A man whose $30,000 bail amount was criticized by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department earlier this year has been arrested again after cutting off his ankle monitor and allegedly committing more crimes.
The Sheriff's Department criticized the man's bail as too low on Aug. 2, posting on Facebook a headline that read, "ARMED CAREER CRIMINAL REPEATEDLY RAMS POLICE VEHICLES, RELEASED ON $30,000 BAIL."
The 33-year-old man was arrested again on Monday at about 10 p.m. in a Lakewood skate park. Pierce County prosecutors charged him with first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest, court documents show.
A Lakewood Police Department officer was dispatched to reports of gunshots being fired near Fairlawn Avenue Southwest on Monday. As police came into the area, they noticed a car backed into a parking spot at a skate park. When police came into sight, the car immediately started to drive away. When police followed the car, it sped up more and allegedly looked like it was going to flee.
When the car came to a stop later, the passenger, later identified as the suspect, exited the passenger side and ran. He was arrested after police tackled him. The suspect allegedly threw a handgun to the side as he resisted arrest, deputies said.
The Pierce County Prosecutor's Office said that additional charges might be added.
July arrest and release
The suspect was charged with assaulting officers during a July 27 arrest at an AM/PM gas station. He allegedly drove his car into the gas station and rammed a patrol car multiple times. A passenger who was in a car behind the suspect curled into a ball out of fear as the incident was happening. The passenger told police she was scared to the point where she couldn't move, court documents show.
When an officer attempted to open his driver-side door, the suspect reached toward the center console, deputies said. Later, deputies found a loaded pistol and several illegal substances in the car, court documents show.
The suspect was a fugitive and had two felony warrants for illegal firearms possession. For the July 27 incident, he was charged with four counts of second-degree assault, four counts of first-degree malicious mischief, one count of second-degree malicious mischief and two counts of reckless endangerment.
Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set the suspect's bail at $30,000 during his arraignment on July 31. He was released on bond the next day. The suspect has previous convictions for a drive-by shooting and unlawful possession of a firearm, court documents show.
On Oct. 16, the suspect failed to show up to his hearing for previous felony charges. A Crime Stoppers post said that law enforcement officers needed help in locating the man after he cut off his ankle monitor.
On Wednesday, McInvaille set the suspect's bail at $250,000 on the new charges, court records show.
