A man who reportedly fled from Centralia police officers attempting to arrest him on felony burglary charges in December was booked into the Lewis County Jail on Wednesday.
The defendant, Michael J. Borden, 34, of Centralia, is accused of breaking into a residence in the 1510 block of Lum Road on Christmas Day, according to documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court.
Borden and a second previously unidentified suspect, now identified as Crystal M. Chambers, 41, of Centralia, allegedly broke in through the back door of the residence “wearing motorcycle helmets and backpacks” at about 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2022, and stole property worth more than $750 total, including the Ring camera that recorded their entry and the residents’ vehicle.
Borden and Chambers were charged with one count each of residential burglary, second-degree theft and theft of a motor vehicle on Dec. 29. A judge then issued a $10,000 warrant for Chambers’ arrest and a $25,000 warrant for Borden’s arrest.
At about 8:25 p.m. that same day, officers attempted to arrest Borden on that warrant and an outstanding Department of Corrections warrant in the 700 block of Euclid Way, according to the Centralia Police Department.
Borden allegedly fled on foot and eluded law enforcement up until his arrest on Wednesday.
Chambers was arrested in January, had her preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Jan. 17 and was released on $10,000 unsecured bail the next day. She has entered not guilty pleas to all charges.
The court issued a no-bail warrant for her arrest on Feb. 23 after she failed to appear in court for a mandatory omnibus hearing.
She had not been arrested on that warrant as of Monday.
Borden had his preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, where a judge set his bail at $50,000. Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, March 2.
Lewis County Superior Court records indicate Borden was convicted in May 2021 on multiple felony charges, including assault of a law enforcement officer, attempting to elude a police vehicle, reckless driving, hit-and-run, possession of stolen property and harassment, threat to kill, domestic violence.
The charges stemmed from a September 2020 incident when Borden led officers on a 100 mph pursuit through downtown Centralia in a stolen vehicle, during which he struck a fire hydrant, caused a head-on collision with a passenger vehicle driving in the opposite lane near Seminary Hill Road and rammed into an officer’s vehicle before crashing near Centralia High School property and fleeing on foot. Officers located and arrested him at a motel several days later, according to court documents.
For that case, Borden was sentenced in June 2021 to 27.75 months in prison with credit for time served, followed by 27.75 months on probation.
