CRIME & COURT BRIEFS

Alleged shoplifter returns to confront store employee

A convenience store clerk obtained a temporary protection order against an alleged shoplifter after he was released from jail and returned to harass her, according to court documents.

Police arrested James Elmlund, 19, at the Airport Grocery in Shelton on Oct. 15, for allegedly stealing candy and soda and assaulting employee Kimberly Espinoza, who tried to stop him.

“Kimberly told me that she had witnessed the suspect in the store place items into his sweatshirt pocket. Kimberly, who was dressed in an employee apron, clearly identifying her as an employee, confronted James and told him to empty his pocket. James denied having any merchandise and attempted to leave. While leaving, James began pushing Kimberly. Once outside, James assaulted Kimberly by grabbing her and twirling her around, causing her to almost fall to the ground,” Deputy H. Prigger wrote in the probable cause document.

Prigger said Espinoza was “in a state of shock” when he spoke with her shortly after the incident.

Espinoza went to the hospital for pain in her neck, shoulders and back, according to the document.

Prosecutors charged Elmlund with second-degree robbery. Judge Monty Cobb released Elmlund on a $5,000 bond with the stipulation Elmlund could not go to the Airport Grocery.

Espinoza said Elmlund later “came into my store and confronted me” after his first pretrial hearing, which was Dec. 18, according to court records. Espinoza told him to leave and then he called the store multiple times from his home, but Espinoza didn’t answer, according to her petition for protection.

Espinoza filed the petition Jan. 5 and was granted a temporary order the same day by Judge Daniel Goodell.

A full hearing is scheduled Jan. 19.

Elmlund’s robbery trial is set for March 5.

Belfair Dairy Queen employee says he was assaulted

A Dairy Queen employee who “flipped off” a drive-thru customer was allegedly assaulted afterward by the customer, according to court documents.

The employee didn’t think the customer saw him perform the obscene gesture, but he did, and came inside and punched the employee in the face, according to the probable cause document.

Ty Jackson was working at the Belfair Dairy Queen on Dec. 9, when he handed customer Cristian Antonio-Montejo, 19, a bag of food at the pick-up window.

“He took the bag carefully as if he didn’t want to touch it after Ty did. Ty believed this could have been due to the suspect possibly being homophobic,” Deputy Q. Garant wrote in the document.

“This upset Ty, so after the suspect drove forward from the window, Ty flipped him off. Ty didn’t think the suspect would’ve seen him do it, but he did,” according to the document.

Antonio-Montejo parked his vehicle and came inside the restaurant.

“Ty said he heard the suspect stomping his feet, and the next thing he knew, the suspect was there swinging his arm at him. The suspect struck Ty in the right temple of his head with a closed fist,” Garant wrote.

Jackson’s coworkers grabbed Antonio-Montejo, pushed him outside and called police.

Two of Jackson’s coworkers recognized Antonio-Montejo because they went to high school with him, and one was able to provide a deputy with Antonio-Montejo’s picture from a middle-school yearbook.

Deputies arrested Antonio-Montejo Jan. 10 for first-degree burglary. He has not been charged and has a Jan. 22 arraignment in Mason County Superior Court before Judge Daniel Goodell.

Suspect leaves Shelton Outfitters with armful of clothing

A suspected shoplifter left Shelton Outfitters on Jan. 9 with an armful of clothing and rode off on his bike, followed closely by a store manager, who drove behind the bicyclist until police arrived.

The manager, Justin Boelk, told police the suspect, Hanzel T. Tuitea, 44, had been “in the store acting odd,” according to the probable cause document.

“Boelk told me that Tuitea was stacking up property and he met him at the front of the store. Boelk advised that Tuitea passed all points of sale. Boelk told me that he blocked Tuitea from leaving and told Tuitea to put the property back,” Officer C. Moran wrote in the document.

Tuitea said his aunt was outside and would shoot Boelk if he didn’t let him pass, according to Boelk’s statement.

“Boelk told me he thought he was going to get shot if he did not let Tuitea go with the property,” Moran wrote.

When Boelk saw there was no aunt with a gun, he got in his car and followed Tuitea, who was riding away on a bike, according to the charging document.

Another employee called police, who located Tuitea riding down Cascade Avenue, where Tuitea was arrested on charges of second-degree robbery, according to the document.

Tuitea’s case is on discretionary review while he undergoes a competency evaluation. His initial arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 23 in Mason County Superior Court.