Man left propane in oven, police say

A Tumwater man is accused in court papers of brandishing a knife at employees in a mall, and then leaving a propane gas tank in a lit oven at his apartment, court papers state.

Police and firefighters responded to a report of smoke at Adam Wasankari’s South Second Avenue southwest apartment Friday night and found a propane cylinder inside an oven that had been left on, court papers state.

Wasankari, 27, was the subject of a multi- jurisdictional search by law enforcement starting Wednesday, when he had threatened to kill employees and brandished a knife at the AT&T store in the Westfield Capital mall, court papers state. Wasankari threatened to “kill everyone in the store,” and to “blow up the store,” the papers state.

Verizon employees told an AT&T employee that Wasankari also had threatened to “saw the heads off” the AT&T employees, court papers state.

Tumwater police later learned that Wasankari also had told neighbors that he wanted to “pop a cap” in a police officer, court papers state.

“With his demeanor and some of the actions that he displayed, officers were concerned about his mental health and what he was capable of doing,” Tumwater police Detective Jen Kolb said Monday.

Tumwater police issued an “officer safety alert” to local law enforcement, court papers state.

Staff at Wasankari’s apartment complex told police they “did not believe Wasankari was taking his medication,” the papers say.

Wasankari’s aunt reported Friday night that someone had broken the glass door to her home.

Olympia police located and arrested Wasankari at an Olympia shopping plaza Sunday, Kolb said. He was arrested on suspicion of felony harassment, first-degree arson and residential burglary.

Wasankari told police during an interview at the jail that he “broke into his aunt’s home to get the guns,” court papers state.

Wasankari was ordered held at the Thurston County Jail during a court hearing Monday pending an evaluation.

Jeremy Pawloski:360-754-5465

jpawloski@theolympian.com.