By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The 51-year-old man expected to be hospitalized for as long as a month with a gunshot injury from when he walked into a stranger’s home has made a “miraculous” recovery and was brought back to Lewis County yesterday to face criminal charges for the incident.
Brian L. Creed has been at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he initially was listed in critical condition.
Creed was shot once in the abdomen when he confronted a resident at the 400 block of Highway 603 west of Chehalis on Feb. 10. The sheriff said he was high on meth. Creed was charged three days later with burglary and misdemeanor assault.
The sheriff’s office last week released Creed from its custody, to avoid being responsible for paying the bills for his medical treatment and planned surgery.
Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer told county commissioners yesterday that Creed’s condition then suddenly improved. Meyer said he estimated the county saved $500,000 by cutting him loose when they did.
Creed is scheduled to go before a judge today at 4:15 p.m. in Lewis County Superior Court.
Both the sheriff and the prosecutor have said it appeared the 24-year-old resident acted appropriately to protect himself and his wife.
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For background, read: “Wounded home intruder’s condition deteriorating, deputies relieved of guard duty to cut costs” from Friday February 15, 2013, here [1]