A Chehalis man is facing multiple charges after allegedly attempting to break into the Get’N’Go gas station on North National Avenue in Chehalis multiple times on Monday, Aug. 12, and Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Michael Don Day, 35, was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 13, by the Chehalis Police Department and charged with second-degree attempted burglary, a class C felony, along with possession of burglary tools and third-degree malicious mischief, both gross misdemeanors.
The first alleged burglary attempt took place on Monday when a suspect on surveillance camera footage matching Day’s description was seen trying to remove boards covering up a window from a previous burglary attempt at Get’N’Go.
This same suspect was then reportedly seen again on Tuesday on camera, attempting to remove screws from around the window with an electric drill, according to court documents.
A member of the Chehalis Police Department located Day on Tuesday and contacted him after discovering he had 19 additional warrants.
“(Officer) Shields noted in his report that Day looked like the person depicted in the surveillance pictures,” according to court documents.
After Day was arrested, he was “searched incident to arrest” and officers found multiple drill bits, screwdriver bits, wire cutters, a flashlight, one mechanic glove and some sort of electrical plug taped together with some other metal object officers believed was used to be thrown through windows.
At his Lewis County Superior Court preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 14, prosecutors asked Judge Joely Yeager to set his bail at $25,000 as five of the 19 warrants he had were still active and he was considered a flight risk.
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller stated Day is not currently employed and is on food stamps and, since he resides locally, asked the court to set bail at $10,000.
Yeager argued Day already has an extensive felony history that includes convictions for identity theft, residential burglary, motor vehicle theft, firearm theft and trafficking stolen property going all the way back to 2010.
She said he was “a threat to community safety and likely to commit another offense if released.”
His bail was set at $25,000 and his arraignment hearing was set for Thursday, Aug. 22.
