Declined card leads to Olympia man’s arrest over alleged robbery

A declined Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card led to a physical altercation between a store clerk and a transient Olympia man who was later arrested on suspicion of robbery, according to a police report.

According to Olympia police, Codia Allen Demings, 35, was arrested on Feb. 10 after a reported disturbance at the Shell gas station on Martin Way.

The clerk told police that Demings entered the store and came up to the counter with two donuts and two honey buns worth $6.

When Demings’ card was declined, the clerk said, the suspect began yelling at him and accusing him of overcharging.

The clerk said he and Demings yelled back and forth about the price of the goods until the suspect allegedly grabbed items off the counter and started walking toward the exit.

The employee recalled that he blocked the door before Demings got out, at which point the suspect allegedly grabbed him by the neck and pushed him aside, causing items to fall off the shelves.

After the suspect let go of him, the clerk said, the two of them exchanged a few punches and Demings hit him in the mouth.

The clerk then pushed Demings out of the store and locked the door, after which the suspect said, “I'm not going anywhere; I'm waiting for you to get done [with] work!”

A responding police officer noted that the store had “obvious signs of a disturbance or altercation,” including a clothing rack that was knocked over, food that was smashed, and items on the floor.

Authorities also saw that the clerk had a bloody lip and a fresh red scratch mark on the right side of his neck.

Demings told police that he didn’t rob anyone and that he had the means to pay for his items.

Police said the suspect became “verbally aggressive,” insisting that he was wrongfully arrested.

Demings was booked at the Thurston County Jail for second-degree robbery.