Law enforcement officials gather at a home on Clinton Road off of state Route 6 where the suspect in Tuesday's shooting was believed to be hiding. The vehicle used in the escape from Centralia Municipal Court was found at the home. Phillip A. Pinotti had not been found as of 2 p.m.
Lewis County Sheriff's deputies take a picture of the bullet casing that was left on the ground after a Centralia police officer involved shooting on Tuesday morning on the 200 block of West Maple Street in Centralia.
The Chronicle will continue updating this story throughout the day. Scroll to the bottom for the latest developments.
At least one gunshot has been fired during a police pursuit in downtown Centralia.
Employees at The Chronicle witnessed an officer firing a shot in the direction of a vehicle on Maple Street near Centralia City Hall.
Officers are now patrolling the area in search of an unknown suspect.
Update 9:59 a.m.:
Officer Steve Howard was the responding officer. The suspect was in Centralia Municipal Court when he attempted to flee, Howard told The Chronicle.
He said the man attempted to hit him with his vehicle as officers tried to prevent him from leaving.
Update: 10:05 a.m.
The suspect — who police have not identified — was in court for a warrant, according to police.
Howard said he was attempting to handcuff him when he broke away and fled to his vehicle.
A portion of Maple Street has been closed as officers search the area.
A shell casing can currently be seen in the center of Maple Street as officers tape off the scene.
More details will be posted to this story as they become available.
Update: 10:10 a.m.
Two contractors working on a nearby house at the corner of Maple and Iron streets said they heard the gunshot and thought it was a tire popping at first.
"We were standing on scaffolding and we saw a blue Subaru or something took off like a bat out of hell," said Louie Louwien, of Yelm.
His coworker said he heard a weapon discharge, describing it as "muffled sound like it hit the inside of a vehicle."
Chronicle employee Ronda Barr said she also heard the gunshot and saw the officer run from city hall down Maple Street and heard a "pop."
"I thought to myself, 'That was a gunshot," she said.
Update 10:22 A.M.:
A woman who was in court at the time, Janice Arias, of Chehalis, said the suspect was being detained for a warrant when he fled from police.
She confirmed he was being handcuffed when he broke free.
Update 10:42 A.M.:
Centralia School District officials say no schools are in lockdown at this time as they have not been given an alert from Centralia Police. Edison Elementary School is a four blocks from where the incident took place, but no students are reported to be in any danger.
Update 11 a.m.:
Sign Pro employee Shelleen Lundeen was sitting at the Sign Pro front desk of the Maple Street office when she heard an officer with his arm raised say, “I’m going to shoot.” She saw him approach a blue vehicle that was parked near The Chronicle on West Maple Street.
Lundeen said she heard a little bit of “chatter” and then the officer shot at the ground.
She said the driver in the blue vehicle sped backwards down West Maple Street toward North Iron Street.
“He floored it,” Lundeen said.
In her upstairs office of The Chronicle, Mary Jackson recounted seeing the incident as well. She said she first heard some arguing, but she wasn’t sure if it was outside or in the building.
She’s not exactly sure who was speaking, but she could make out the words. Someone said “I’m going to effin’ kill you” or “I’m going to effin’ shoot you.” It caused her to jump out of her chair and go to the window where she saw the officer fire one shot below eye level.
Then the car, described as a dark blue SUV, drove fast in reverse down West Maple Street. Before the SUV took off, she said it had looked like it was parked along the street curb.
It is still not clear if the suspect’s vehicle was struck. He has not been apprehended, according to officers.
Update 11:30 a.m.:
Centralia Police Chief Bob Berg said it is unknown if the suspect, Phillip A. Pinotti, 22, of rural Chehalis, was injured by the shot fired by Howard. However, he did say the bullet entered the car, but the entry point is unknown.
Update 11:40 a.m.:
The suspect who fled Centralia Municipal Court this morning has a criminal history. Below are excerpts from recent newspaper reports in The Chronicle:
• Phillip A. Pinotti, 22, was arrested and booked into jail for suspicion of driving under the influence after his vehicle went off the roadway into a field then fled the scene on the 1200 block of Kresky Avenue in late August.
• Phillip A. Pinotti, then 21, was cited and released for second-degree negligent driving after a two-vehicle collision on the 2000 block of South Scheuber Road in September 2013, said Sgt. Rob Snaza. Pinotti was driving a 1999 Volkswagen Jetta at a high rate of speed and attempted to pass a 2008 BMW convertible on the left, when a third car, traveling in the opposite lane, came around the corner. Pinotti attempted to swerve into the right lane and clipped the BMW, which caused both vehicles to crash.
• In July 2012, Phillip A. Pinotti, then 20, was referred to the Lewis County Prosecutor's Office for alleged minor in possession by the train trestle near Adna.
Update 11:45 a.m.:
More From Police Chief Bob Berg:
Pinotti was in Centralia Municipal Court for a hearing when it was discovered he had an outstanding arrest warrant from Chehalis. Berg said the court's security officers routinely take subjects into the hallway outside the courtroom to be handcuffed and transferred.
Berg said Pinotti bolted from the officer and got into a car parked on West Maple Street. It is unknown who owns the car.
