West Olympia homeless resident accuses fellow transient of threatening his life

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A transient allegedly robbed a fellow transient at gunpoint, while taking his tent, near railroad tracks in west Olympia on Tuesday, July 20, just before 4 a.m.

Harley Pierce, 32, whose address is listed by police as transient, was arrested by Olympia police after they responded to a call from a man who accused Pierce of pointing a shotgun at him, making him empty his pockets, then stealing his tent. The tent was located near the 2700 block of Cooper Point Rd SE near railroad tracks behind the Capital Auto Mall.

The recorded statement of the alleged victim is below this story.

The alleged victim ran away from Pierce, flagged down a passerby, and was “visibly shaken” when OPD reach him.

The alleged victim said initially that he had left the camp to grab milk and upon his return, had been warned “don’t you dare go in there” by Pierce, who declared that the alleged victim's tent was now “his tent.” Pierce allegedly pulled a shotgun, took the man’s tablet, $30 in cash and several other items. Pierce allegedly threatened to kill the alleged victim if he returned.

At approximately 5 a.m. a pair of Olympia police officers walked into the area of the railroad tracks and shined their flashlights at three individuals, one of whom, Pierce, was “immediately recognized” as police reported that they had “contacted him multiple times in the past.”

OPD contacted Pierce, who initially denied having any weapons, but then admitted to having a pair of brass knuckles. Pierce denied having a shotgun, but admitted to having an air pellet gun with a broken barrel.

Pierce was booked into the Thurston County Jail for felony robbery, possession of a deadly weapon, and a Department of Corrections (DOC) warrant.

UPDATE: Sat., July 24, 2021 - This story was modified to remove the name of the alleged victim from it. 

  • Courtesy of Olympia Police Department

    This is the statement given to Olympia Police on Tue., July 20, 2021 in which the alleged victim accuses Harley Pierce of threatening and robbing him.

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