A Chehalis man faces multiple felony charges after he allegedly resisted arrest following a theft of alcohol from B&D Market in Centralia on Jan. 12.
Anthony H. Garcia, 34, was later charged with one count each of third-degree assault, escape from community custody, third-degree theft and resisting arrest.
Of the charges, third-degree assault and escape from community custody each carry the greatest potential punishment of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
According to court documents, a Department of Corrections (DOC) officer was in the store when the alleged theft occurred and followed Garcia after he fled.
Centralia police reportedly located Garcia in the 300 block of North Pearl Street, and eventually placed him in a WRAP restraint device.
According to court documents, one of the police officers said Garcia had spat at her while she tried to apprehend him, though she indicated she had not been struck by it.
The DOC officer allegedly recovered a box of wine the suspect had taken.
According to court documents, the defendant had been issued a warrant for escape from community custody and “had been unavailable for supervision” since Dec. 31, 2025. The supervision stemmed from a third-degree assault conviction in Lewis County Superior Court.
Court documents indicate the defendant is involved in pending cases in Thurston County District Court and was issued an active bench warrant from Mount Vernon Municipal Court for fourth-degree assault.
Charging documents list Garcia’s address as “transient.”
During Garcia’s preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court, the judge set bail at $75,000, as requested by the state, citing “rapid recidivism of the same type of conduct.”
The judge expressed concerns for community safety and noted the defendant posed a flight risk and could interfere with the administration of justice.
An arraignment was scheduled for Jan. 15.
