Fight erupts outside Yelm store Monday afternoon, Thurston court records show
A 63-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of multiple crimes Monday afternoon, including four counts of assault, following a fight with a UPS store employee in Yelm, Superior Court records show.
Around noon Monday, Yelm police were dispatched to the 1200 block of Yelm Avenue East where they found several people standing outside the store.
Two store employees, a man and woman, explained what happened, according to the court records.
The 63-year-old male customer allegedly became irate when he learned he was going to be charged a $1.37 fee for printing a return shipping label.
When the woman behind the counter handed the man his receipt, he allegedly slapped her hand.
A “third-party witness described the strike of her hand as a ‘definite smack’ that was more than a gentle tap,” the court records read.
The man then exited the store, but was followed by the male employee, who intended to photograph his vehicle license plate, according to the court records.
The customer then grabbed the employee’s iPhone and allegedly threw it across the parking lot. That was followed by a fistfight between the two men.
“The (male employee) did not remember who threw the first punch, but did remember being tackled to the ground and sustaining injuries,” the court records read.
Multiple third parties intervened between the two men to separate them. The suspect reportedly “went after the (male employee) again” before getting into his vehicle.
Then, the following happened:
“(The male and female employees) were directly behind the vehicle at this point,” the court records read. “The witness reported that the driver put the vehicle into reverse and rapidly backed up. (The female employee) had her back to the vehicle and (the male employee) was facing it. (The male employee) attempted to grab (the female employee) to pull her out of the way of the vehicle, but both of them were struck, along with another third party. (The female employee) was thrown by the vehicle.”
Witnesses say the customer allegedly backed into them twice before driving away, according to the court records. The female employee was treated for back pain at the scene, the court records read.
The customer was arrested at his home.
“(He) confirmed that he had gone to the UPS store to attempt to return a package, and the UPS store employee had not allowed him to. He said that he ‘grabbed’ a receipt out of the employee’s hand and attempted to leave the store, and a ‘mob’ followed him, claiming he had assaulted the UPS employee.
“(The man) said that he got into his vehicle and a male subject started banging on his window. (The man) said he backed out of the parking space slowly, specifically attempting to not hit anyone, and at one point stopped briefly before leaving the scene and driving home.”
The customer was arrested on suspicion of second-degree malicious mischief, hit and run with injury, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of fourth-degree assault and reckless driving.
This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 12:54 PM.
