Assault, robbery suspect tracked down by local authorities in Yelm area

K-9 Igo of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

Courtesy of Thurston County Sheriff's Office

Posted Wednesday, January 7, 2026 3:30 pm

By The JOLT News Staff

A suspect wanted for an assault in connection with an alleged robbery last year was taken into custody on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

"Back in November (2025), TCSO (Thurston County Sheriff's Office) deputies investigated a brutal assault during a robbery that resulted in a victim losing part of their ear. Deputies identified the suspect, a well known career criminal, who fled the scene and has been on the run ever since," said Sheriff Derek Sanders in a social media post on Tuesday.

"Tonight, the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force tracked the suspect down to a compound in the Yelm area."

Sanders said the unidentified supsect was arrested with the help of the Department of Corrections, the U.S. Marshals Service and sheriff's office K-9 Igo.

The suspect was booked into Thurston County Corrections Facility for assault in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, a felony escape warrant for possession of a stolen vehicle and Thurston County Sheriff's Office felony warrant for possession of a stolen vehicle.

Comments

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SecondOtter

NAME please? NAME the criminal, please, so that when he's released on bail or just let go, we know who to look out for. He's a 'career criminal, meaning he doesn't give a rip about whether he's familiar to the TCSO. There's plenty to keep him locked up. For a WHILE. Like years.

Wednesday, January 7 Report this
cappers

We agreed 1000% with Second Otter. We need the name plz.

Wednesday, January 7 Report this
chrispc2u

“Tracked the suspect to a compound”? That’s a little vague, isn’t it? There’s only one “compound” in Yelm and that’s Ramtha's School of Enlightenment. So why chicken out and not name it. C’mon Jolt, grow some stones. Name names, especially if they relate to a local cult.

Wednesday, January 7 Report this
VDRAKE2

I would like TCS K9 pictures better suited to viewer I thought it was a black cat, couldn't figure out if that was a survivor of the brutal attack or what. I love that TCS has K9 support. Maybe an idea for an article? I'm glad they caught this s I'm miscreant!

Wednesday, January 7 Report this

Assault, robbery suspect tracked down by local authorities in Yelm area

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