centralia Police Department, the Chehalis Police Department, and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Washington State Patrol, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Corrections, Chehalis Fire Department, and Medix for their immediate response and assistance,” the release stated.
