Centralia man in critical condition after assault

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  A 63-year-old Centralia man is on life support after a punch in the face by an acquaintance and the suspect is jailed, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning the assault occurred on Sunday night at the 3500 block of Harrison Avenue but the victim was not discovered until 8 a.m. yesterday by his roommate.

The victim suffered a broken nose, a bruised eye and potentially then a stroke as the result, Breen said.

He was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital and then transferred to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia where he is currently in the critical care unit, Breen said.

Deputies began investigating yesterday afternoon and spoke with the suspect who allegedly admitted to striking his acquaintance.

Mark W. Powell, 46, described as a transient person who lives in the Centralia area, said the 63-year-old had made advances towards Powell’s wife, Breen said.

It happened sometime between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Sunday night, the 63-year-old fell to the floor and the couple left, Breen said. Powell was arrested yesterday for second-degree assault and booked into the Lewis County Jail.

He is tentatively scheduled to be brought before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them.

Tags: ,

15 Responses to “Centralia man in critical condition after assault”

  1. Doreen Bartley says:

    Sorry this happened. Steve was harmless. Sorry for the loss of your step brother Amber.

  2. Doreen Bartley says:

    Sad for Amber. Steve was harmless.

  3. Doreen Bartley says:

    Steve was harmless. New him for years. Sorry for your loss Amber.

  4. Amerigo Vespucci says:

    If this man was a productive member of society he would still be in jail good job judge letting this freak back out on the streets.

  5. Matt says:

    Hey jen….I’m his nephew..he only had one sister..my mother, so you are lying right there.. name his brother

  6. still waiting for justice says:

    Jen says -maybe karma should bite you on the ass if your brother is homeless and your not doing anything to help him become un-homeless

  7. That Guy says:

    Well Jen, what is the whole story?

  8. Jen says:

    None of you know the whole story. You only know what is in print and even then it is only one sided. Quit judging my brother unless you know him. Just because someone is homeless doesn’t make him a bad person. KARMA WILL KICK YOU ALL IN THE A$$

  9. Karen says:

    There is no way he would do that to someones wife. He is a very kind soul. I sure hope he makes it.

  10. BobbyinLC says:

    The point is if he, God forbid, does not survive the incident and the autopsy shows the stroke was directly due to the assault it is now homicide.

  11. JaeT Evanoff-Miller says:

    So I think they didn’t charge him with enough cause this guy is not a violent person and if he hit on your wife take it as a compliment that you have her and not him then walk away. It is never OK to get physical!!!!

  12. LCCitizen says:

    The fact they just left after he fell to the floor and didn’t bother making an anonymous call for an ambulance is cause for jail time.

  13. Amber Towne says:

    I doubt he was making advances towards this guys wife, The guy is a transient who was probably there to rob him, This guy is my cousin and he did not have a mean bone in his body. And just wanted friends he opened his home to people that he should not have, I pray to God he makes it through this..

  14. Mad momma says:

    Walk away.

  15. snowyriver says:

    Any man that made advances toward my wife would get punched also. Drop all charges.