Olympia woman allegedly strikes stranger with a metal pipe

An Olympia woman was charged with a felony after allegedly attacking another woman using a metal pipe.

The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney charged April Destiny Forbes-Damaske, 34, with second-degree assault on May 24, after Olympia police arrested her on May 21 when a woman reported that she was assaulted by another female wielding a metal pipe.

The reporting party told police that she was in the 700 block of Columbia Street NW taking pictures with her longboard. As she walked back to her car, a woman later identified as Forbes-Damaske approached her while yelling.

The suspect was holding two objects that appeared to be metal pipes, the reporting party said, adding that Forbes-Damaske swung the pipes at her while continuing to yell, and hit her in the face.

An officer noted redness and swelling on the reporting party’s right cheek. She refused medical aid. 

The woman said that after Forbes-Damaske hit her, the former brought out her taser and swung her longboard at the suspect in an attempt to push her away.

The reporting party said she then went to her car and Forbes-Damaske walked away.

A male witness told police that he heard yelling from a woman carrying two metal pipes while walking along the boardwalk. The witness said the suspect struck the chain link fence using the pipes.

The witness said he saw the suspect swing the pipes at the other woman. He added that the other woman swung a skateboard and pointed a taser at the suspect, who then walked away toward Budd Bay Café.

Police later located Forbes-Damaske near Anthony’s Homeport Restaurant. Multiple people in the area told authorities that there was a disorderly woman walking around with metal pipes, according to the police report.

An officer spotted Forbes-Damaske yelling at people on the sidewalk. After police contacted her, the suspect yelled “I didn’t do anything,” ran southbound on Washington Street NE and threw the pipes down.

Police detained an “actively yelling and screaming” Forbes-Damaske along State Avenue and Washington Street. Dispatchers advised police that the suspect previously assaulted law enforcement officers, the report indicated.

The suspect’s behavior “escalated” after she was informed that she was under arrest for assault, police said. She was placed in a wrap restraint system.

Forbes-Damaske was booked into the Thurston County Jail for second-degree assault and obstructing an officer.