Pinotti drove the vehicle toward the officer twice before Howard fired one round into the car, Berg said. The driver then drove the car backwards, turned around near the Centralia Rollerdrome and drove northbound on North Iron Street.
Because the incident involves a Centralia police officer, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the investigation. Until it is known if the suspect was injured, whether Howard decides to take a leave of absence will be up to his discretion.
Berg said he doesn’t think law enforcement will have issues locating the suspect because Pinotti is known to officers.
Update 12:30 p.m.:
Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney Jonathan Meyer said a charging decision for all parties involved will be made once the sheriff’s office completes its investigation of the Centralia officer shooting at a vehicle driven by Phillip A. Pinotti, who allegedly tried to hit officer Steve Howard.
Until the investigation is complete, Meyer said he did not want to speculate about possible coming charges.
“It depends what the facts support,” he said.
This is Meyer’s fifth officer-involved shooting case since he took office in 2010. He said in the previous cases, the officers’ decisions to fire their weapons were justified.
Update 12:55 p.m.:
Chehalis Police Sgt. Gary Wilson said the department issued a warrant for Phillip A. Pinotti because he failed to appear for a Dec. 10 court appearance.
Officers had issued Pinotti a citation for third-degree theft on Oct. 30 after he allegedly shoplifted $10 worth of items from Walmart in Chehalis.
Pinotti was in municipal court when it was discovered Chehalis police had a warrant out for his arrest. When an officer tried to handcuff Pinotti, he fled to a vehicle parked on West Maple Street.
Pinotti allegedly tried to hit the officer with his car, and the officer fired a single shot into the vehicle. Pinotti sped away.
Update 2 p.m.:
The man who fled Centralia Municipal Court this morning, drawing gunfire while allegedly trying to strike the officer with a vehicle, is still at large.
Several law enforcement officers from multiple agencies closed Clinton and Spooner roads off of state Route 6 at about 1 p.m. before moving in.
Neighbors confirmed that the suspect, Phillip A Pinotti, lives on Clinton Road.
The Subaru used in the escape was found at the house. Officials are seeking a search warrant to gain access.
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office officials say they are investigating more leads as the search continues.
Update 2:15 p.m.:
A press release from the Centralia Police Department was just released:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"Centralia Police are searching for Phillip Austin Pinotti, age 22 of Chehalis on charges of Felony Escape and Felony Assault, arising from an incident which began Tuesday morning in the Centralia Municipal Court. Pinotti was in court to be arraigned on a charge of Driving While Under the Influence when it was discovered that he had an outstanding warrant from Chehalis Municipal Court for failing to appear for a Theft 3rd degree charge. The Judge ordered Court Security Officer Steve Howard to take Pinotti into custody on the Chehalis Warrant.
When Officer Howard was attempting to handcuff Pinotti, he ran out of the city hall building with Officer Howard in foot pursuit. Pinotti entered a dark blue small SUV in the 200 block of West Maple Street. At that point, Pinotti drove the vehicle in the direction of the officer who advised him to stop. When Pinotti’s vehicle continued to approach the officer, Officer Howard fired one round which entered the vehicle. The vehicle was then placed in reverse by Pinotti and backed away from the officer, eventually turning around and fleeing the scene.
It is believed that the driver’s side window of the suspect vehicle was shattered; however, it is unknown if the driver was struck or is injured.
The shooting incident will be investigated by the multi-county shooting review team with primary responsibility assumed by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Officer Howard has been placed on administrative leave, pending the results of the investigation."
9:50 a.m.:
The Lewis County Sheriff's Office says suspect Phillip Austin Pinotti is now in custody. Three people have been arrested for helping him as law enforcement officials sought to arrest him.
From the press release:
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office took Phillip Austin Pinotti, 22, of Adna, into custody this morning at approximately 0855 hours at a residence in the 1600 block of Bishop Road, Chehalis.
Pinotti was wanted for Assault 1st after he fled a court room, yesterday, after a judge told a court security officer that Pinotti had an outstanding warrant. The officer chased Pinotti out of the court room and into the 200 block of West Maple St, where Pinotti got into his vehicle and attempted to run over the officer, while escaping.
Deputies received a tip, this morning, indicating Pinotti was at a friend’s residence on Bishop Road. Deputies responded to the home and took him into custody without incident.
Jaelynn N. Pluard, 22, of Centralia was arrested for Rendering Criminal Assistance after it was learned she assisted in hiding Pinotti at the residence and was aware law enforcement was actively searching for him after the incident. She will be booked into the Lewis County Jail.
Two others were arrested yesterday for Rendering Criminal Assistance. Kayla M. Burleson, 22, of Centralia and Miguel V. Martinez, 18, of Centralia were booked into the Lewis County Jail yesterday evening after a tip was received that Pinotti was hiding at his residence in the 200 block of Clinton Road, Adna. The three are friends.
Deputies and Officers from the Centralia Police Department investigated the tip together and learned Burleson and Martinez assisted Pinotti in hiding the involved vehicle after the incident. Burleson and Martinez lied to law enforcement initially stating they knew nothing about the incident. Eventually it was determined they were witnesses to the initial incident.
Pinotti will be booked into the Lewis County Jail for Assault 1st and Escape 3rd.
