Transient arrested for threats at Olympia library

Bail was set at $25,000 for a transient accused of threatening a security officer at the Olympia Timberland Regional Library.

Robert Keith Stinnette, 47, appeared Monday in Thurston County Superior Court on two counts of felony harassment. Arraignment was set for March 29.

At 2 p.m. Friday, Olympia police responded to a call at the library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE, regarding a man who had a knife and was threatening people inside the library.

According to court documents, witnesses said Stinnette had been walking around the library in an aggressive manner while swinging his arms violently and punching the air.

When confronted by a security officer, Stinnette reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter opener, then started waving it around.

When the security officer tried to calm him down, Stinnette said, “I’m going to put this in you and take it out,” according to documents. The security officer told police that he feared he would get stabbed.

Another library employee reported that she was nervous about Stinnette’s behavior because the incident occurred near the children’s area, according to documents.

Deputy prosecuting attorney Christy Peters said Stinnette’s criminal history included more than 60 convictions and was “one of the lengthiest I’ve ever seen.”

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Transient arrested for threats at Olympia library."