Bail has been set at $50,000 each for two Centralia men accused of kicking in the door of a Centralia shop during an altercation on Wednesday and attacking the man who lived there.
Two women involved in the same altercation have also been referred to the prosecutor’s office on possible fighting in public charges after they allegedly assaulted each other.
Officers with the Centralia Police Department were dispatched to the scene in the 1200 block of West Plum Street after the man who was allegedly attacked inside the shop called 911 at 7:35 p.m. on May 4 to report his neighbor was “being pounded into the ground,” according to court documents.
When officers arrived at the scene, they observed several people standing near two women on the ground in the yard — one holding the other down — and saw a man with “blood on his head, face and hands” walk out of a shop located on the property. Another man, later identified as Steven Don Percy, 33, of Centralia, reportedly asked the man if he needed an ambulance but the officer “thought Mr. Percy was being somewhat sarcastic,” according to court documents.
The officer reportedly asked the man what happened, “but Mr. Percy then stated ‘He probably slit it since he wants to die,’” according to court documents.
After reviewing surveillance footage and talking with witnesses, officers discerned that the victim was involved in a verbal altercation outside the shop where he lives, but walked away from the altercation into the shop and closed the door. Percy allegedly followed the victim away from the altercation and kicked the door when the victim closed it before going back to the argument, according to court documents.
At this point, the verbal altercation outside became physical, with two women allegedly assaulting each other. Both have since been referred to the prosecutor’s office for possible fighting in public charges.
The victim then exited the shop while calling 911.
The victim went back into the shop again and shut the door with Percy allegedly “advancing aggressively towards him,” according to court documents. Video then reportedly shows a man identified as Jeremi Dwayne Sanders, 34, of Centralia, running towards the shop door. Both Percy and Sanders allegedly proceeded to kick the shop door. Sanders allegedly picked up a 2-by-4 wooden board, wedged it into the door, forced the door open and entered the shop, according to court documents.
When asked about the incident, the alleged victim reportedly “said he did not know, that the neighbors attacked him, and said something about being hit on the back of the head,” according to court documents.
An officer observed a large cut on the back of the head that he “believed would require staples or stitches to close.”
The officer contacted a group of people including Percy and Sanders, who were standing nearby. When asked if they know what happened, “they all denied knowing anything. Mr. Percy said maybe (the victim) fell, and all he knew was (a woman) was attacked,” according to court documents.
Officers later entered the shop with the victim’s permission and observed “blood droplets and smears on the floor.” They also found the victim’s smashed phone, which the victim stated was taken from him during the attack.
Percy and Sanders were subsequently arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail. They have since been charged with one count of residential burglary and second-degree assault each.
Despite neither of the defendants having violent crimes or serious felonies on their criminal records, Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello asked Judge Joely Yeager to set bail at $100,000 in both defendants’ cases due the the severity of the allegations and the fact that the allegations are substantiated with video evidence.
“Video shows them enter the victim’s house and he was beat up,” Masiello said during Percy’s preliminary hearing, which was held in Lewis County Superior Court alongside Sanders’ hearing on Thursday.
Defense Attorney Rachael Tiller asked Yeager to set bail no higher than $20,000 and $25,000 in both Sanders’ and Percy’s cases, respectively. She cited the defendants’ lack of criminal history, lack of income and the fact that both had family members in the courtroom supporting them as reasons for lowering the bail.
Due to their lack of criminal history and their financial situations, Yeager set Percy’s and Sanders’ respective bails at $50,000.
“I think it’s appropriate given the substantial allegations and concern for community safety,” she said Thursday.
Both Percy and Sanders are scheduled to return to court for arraignment hearings on Thursday, May 12.
