Fight started outside a downtown restaurant, then continued inside it, police say
A fight that started outside a downtown Olympia restaurant Monday evening continued inside of it, according to police.
About 6:30 p.m., police were dispatched to a disturbance at Asahi Sushi in the 100 block of Legion Way, across from Sylvester Park.
Police arrived and learned that two men had been fighting outside the business, with one of the men reportedly hitting the other man with a wooden stick, police Lt. Paul Lower said.
The victim then went inside the business to get help but the other man followed him. The two men then began to swing table chairs at each other, according to witnesses, Lower said.
Meanwhile, restaurant customers began to flee the business and call 911, he said.
A knife also was pulled out, but was later dropped. A chair was finally thrown before both men left the business, Lower said.
Both men were later found in the area, but the victim did not want to pursue criminal charges, Lower said. The victim’s age was not immediately known.
However, a 45-year-old man was still arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct, harassment and obstructing law enforcement, Lower said.
What triggered the fight? A witness overheard the 45-year-old man accuse the other man of stealing drugs, Lower said.
This story was originally published June 24, 2025 at 11:24 AM.
