A Pe Ell man accused of assaulting a woman and threatening a neighbor with a gun on Wednesday is facing felony charges in Lewis County Superior Court.
Bail is set at $250,000.
The man, identified as Caiden O’Brian Earl Waid, 22, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail at 5:50 p.m. on Nov. 8 after the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded to an incident in Pe Ell.
The reporting party told responding deputies he was in his home when he heard a woman “yelling in distress” inside a neighboring Pe Ell residence, prompting him to go over to that residence, where he found “a male on top of (the woman),” according to court documents, which indicate the male was later identified as Waid.
The reporting party told law enforcement he “yelled at the male,” and, “since the male did not stop, (the neighbor) went over and pushed the male” off of the woman, according to court documents. The woman later corroborated the neighbor’s narrative, saying “a Good Samaritan intervened and Waid pointed a gun at him,” according to court documents.
Waid then allegedly “pulled out a gun and pointed it at (the neighbor,) walked towards him and made a comment about teaching him a lesson,” according to court documents. The woman reportedly intervened and kept the two separated until Waid allegedly “pushed her to the ground and struck her in the stomach,” according to court documents.
Another neighbor reportedly told investigators he saw “the female on the ground” and saw “Waid pull a gun at his neighbor … and feared he would be shot,” according to court documents.
In an interview with investigators, the woman said Waid threatened her with a firearm three days prior. In that incident, Waid allegedly “discharged the firearm into the ground and then pointed it at her face and said ‘I’ll shoot you b—,” according to court documents.
Law enforcement personnel reportedly attempted to contact Waid, but said one of Waid’s relatives “initially lied and said that he was not home, then attempted to intervene when Waid was being arrested,” according to court documents.
Waid has reportedly “denied having a gun and threatening anyone,” according to court documents.
“He (Waid) has informed me, first and foremost, numerous times, that he does not own a gun,” defense attorney Rachael Tiller said during Waid’s preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday.
He faces one count of second-degree assault, one count of domestic violence second-degree assault, and one count of domestic violence fourth-degree assault.
Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson cited concerns about the alleged violence, specifically the alleged involvement of a firearm, as reasons for his high bail request.
“I understand that he is saying he doesn't own a gun … but based on those allegations I have a huge risk (concern) for community safety,” Judge Joely Yeager said of Waid’s case on Thursday, when she granted Jackson’s request for $250,000 bail.
Yeager also cited concerns about Waid being a possible flight risk and the potential for him to interfere with the administration of justice due to criminal history out of California and the fact that he is facing two possible strike offenses.
No-contact orders protecting the two victims are in place.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 16.
