Olympia police are investigating a reported shooting at the Hotel RL on Evergreen Park Drive on Saturday, during what investigators believe was a drug deal gone wrong.
One person was arrested during the investigation on drug-related charges. No victims could be identified and no one has been arrested in connection to actually firing a gun.
According to court documents, police responded to the hotel after receiving a call about gunshots. The caller said a man was in the parking lot, shooting at a red car.
According to witnesses at the scene, two women arrived at the hotel and asked for the location of a certain room. Two men showed up 10 minutes afterward and asked for directions to that same room. The women were later seen leaving the hotel, with two men chasing them.
“The witness was unclear who had shot but officers were able to locate one spent 9mm shell casing and one unfired 9mm round,” read court documents.
Officers went to the hotel room and found two people leaving as they got there. One of them, Brandon Pointon, 22, was arrested, originally on suspicion of first-degree assault. However, after reviewing the officer’s reports, prosecutors opted to push for charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver while armed with a firearm and possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver while armed with a firearm.
Police obtained a warrant to search the hotel room and reported finding mushrooms, blue pills, meth, marijuana, a scale and nearly $300 in cash. They also found a Glock 9mm handgun, and a coat and hat matching a description the caller gave for the shooter.
One person who was inside the room at the time of the incident spoke with the police, saying Pointon left the room. Gunshots could be heard. Pointon allegedly returned with the gun saying that he needed to change clothes.
During a hearing in Thurston County Superior Court Monday afternoon, Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson said police are trying to identify a victim in the case and learn more about the shooting. Police suspect the incident was a drug deal gone wrong, he said. He asked that Pointon be held on $25,000 bail.
Public Defender Danielle Walker asked Pointon to be held on $1,000 bail. She noted that regardless of what future investigation uncovers, Pointon had yet to be accused of actually firing a gun at anyone. She noted that he has a limited criminal history that doesn’t include violence.
Judge John Skinder opted for $25,000 bail, saying the allegations against Pointon were concerning. Pointon has an arraignment scheduled for Feb. 9.
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