Police arrested a man late Tuesday after he allegedly attacked and robbed a person of $100 at the South Gold Street dog park in Centralia.
According to court documents, the suspect believed the alleged victim had stolen his backpack containing $100 and drugs.
Steven R. Luurs Jr., 46, of Centralia, is charged with one count of second-degree robbery, a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Luurs faces an additional count of possession of a controlled substance after officers allegedly found him with a glass pipe and a small plastic bag, both containing suspected methamphetamine.
Luurs refused to make a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Wednesday, according to staff at the Lewis County Jail. Both a jail staff member and defense attorney Rachael Tiller described Luurs as being agitated during conversations.
Tiller indicated she would make a motion for a competency evaluation, noting recent cases involving Luurs that had been dismissed due to competency concerns.
Judge Joely Yeager ordered that Luurs be held without bail in the meantime, pending his arraignment scheduled for Thursday.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Centralia police officers responded to the reported robbery at the dog park and spoke with a man at the scene. The man said he did not witness the robbery, but identified Luurs as the suspect.
Officers then spoke with the victim, who said Luurs had punched him in the jaw twice.
According to the victim, Luurs had accused him of stealing his backpack. The victim denied having the backpack. Luurs demanded $100.
The victim reportedly refused to give Luurs money. Luurs allegedly punched him and again demanded the cash. The victim said no.
According to the victim, Luurs punched him again. After more alleged physical threats, the victim gave Luurs five $20 bills. Luurs left on a bicycle.
A witness at the scene confirmed the victim’s account.
An officer found Luurs outside the nearby Chevron gas station on South Tower Avenue. According to the affidavit, Luurs allegedly denied involvement in the robbery, but later said he was at the dog park and had asked the victim for the money owed to him.
According to the affidavit, Luurs allegedly admitted to “swinging” at the man but denied hitting him. He said the man gave him the money after he asked for it.
After being told his statement contradicted with witnesses, Luurs allegedly said he’d struck the man “with his fists,” according to the affidavit.
“Steven then admitted to threatening to beat up (the man) and stated that he only asked for $60, but (the man) provided him with $100,” the affidavit said.
Luurs has prior adult convictions for a number of offenses including criminal mischief with a deadly weapon, second-degree burglary and first-degree vehicle prowling.
His physical address is listed as “transient” in the charging documents.
