Judge sets $100K bail Wednesday for person shot by Olympia police sergeant last month
A person who an Olympia police sergeant shot on Oct. 21 is being held in the Thurston County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Eris May, 42, attended her preliminary hearing in Thurston County Superior Court on Wednesday.
The shooting occurred at about 3:30 p.m. at a home on the 3400 block of Sixth Avenue Northwest, near Grass Lake Nature Park. New court records indicate May is accused of breaking into her parent’s home and charging at three Olympia police officers. She allegedly wore a mask, carried a raised machete in her right hand and sprayed bear mace with her left hand.
An Olympia police sergeant shot May, and she was subsequently hospitalized for over two weeks, according to news releases from investigators. In that time frame, May underwent surgery at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
May was booked into the Nisqually jail on Nov. 7 on suspicion of three counts of first-degree assault, third-degree malicious mischief/domestic violence and harassment/domestic violence. She was transferred to the Thurston County jail on Nov. 11.
The investigation is being headed by the Capital Metro Independent Investigation Team, a body comprised of detectives from local cities.
The investigation team is activated when officers are involved in “critical incidents,” according to their website. The team was last called in when an Olympia police officer shot and killed Timothy Green on Aug. 22, 2022.
On Wednesday, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Alexandra Flynn requested the court find probable cause for three counts of first-degree assault. Flynn also asked for bail to be set at $100,000.
Judge Allyson Zipp found probable cause for the alleged crimes and set the bail amount. She determined there existed a substantial danger that May will commit a violent crime.
May has another open case in Thurston County District Court in which she’s accused of harassment and malicious mischief.
Investigators previously referred to May as a son in news releases. However, court records indicate she identifies as a woman and goes by Eris rather than a different legal name.
May is due back in court on Tuesday for an arraignment hearing.
The investigation into the shooting
A probable cause statement describes the investigation into an incident from the perspective of law enforcement. Prosecutors file such statements with the court so judges may determine probable cause for alleged crimes and set conditions of release during the pretrial phase.
The following is summary of that statement in May’s case.
May’s parent called 911 at 3:14 p.m. to report that their daughter was experiencing a mental health crisis and breaking items. The line disconnected and the parent called back at 3:17 p.m. This time, the parent said May broke into the home and was in a back bedroom.
Dispatch told responding officers that May sounded “very escalated” and was threatening to kill law enforcement. The parent added they believed May may attempt to commit suicide by police.
When officers arrived, they attempted to speak with May, but she was uncooperative and again made threats to law enforcement.
An investigator reviewed car video of the scene and described it in the probable cause statement.
Over a PA announcement, officers called on May to leave the home with her hands up and no weapons in her hand.
At the end of the announcement, a “loud, animal-like scream” can be heard and May can be seen running from the porch.
A mask-wearing May allegedly charged at three officers while holding a machete in her right hand and spraying bear mace with her left hand. She traveled about 47 feet until a sergeant shot her at the edge of a neighbor’s driveway near the street.
She reportedly fell about 12 feet away from the front of a patrol car.
An investigator interviewed May after she was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
May allegedly said she wanted to commit suicide by cop and intentionally put on an animal mask to appear less human. She said she charged with the machete and bear mace to make the officers feel threatened but did not intend to harm them.
May went on to tell the investigator she felt grateful that the sergeant only shot her in the arm and hand. She believes the officer saved her life and should receive an award for the precise shots, according to the statement.
May said she hopes to get mental health treatment for years of abuse.
