A Goldendale man was arrested in East Lewis County Tuesday after allegedly holding another man against his will and threatening him with violence.
John M. Desmarais, 44, of Goldendale, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, unlawful imprisonment, harassment and outstanding warrants.
According to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a report at 1:10 p.m. from a 50-year-old man saying he had been held against his will by the suspect.
The men, whose relationship is not clear, had an argument, said Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey.
“(Desmarais) told the 50-year-old victim he was going to cut off his hands and run the vehicle into a tree to kill the both of them,” Kimsey said.
Deputies located Desmarais driving in the 200 block of Silverbrook Road. He reportedly ran from his vehicle into the woods where deputies and a trooper from the Washington State Patrol pursued. An attempt to stop the suspect with a Taser was not successful because Desmarais was wearing “body armor,” Kimsey said.
Officers tackled the suspect and arrested him. He was transported to Morton General Hospital, where he was found to be in possession of a vial of methamphetamine, according to the sheriff’s office.
Desmarais was wanted on warrants for attempting to elude an officer from Yakima and a failure to appear warrant for malicious mischief from Klickitat County.
