A Longview man is in custody after Centralia police say he stole from a local store, pulled a knife on a motorist and then swam across the Skookumchuck River in an attempt to avoid arrest.
Keith A. Byman, 30, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of committing robbery in the first degree. His preliminary hearing is scheduled 4 p.m. today in Lewis County Superior Court.
According to a press release from the Centralia Police Department, Byman is accused of stealing items from an unspecified Centralia store in the 900 block of Harrison Avenue.
The release states that sometime after the alleged robbery, Byman pulled a knife on a motorist in a parking lot in that area, and tried to steal the motorist’s vehicle. The motorist pulled a gun on Byman, who ran away.
He was captured after he swam across the Skookumchuck River, and police claim they located the knife used in the robbery in a nearby field. The press release also states Byman had active warrants for his arrest from other jurisdictions.
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