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A man accused of threatening to kill his mother and stepfather in Centralia in October 2024 was arrested Wednesday on a $50,000 warrant.
Thomas Gabriel Smith, 28, of Olympia is accused of texting his mother, who lives in Centralia, on Oct. 27, 2024, a message stating, “I just decided I’m going to kill you,” adding, “I decided you were evil I know where you live and I bought a Glock 19 with an extended clip.”
The message continued with Smith allegedly saying he would see his mother and stepfather “very soon,” according to charging documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court on Nov. 19, 2024.
The message ended, “You’re already dead, I have your address, enjoy your final hours, See you soon.”
Smith’s mother and stepfather contacted the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office the same day they received the threatening message, according to court documents.
Smith’s mother and stepfather reported that they “were concerned the threat was very specific and it caused them to fear for their safety,” according to charging documents.
Smith’s mother reported that she had received multiple harassing text messages from Smith that day and that she had blocked two other numbers Smith allegedly used.
They advised that “Smith has been a transient in Olympia for some time and has mental health issues,” adding that “he has been estranged from his mother.”
Officers with the Olympia Police Department searched for Smith at the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office’s request, with instructions to arrest him if he could be located.
Meanwhile, a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy provided the reporting parties with information on how to obtain a protection order and “worked on a safety plan if Mr. Smith showed up at the residence,” according to court documents.
Law enforcement personnel were unable to locate Smith on Oct. 27 and he did not respond to attempts to contact the phone number he allegedly used to send the threatening text message, according to court documents.
Smith was charged Nov. 19, 2024, in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of cyber harassment, which is a class C felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
A $50,000 warrant for Smith’s arrest was issued that same day.
Smith was booked into the Lewis County Jail on that warrant at 9:12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, according to jail records.
“He wants the court to be aware that he was not aware of this active warrant,” defense attorney Rachael Tiller said of Smith during his preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday, May 22.
During that hearing, Judge Joely Yeager granted the prosecution’s request for $50,000 bail due to Smith’s current active warrants for four pending cases out of Thurston County and his extensive domestic violence history.
A no-contact order in favor of the victims is in place.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, May 26.
