By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A 33-year-old Chehalis man is in custody after allegedly taking a knife off a police officer as they scuffled yesterday morning near the Amtrak station in Centralia.
Matthew E. Eastman allegedly had told a transit employee three times he was going to kick his f-ing ass and officers were called just before 8 a.m. to the 200 block of North Railroad Avenue.
Eastman had outstanding warrants and as Officer Doug Lowrey attempted to arrest him, a struggle and short chase ensued, according to authorities.
He allegedly took a knife from Lowrey’s vest, opened it and standing about two feet away, told Lowrey, he was going to f-ing kill him.
Lowrey drew his firearm. Eastman threw the knife.
He was Tased at one point, but it was ineffective because of his heavy jacket, Officer Angie Humphrey said.
Humphrey said officers know Eastman, who is involved with a Cascade Mental Health program.
He was taken into custody when other officers arrived, Humphrey said.
Lowrey received a hand injury and Eastman was treated for a cut to his hand, according to Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer.
Lowrey’s knife was found near the railroad tracks.
Eastman has several convictions for custodial assault, according to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office. He is pending charges of interfering with a health care facility, criminal trespass, unlawful transit conduct and urinating in public.
He was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree assault and also his warrants.
Today in Lewis County Superior Court, he was charged with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon, disarming a law enforcement officer, felony harassment and misdemeanor harassment.
His bail was set at $75,000.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
“A weight of a ton”, the fella who got shot by the tower st. Chevron was reaching for a gun in his waist. I’ll give you that supposedly the cop patted him down and didn’t find it but still, that was a way different situation
I’m with Bobby, isnt the first time an LEO in this county has decided to take the high road and not kill someone they think (and in thid case they did) has a knife in the last few years.
This is why commitment laws need to be brought back.
33 years old, time to get your life together buddy.
Back in 2010 or so ma fukaz were gettin shot for burritos and hands in pockets. Funny how they stop killing people when their immunity goes away.
Good restraint on the part of the officer. A suspect with a knife thretanening to kill him is a deadly threat.
The officer did not fire right away and gave the suspect a chance to disarm himself.