Shoplifting suspect accused of assaulting Capital Mall security guard

Bail was set at $10,000 for an Aberdeen man accused of violently assaulting a Capital Mall security guard while attempting to flee with stolen shoes.

Casper Boyd Boyer, 29, appeared Monday in Thurston County Superior Court on one count of second-degree assault while armed with a deadly weapon. Arraignment was set for June 28.

Court documents give the following account:

Olympia police responded to a report of an assault and theft Saturday evening at a department store at Capital Mall in west Olympia. A loss prevention officer had seen a man — later identified as Boyer — put a new pair of athletic shoes in an empty shoebox inside of a bag.

The loss prevention officer approached Boyer, who denied stealing anything at first, but eventually admitted to taking the shoes and agreed to return them to the store.

Once inside, the suspect attempted to flee. The officer pinned him against a wall, and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, Boyer pulled out a 5-inch knife, causing the officer to fear for his life.

The loss prevention officer let the suspect go. He suffered a small laceration on his face and was treated by medics at the scene. Police report that the loss prevention officer was “visibly shaken and upset.”

Police arrested Boyer, who admitted to the theft and the assault, but told police he was unable to remember where he threw the knife while fleeing.

Boyer, who is an Aberdeen resident, has seven prior convictions in Grays Harbor County. His last conviction was in 2010 for resisting arrest.

“This court believes that Mr. Boyer poses a danger to our community,” Judge James Dixon said at Monday’s hearing.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Shoplifting suspect accused of assaulting Capital Mall security guard."