Person arrested after allegedly spitting in officer’s face

A transient Olympia woman was arrested after allegedly spitting in a police officer’s face, hitting his open mouth and eyes.

According to Olympia police, Riley James Evans, a 28-year-old male who identifies as female, was arrested last Tue., Jan. 4 at approximately 8:30 a.m., as police were conducting their morning routine of waking people sleeping in alcoves downtown.

One officer reported that he heard someone “yelling and being disorderly” along Fifth Avenue and Capitol Way. He approached and recognized Evans, who was struggling with multiple hoodies that she was wearing.

The officer, who was familiar with the suspect from numerous prior contacts, said Evans has “good days” and days where she is “extremely disorderly.”

The suspect told the officer to “f*ck off” as he approached, according to the police report.

The officer noted that Evans kept cursing him and spat in his face after she stepped out of the alcove.

“I could see and feel the spit as it contacted me and went in my open mouth and open eyes,” the officer wrote.

Evans was immediately taken down to the ground, according to the report, prompting other transients to crowd on the intersection while yelling, "Get off of him!" and "He never hurts anybody!"

Another responding officer said Evans screamed “I’m sorry, please don’t hurt me” repeatedly and "I won’t spit on you again” as she was being handcuffed.

Evans was booked at the Thurston County Jail for third-degree assault against a law enforcement officer.

The police officer who was spit on said he followed guidelines for biological exposure.