Thursday, October 1, 2026
A 39-year-old transient woman was arrested after she allegedly threatened another person with a knife in Olympia.
The Olympia Police Department said in a report that the incident occurred around 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, near the intersection of Thurston Avenue NE and Washington Street NE.
Officers on foot patrol overheard shouting between two women. The altercation escalated when the suspect, identified as Sarah A. Schroeder, confronted the other woman with a knife and threatened to kill her.
Witnesses told police the dispute began with verbal accusations before Schroeder allegedly ran into the street holding the weapon and yelling threats.
But due to the Lake Fair Marathon happening in the area, the suspect didn’t fully approach the victim and ran away.
During a police interview, the victim told police she believed the suspect meant to hurt her.
Officers detained the suspect at the scene. A search of her belongings did not turn up a knife, though multiple witnesses reported seeing one during the incident.
The responding officers reported said they were familiar with Schroeder from prior contacts, and described her as experiencing ongoing mental health issues.
“She (suspect) frequently experiences crisis induced delusions. Schroeder believes herself to be some type of federal agent working on uncovering a vast conspiracy of human trafficking and murdering of children. She also believes that a collection of baby dolls kept in her suitcase are her children,” a responding officer stated in the report.
Schroeder was booked into Thurston County Corrections Facility on suspicion of felony harassment with threats to kill.
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anothername
I know that mant iinstitutions in the 70s were horrible. I experienced one that my mother worked in. But, how can living on the street with no medical attention be better?
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 Report this
DRamsey2
This article raises a lot of questions about safety in that area. The Olympia Transit Center is one block away. I guess I have been too trusting. I suppose the security at the Transit Center gives an inflated sense of safety. I frequently use the nearby Transit Center in the daytime. As the article noted, lots of people were around on that Saturday evening for Lake Fair events. It wasn't the middle of the night, the streets weren't mostly empty. Thurston and Washington have parking on both sides, used extensively by businesses, residents, and shoppers. The Boardwalk Apartments occupy that corner. I have often passed by colorful eccentric people in that area, some who are clearly high, without being unreasonably fearful. In this article we are informed that a mentally ill woman experiencing frequent psychotic breaks, well known by law enforcement, has been permitted to roam our downtown streets. Did she have a record of violent interactions? Should I carry pepper spray? Take self-defense course? Maybe I need a rap sheet showing the mug shots of potentially dangerous vagrants? Or carry a really big knife? Take a 2-block Uber rides from the Transit Center to my destination? Some of these solutions are reasonable, some not, but that's just my reaction to fearful news. Let's take some reasonable steps to protect the lives of the people on our streets. We all know what sometimes happens when crazy people with knives, innocent bystanders, and armed officers are thrown together - for example, passers-by getting stabbed and mentally ill suspects getting shot. We can do better than this, can't we?
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 Report this
BettyVerdammt
Special Agent Sarah A. Schroeder, please report to our field office in Yelm.
Friday, August 8, 2025 Report this