A man accused of attacking and severely injuring his girlfriend while camping in the Seminary Hill Natural Area in Centralia on March 7 has been arrested and charged with second-degree assault, domestic violence.
Jarrod Ray Vincent Phillipi, 34, of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail at approximately 12:46 p.m. on March 14, according to jail records.
He had his preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday, March 17, where bail was set at $50,000.
Phillipi is accused of attacking his girlfriend while they were setting up a tent in the Seminary Hill Natural Area during the morning of March 7, according to court documents.
The victim reported Phillipi “became angry” when a zipper on the tent broke. Phillipi allegedly put the victim in a “chokehold, during which she could not breathe,” and “scratched (the victim) on her face and neck, bit her on her back and grabbed her arms with force — causing bruising,” according to court documents.
She reported that she did not have a phone with her at the time and said “he would not let her leave,” according to court documents.
She reported that she and Phillipi “parted ways later in the morning and she went to the police department to report the crime.”
The officer who took the victim’s statement photographed visible injuries to the victim’s face and neck, according to court documents.
When an officer contacted Phillipi by phone, Phillipi allegedly “said he did not want to meet up and had nothing to say,” according to court documents.
An officer reportedly saw Phillipi at the Centralia Timberland Library on March 14 and placed him under arrest.
Phillipi reportedly has one domestic violence no-contact order violation on his record from 2017 and several other non-felony convictions, but has no other domestic violence-related convictions and no felony convictions, according to court documents.
Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson said Monday that Phillipi has made “concerning statements” to the police, saying the case would be dropped because the victim would be unwilling to testify against him.
“We have concerns about that and given the nature of the defense that has been described, the state asks for $50,000 bail,” Jackson said.
“I do believe there are significant community safety concerns,” Judge Paul Strophy said Monday, granting the prosecution’s bail request and issuing a no-contact order in favor of the victim.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, March 20.
Camping is not allowed at the Seminary Hill Natural Area.
