Following a police shooting near the closed Mattress Ranch store in Chehalis Aug. 13, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) issued a news release summarizing the incident and current investigation.
According to the MCSO, the investigation is now being conducted by the Region 3 Critical Incident Investigative Team (CIIT), a multi-agency team made up of investigators from surrounding jurisdictions, and led by the MCSO.
Assistance is provided by investigators from Grays Harbor County, Thurston County and the Washington State Patrol (WSP). According to the memo, the team is “not employed by the involved agency, ensuring an independent and thorough investigation.”
The release was published by the sheriff’s office Thursday evening. It follows a memo released by the Centralia Police Department the day of the shooting.
The suspect is not identified in either release.
According to the MCSO, the incident began approximately 9:40 a.m., Wednesday, when local law enforcement officers were dispatched to the Mill Pond area in Chehalis. A male suspect was reportedly pointing a firearm at BNSF Railway employees while they were operating a train.
“When officers from the Chehalis and Centralia Police Departments arrived in the area, they observed a male matching the description provided by the BNSF employees,” the release stated. “Upon attempting contact with the male, the officers reported they were being fired upon and that the male was running through a nearby field.”
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded.
The Chronicle previously reported that both the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 5 were shut down as a precaution, due to the suspect having previously discharged his firearm.
The MCSO added in its release that “a portion of Interstate 5 was closed after the subject was seen running toward the interstate and additional gunfire was reported coming from the wooded area where he was last observed.”
“The subject was subsequently encountered by additional responding officers on nearby train tracks, where a standoff ensued,” the release stated. “During the standoff, a Centralia Police Detective discharged their firearm, striking the subject.”
The suspect was taken into custody. Immediate medical aid was provided by both law enforcement and medical personnel. The Centralia Police Department noted Wednesday that EMTs from both Medix and Chehalis Fire contributed aid.
“The subject was initially transported to Providence Hospital in Centralia for treatment and was later transferred to another medical facility for further care for a non-life-threatening injury,” the MCSO release stated. “No officers were injured during the incident.”
The Centralia Police Department previously stated in its own release that the Washington state Office of Independent Investigations (OII) was notified after the shooting. The detective involved in the shooting was placed on leave, per standard protocol.
According to that release, OII declined to respond to the incident. Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza requested that the Region 3 Independent Investigation Team (IIT) conduct the investigation. The team was reported to be on the scene.
“The Centralia Police Department, the Chehalis Police Department, and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Washington State Patrol, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Corrections, Chehalis Fire Department, and Medix for their immediate response and assistance,” the previous release stated.
According to the MCSO, additional information will only be provided “as it becomes available and in accordance with public disclosure laws and (Washington Administrative Code) requirements.”
Chief Criminal Deputy Jeff Rhoades, Region 3 CIIT team commander, is listed at the bottom of the MCSO release.
