A Lacey man accused of threatening to kill a woman at a gas station in Centralia in January has been arrested on a $100,000 warrant.
Derek Anthony Wylie, 24, was identified via surveillance video and a photo montage as the man who allegedly leaned out the passenger side of a vehicle at a gas station in the 900 block of Harrison Avenue and pointed what appeared to be a pistol at the victim, who was walking from her vehicle to another vehicle in the parking lot, according to court documents.
The victim’s vehicle was blocking the black Kia Rio Wylie was reportedly in at the time of the incident on Jan. 17, according to court documents.
Wylie allegedly “said something like ‘Move, b**ch!’” to the victim from inside the vehicle then, when the victim responded, he allegedly stepped out of the vehicle, pointed the gun at her and said, “Go ahead try it, I dare ya,” according to court documents.
The victim told police she got back into her vehicle and moved it so the Kia could leave the parking lot. She did get a photo of the Kia as it left the parking lot toward the freeway.
The victim later told police “she was very scared when she saw the gun and had a lot of fear,” according to court documents.
While investigating the incident, an officer with the Centralia Police Department learned Wylie had been transported to the hospital for a possible overdose earlier in the day on Jan. 17. Three of Wylie’s companions picked Wylie up from the hospital in the Kia and Wylie reportedly retrieved the firearm from another vehicle at the hospital before going to the gas station, according to court documents.
One of the vehicle’s other occupants told police, “Wylie seemed irritable and was still feeling the drugs in his system” at the time of the incident, according to court documents.
Wylie has an assault conviction on his record that prohibits him from possessing a firearm, according to court documents.
Wylie was charged with one count each of second-degree assault, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and harassment, threat to kill in March and a $100,000 was put out for his arrest.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office arrested Wylie on the warrant on May 19 and he had a preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior court the following afternoon.
Judge J. Andrew Toynbee opted to maintain the $100,000 bail set in the arrest warrant due to the assault and domestic violence cases on Wylie’s record and concern for community safety.
“The use of the firearm escalates the concern for public safety,” Toynbee said Friday.
Wylie’s next scheduled court appearance is an arraignment hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 26.
