A man accused of fleeing from police in Centralia while under the influence of drugs and alcohol in September 2024 was arrested Wednesday on a $100,000 warrant. 

A Lewis County Superior Court judge ruled Thursday to reduce bail to $25,000 for Tony Hernandez, 48, of Tacoma, who faces one count each of felony DUI, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and first-degree driving with a suspended license. 

“In line of (his) history and allegations, the court does have concerns for community safety,” Judge Paul Strophy said of Hernandez during his preliminary hearing on Thursday, adding that community safety concerns were likely why another judge set the warrant amount at $100,000. 

The charges against Hernandez and the $100,000 warrant for his arrest were filed in Lewis County Superior Court on Oct. 1, 2024. The incident itself occurred on Sept. 11, 2024. 

Hernandez is accused of fleeing from Centralia Police Department officers in a gray Jeep Cherokee after an officer tried to pull the vehicle over for not having a front or rear license plate, according to court documents. 

When the officer activated his patrol vehicle’s lights and siren, a man only identified as “Smoke” reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled the area on foot. The officer exited his vehicle and gave chase while the Jeep continued driving. 

The officer reportedly returned to his patrol vehicle and pursued the Jeep. Hernandez allegedly “stuck his arm out the window and made a gesture in response to the officer following with his emergency lights on” before he allegedly “accelerated into the oncoming lane of eastbound traffic,” according to court documents. The Jeep reportedly “began making jerky, erratic maneuvers, indicating possible impairment,” according to court documents. 

Hernandez allegedly continued to drive recklessly into oncoming traffic, prompting the officer to perform a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver. 

“The PIT maneuver was successful in causing the fleeing vehicle to spin out” and the officer’s vehicle struck the Jeep as it came to a stop, the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office stated in charging documents filed Oct. 1. 

Hernandez allegedly exited the vehicle when ordered by the officer and was placed under arrest. 

Hernandez and a female passenger both required medical treatment following the crash. 

Inside the vehicle, an officer reportedly saw a meth pipe and several empty containers of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, according to court documents. 

When questioned, Hernandez allegedly claimed he consumed fentanyl and Xanax after the crash, and ultimately required a dose of Narcan while en route to the hospital. 

An officer noted that Hernandez emitted “an overwhelming odor of intoxicants” in the back of the ambulance, according to court documents. 

Officers obtained a search warrant for a sample of Hernandez’s blood, which was drawn at the hospital where Hernandez and the passenger received medical treatment. 

A search of the Jeep conducted the next day yielded two glass smoking devices, unused syringes and “likely stolen property” from the Nike outlet store in Centralia. 

“The theft occurred just prior to the attempted traffic stop that gave rise to the eluding incident,” the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office stated in charging documents, adding that security footage from the outlet shows the same Jeep with missing plates backed into a stall at the outlet shortly before the eluding incident. 

“Further investigation determined the property was taken from the Nike store by ‘Smoke,” the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office stated. 

The records filed in Hernandez’s case in October did not contain any information about ‘Smoke’s’ identity or the status of that theft investigation. 

Hernandez evaded arrest on the $100,000 warrant through 11:58 a.m. on Wednesday, April 9, when Lewis County Jail records indicate he was arrested and booked into the jail. 

According to defense attorney Rachael Tiller, Hernandez said he was told at the time of the incident that, due to the fact that he needed intensive medical care at the hospital after the crash, he would receive a summons notice in the mail with his court date. 

“That letter never came,” Tiller said. 

Following his release from the hospital, Hernandez was reportedly in custody at another facility on an unrelated matter up until April 8, when he was released on that matter. 

Hernandez was on his way to Port Angeles to begin an inpatient treatment program when Lewis County law enforcement personnel arrested him, according to Tiller. 

Hernandez’s criminal history includes multiple felony DUI and other driving-related convictions out of Washington state, as well as convictions for fourth-degree assault and protection order violations. Other cases on his record include robbery, possession of a controlled substance, DUI and child cruelty convictions out of California. 

Hernandez also has a federal District Court conviction for distribution of a controlled substance, according to court documents. 

“I do have a history of this sickness and I know in my heart now I need help,” Hernandez said during his preliminary hearing on Thursday, where he asked Stophy to grant him release on his own personal recognizance so he can partake in the inpatient program. 

Hernandez also showed the court a certificate of achievement he recently earned for completing a drug and alcohol treatment program, saying his children encouraged him to continue with treatment. 

“Something just, like, snapped, and I did this on my own,” Hernandez said. “I did it. It took me three months. I did it.” 

“I have no reason to doubt you … that you’ve had your life changed,” Strophy told Hernandez on Thursday. However, due to the nature of the allegations and Hernandez’s extensive criminal history, Strophy said, “I do still believe there is some risk still to community safety and that there’s not a sufficient disincentive to you without bail being posted.” 

Stophy agreed to the prosecution’s request to reduce bail to $25,000, noting that the bail reduction takes into account the steps Hernandez has taken to better himself. 

Should Hernandez post bail and provide proof of his bed placement at the inpatient facility in Port Angeles, Strophy said the court would be willing to work with Hernandez’ defense attorney to allow Hernandez to complete that treatment program. 

Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, April 17.