A Centralia High School student faces felony charges after he allegedly drove over the district security coordinator’s foot on April 1.
Sergio S. Salceda-Vazquez, 18, made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday. He’s charged with one count of felony hit-and-run.
During the hearing, a judge agreed with the state's recommendation to release Salceda-Vazquez on a $25,000 unsecured bond on the condition he be prohibited from driving while the case is pending.
The judge also granted the defense’s request that Salceda-Vazquez be allowed to attend school upon release. Conditions of release typically include provisions prohibiting defendants from having any direct or indirect contact with witnesses or alleged victims.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Mike Lowrey, the district’s security coordinator and former longtime Centralia police officer, had been told that Salceda-Vazquez, who “did not have a driver's license,” had arrived at school in a white truck the morning of the alleged incident.
Two students had then entered Salceda-Vazquez’s vehicle in the parking lot, “even though the bell had rung to start first period.”
According to the affidavit, the security coordinator described being "unsure if they were simply skipping class or smoking something in the vehicle so he walked out to speak with them.”
Lowrey and another employee approached the truck. Lowrey reportedly knocked on the rear driver’s side window and saw Salceda-Vazquez in the driver’s seat.
The affidavit alleges that Salceda-Vazquez put the vehicle in reverse and “turned the wheel.”
“As he backed up, Sergio ran over Mr. Lowrey's foot, which Mr. Lowrey stated caused him pain and he yelled, ‘You ran over my foot!’” the affidavit states.
The other employee reportedly got in front of the vehicle and told Salceda-Vazquez to stop in English and Spanish.
Salceda-Vazquez allegedly drove around the employee and fled the scene.
A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the school and obtained Lowrey’s written statement, before arresting Salceda-Vazquez at his home.
According to the affidavit, Salceda-Vazquez told law enforcement “he had a vape and was scared to get caught with it at the school.”
The defendant was scheduled for an arraignment on April 9.
