The suspected driver of a vehicle that tore through George Washington Park in Centralia last week has been arrested and faces charges in Lewis County Superior Court.
Lorenzo Gilbert Torres, 62, of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail just before 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, according to jail records. He was charged Monday in Lewis County Superior Court with one count each of second-degree malicious mischief, reckless endangerment and reckless driving for allegedly driving a 1997 Ford Expedition through the park and doing donuts on the lawn at about 3:20 p.m. on July 27.
“I had a moment and I’m sorry for what I did,” Torres told Lewis County Superior Court Judge Joely Yeager during his preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday.
Multiple parties reported the incident to the Centralia Police Department on Wednesday, with one indicating “he was almost hit” by the vehicle and three saying “they feared being hit by the car, to the point where they jumped out of their seats and moved away from the erratic vehicle,” according to court documents.
Officers who responded to the scene reportedly observed tire track damage crossed a pedestrian concrete path and traveled near the gazebo and park benches.
The incident ultimately caused over $880 in damage to the park’s lawn, according to court documents.
While Torres has limited criminal history, Yeager found the allegations constituted a severe community safety risk and granted the prosecutor’s request for $15,000 bail.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 3.
