A Yakima man faces felony charges after he allegedly gave police a false name during his arrest for methamphetamine possession outside Centralia Middle School.
According to prosecutors, the man’s true identity wasn’t revealed until days later, when police learned the false name actually belonged to a man held in the Thurston County Jail.
Shawn A. Crews, 55, is charged with one count each of second-degree identity theft, possession of a controlled substance, obstructing a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.
According to court documents, Crews has prior convictions for burglary, rape, failure to register as a sex offender and other offenses.
Crews made a preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Wednesday. A judge set his bail at $25,000 cash or bond.
Lewis County Jail records also list an active hold from the Department of Corrections.
According to a probable cause affidavit, on June 26, Centralia police responded to reported drug use in front of Centralia Middle School. They found Crews and another man, along with lighters, plastic bags and a “vape device.”
Crews — who allegedly referred to himself by a different name — gave one of the officers a package containing a syringe and suspected methamphetamine.
Police told both men they were under arrest and directed them to sit on the curb. The men allegedly resisted and tried to walk away. One officer reportedly tackled Crews.
While being searched, Crews had to use Narcan, according to the affidavit. He was transported to the hospital for medical treatment and later booked into the Lewis County Jail.
On June 29, police learned that Crews’s assumed identity belonged to a different person being held at the Thurston County Jail.
Police reviewed Crews’ fingerprints and confirmed his true identity.
He is scheduled for an arraignment on July 9.
