By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 35-year-old woman was arrested yesterday for allegedly attempting to steal a police car in the parking lot at the King Oscar Motel in Centralia.
Officers were called about 3:30 p.m. to the 1000 block of Eckerson Road when an individual reported witnessing a woman get assaulted. The suspect was gone and when police tried to talk with the apparent victim, she wouldn’t respond and kept walking away, but then suddenly ran and jumped into the front seat of one of the police cruisers, according to the Centralia Police Department.
The key was in the ignition and the car was running, according to police.
Sgt. Stacy Denham said an officer climbed in with her and when the woman put the car in reverse, he threw it into park. They struggled. She put it in drive and he shoved it back into park, Denham said.
The entire time, she was screaming, kicking, scratching and not responding to questions or commands, Denham said. It appeared she was high on some type of drugs, he said.
“She was almost crazed,” he said.
Officers dragged her out of the vehicle and arrested her for third-degree assault and attempted vehicle theft, according to Denham. One officer was reportedly left with several scratches on his hands and arms.
Malynda M. Murphy was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.
Denham said this morning police are still trying to locate the assault suspect, but don’t have much information from Murphy about what may have occurred.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter