By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Bail was increased to $500,000 for a man who reportedly advanced on a Mossyrock police officer during a traffic stop, forcing the officer to draw his pistol and retreat behind his patrol car.
Wayne Burdette, 43, was arrested for driving under the influence after the incident two and a half weeks ago in Mossyrock, according to charging documents, but a subsequent search of his trailer turned up a journal containing statements such as “How to kill cops”, “Teach body armor weak spot” and “Target all colleges and trade schools that offer law enforcement training”.
Burdette is charged with harassment; threat to kill and also with obstructing for his June 10 encounter with Mossyrock Officer Jeremy Stamper.
He was released from jail on the DUI charge, and then the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office SWAT officers visited his trailer on June 16 to arrest him for incident with Stamper, according to court documents. Burdette’s address is listed as the 100 block of Winston Creek Road outside Mossyrock.
Deputies found a loaded shotgun just inside his doorway and a detective’s search turned up the journal, according to the documents.
Burdette pleaded not guilty on Thursday in Lewis County Superior Court, but Judge James Lawler raised his bail from $350,000 to $500,000.
The increase followed last week’s encounter in Napavine in which a 33-year-old man reportedly charged a sheriff’s deputy and was fatally shot.
The supplemental information from the found journals and police reports from other counties was submitted to persuade a judge higher bail was necessary, and to show the true nature of the threat Burdette made on June 10, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors say Burdette was previously flagged as a risk to officer safety, that he was known to assault officers and carry firearms.
Prosecutors say they learned from other counties, that Burdette in the past has made statements that “Vengeance and death are the only way to deal with people who wear a badge, carry guns and have prosecutors on their side,” according to the documents. A second notebook found by sheriff’s detective Dan Riordan reportedly included a detailed account of the Lakewood police shootings and contained the statement, “Maurice Clemmons gave them too much warning”, according to prosecutors.
Officer Stamper presumably knew very little of that when he pulled Burdette over for speeding on June 10.
Charging documents allege the following about the traffic stop:
Stamper stopped a brown Ford pickup in a 25 mph zone traveling 38 mph.
The driver, Burdette, argued about how fast he was going, and Stamper told him to stay in his truck and he would be back with him in a few minutes.
Burdette had given him a glare that made Stamper apprehensive.
When Stamper went back to his patrol car to fill out a ticket, he observed Burdette lay down out of sight.
Stamper opened his patrol car door, unholstered his pistol. As dispatch was telling Stamper of the officer “safety flag” on Burdette, Burdette got out of his truck with his right hand behind his back and approached Stamper’s patrol car.
Stamper pointed his pistol at Burdette, ordered him to show his hands and get back in his truck, but Burdette kept walking toward the officer.
Stamper moved to the back of his patrol car as Burdette was at the driver’s door. Burdette was arguing he wanted to see the “f-ing radar”
Stamper held his ground, and Burdette returned to the cab of his truck.
While Stamper was on the driver’s side explaining the ticket to Burdette, a trooper who arrived as backup was at truck’s passenger side and saw a pistol in Burdette’s waistband
Both officers drew their weapons and ordered him to show his hands, one of which he repeatedly kept putting near where his gun was.
Stamper finally ordered Burdette to show his hands or be shot, and Burdette kept staring with the “thousand-yard stare.”
Burdette finally got out of the truck and was placed in the “prone position”; Trooper Jason Hicks thought he might be under the influence of some drug and arrested him for DUI.
They found a loaded .40 caliber pistol pistol in the small of Burdette’s back; it had a bullet in the chamber and the safety was off.
He had two more magazines in his belt.
And Burdette said: “No wonder why we walk into a coffee shop and shoot four of you.”
Felony harassment: Prosecutors allege that by his words or conduct, Burdette threatened to kill Stamper, and by his words or conduct placed Stamper in reasonable fear the threat would be carried out.
Burdette has no felony criminal history, but has a conviction for a gross misdemeanor sex offense. He had just visited the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office in late May to register his address as a level one sex offender.
Burdette’s trial is set for the week of August 15.
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CORRECTION: This news story has been updated to reflect Wayne Burdette’s correct age.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter