A 48-year-old Gig Harbor man faces criminal criminal charges after he allegedly assaulted a man in what prosecutors called an "egregious” offense.
Security cameras reportedly captured the alleged beating, which took place in the parking lot of Centralia Inn on Dec. 7. The footage ultimately helped lead to an arrest.
Tim R. Fredericks Jr. was charged with one count each of second-degree assault and making a false or misleading statement to a public servant.
The assault charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines, and is considered a strike offense, meaning three such convictions would result in a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Fredericks made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, security footage of the incident shows the victim approaching Fredericks and touching his shoulder, before Fredericks “punches (the victim) on the face three times with a closed fist.”
After the man “falls to the ground,” Fredericks puts his knee on the man’s neck and slams his “head to the ground,” according to the alleged footage.
The alleged footage then shows Fredericks throwing the man “back down to the ground,” before stomping “on (the victim’s) head as he is (lying) on the ground.”
The filmed assault reportedly ends after a woman approaches with a curling iron and Fredericks “pulls out a knife” and walks away, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit indicates that police were able to corroborate the footage with the accounts of several witnesses, as well as the victim’s account.
When speaking to police, Fredericks allegedly said that the victim “had assaulted him and threatened to kill him, and that this was the second incident between (him) and (the man) today,” according to the affidavit.
During the preliminary hearing, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson requested a bail of $50,000 cash or surety, despite Fredericks' lack of criminal history.
“I actually watched the video where the alleged victim was beaten pretty badly,” Jackson said, before citing concerns for community safety “given the violent acts that are described.”
Defense attorney Rachael Tiller said that Fredericks had asked the court to allow either a personal recognizance release or unsecured bail.
Tiller added that she found no felony history or failures to appear in court when reviewing the defendant’s record, and said that Fredericks wanted her to emphasize that he was a single parent who was concerned about the welfare of his three children.
After saying bail would be difficult for Fredericks, the attorney asked for no more than $20,000.
Commissioner Cailen L. Cecil said she found that the defendant “does present a risk to community safety and, specifically, that he presents a likely danger to commit a violent crime.”
In consideration of Fredericks’ lack of criminal history and financial status, Cecil set bail at $25,000 cash or bond.
Fredericks was scheduled to appear for an arraignment on Thursday, Dec. 11, with attorney Chris Baum assigned as his attorney.
