A Centralia woman tried to flee from police Wednesday by jumping into the Skookumchuck River.
She traveled about 2,000 feet downstream before exiting the waters near River Road.
The woman was met on land by officers and taken into custody, still wet, as the Centralia Police Department noted in its daily press log on Thursday.
Brenna M. Layton, 33, made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Thursday to face one count of violation of a court order, domestic violence. The Class C felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
A judge set Layton’s bail at $10,000 cash or bond, given her financial situation and limited felony history. As part of her release conditions, Layton is prohibited from contacting the petitioner of the order she allegedly violated.
Layton has had 27 past warrants issued for her arrest, according to court documents.
According to a probable cause affidavit, a Centralia police sergeant served Layton with the domestic violence no-contact order on Wednesday, after he reportedly found her underneath the Skookumchuck River bridge connected to North Pearl Street.
The sergeant reportedly explained to Layton that her current location under the bridge violated the order’s 1,000-foot distance restriction protecting the petitioner. He advised her to stay either as far north as Reynolds Avenue or as far south as Sixth Street to remain in compliance.
Layton reportedly gathered her belongings, left the area and hung around Sixth Street and North Pearl Street for a period of hours.
At around 1:35 p.m., the sergeant noticed Layton was no longer in the area. He went back under the bridge and saw Layton. Upon seeing the sergeant, Layton “immediately jumped up and ran into the river,” according to the affidavit.
Other officers responded to the scene and tracked Layton as she headed downstream. She was apprehended on land and booked into the Lewis County Jail at about 3:30 p.m.
Layton is scheduled for an arraignment on Aug. 27.
