Bail was set at $50,000 in Lewis County Superior Court Monday for a man who was arrested on Saturday, June 28, for allegedly stealing a shopping cart in the Safeway parking lot in Centralia and swinging a “metal baton” at multiple joggers.
Paul Swaw II, 46, who is described in Lewis County Superior Court documents as a transient from the Federal Way area, was charged with second-degree felony assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of harassment.
Swaw was reportedly attempting to steal a shopping cart when two joggers reported him to Centralia police. Swaw allegedly told the male jogger, who intervened upon witnessing the alleged theft, that he was going to strike him with a “foot-long metal item,” according to court documents. The male jogger reportedly told police that Swaw swung the baton to keep him away. The female jogger told police that the suspect was intoxicated and he pulled what appeared to her to be a metal blade and “came at her with it, holding it up like he was going to hit her with it,” per court reports.
The Centralia police officer ordered Swaw to stop walking, but he continued to walk away. The officer noticed a metal baton with a narrow metal tip in the shopping cart next to Swaw’s hand, and he attempted to step in front of the shopping court, court documents state.
Swaw allegedly grabbed the metal baton with his right hand and said, “You better stop messing with me.” He then ran away with the baton in his hand before tripping and falling, dropping the weapon. The officer placed him in custody and logged the baton as evidence.
Senior Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher requested Judge Andrew Toynbee set bail at $50,000, while Defense Attorney Rachael Tiller said Swaw had no means to post bail at this time. Meagher said the state counted over 15 warrants of issue in the past on misdemeanor matters, including assault in 2017 and five different harassment matters.
Toynbee sided with the prosecutor, citing Swaw’s criminal history and the “substantial concern for the community.” Swaw’s arraignment is scheduled for July 10.
