Graham woman with three-year warrant arrested by Centralia police after allegedly fleeing during a traffic stop

Bail was set at $10,000 Thursday for a Graham woman arrested by Centralia police for a nearly three-year outstanding warrant.

According to a press log from the Centralia Police Department, Kelsie J. Flegel, 29, was arrested by police about 5:34 a.m., Aug. 27, after she attempted to flee during a traffic stop.

Flegel then allegedly “disabled her vehicle” and fled on foot, before she was apprehended by officers, as stated by the log.

According to the log, Flegel was booked for attempting to elude a police vehicle, driving without a valid operator’s license and no identification, a community custody violation and an active felony Department of Corrections (DOC) warrant.

According to court documents, the warrant was issued after Flegel allegedly failed to comply with her community supervision as part of a 2019 sentencing in Pierce County.

During a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, Flegel was officially charged with one count of escape from community custody, a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

Deputy Prosecutor Brandi Archer requested a bail of $20,000, citing concern that Flegel would not appear in court. She also emphasized the length of time the DOC warrant was outstanding.

According to court documents, Flegel’s arrest warrant with the DOC was issued on or about Oct. 12, 2022, for “non compliance with her community supervision.” Flegel was originally sentenced in 2019 in Pierce County Superior Court for manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance.

The original sentence reportedly included 12 months of community custody.

Defense attorney Rachael Tiller argued that bail would be difficult, if not impossible, for Flegel, and asked for either an unsecured bail or else no more than $10,000.

In recognition of Flegel’s lack of criminal history, as well as the fact that the warrant was “outstanding for some time,” Judge J. Andrew Toynbee set bail at $10,000 cash or bond.

An arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 4. Joseph Paul Enbody has been assigned to represent Flegel.