A Centralia man has been charged with second-degree assault and harassment, threat to kill, after he allegedly attacked a victim on Sunday.
Sloan Dee Schoffstall is accused of repeatedly striking the victim and threatening to “gut her like a pig” while “waving a knife around,” according to court documents. He additionally took both the victim’s and another person’s phones “to prevent them from calling 911.”
The victim reportedly told police “she thought he would actually do it, and pleaded for him not to.” She additionally stated “she believed Sloan would have resorted to more violence if she had escaped or tried to summon help.”
The victim reportedly “diffused the situation by driving Sloan to Cabela’s to look at firearms,” but they left the store after Schoffstall was denied purchase of a firearm.
“While driving back to Centralia, Sloan became so angry, he broke his glasses,” according to the victim’s statement.
They pulled over at a rest stop and the victim got out to use the restroom, but when she returned, Schoffstall was gone, “so she took the opportunity to leave him there and flee for her own safety.”
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office deputies located Schoffstall in Grand Mound. He was interviewed by a Centralia police officer and reportedly stated he believed “he might be experiencing manic psychosis,” according to court documents.
When asked if he had threatened to kill anyone or intended to kill anyone, Schoffstall reportedly said “I could have done anything at that moment.”
The affidavit of probable cause notes a 2018 case where Schoffstall was charged with two counts of third-degree assault for allegedly assaulting staff at Providence Centralia Hospital that was dismissed without prejudice because, at the time, Schoffstall was in custody at a psychiatric treatment facility.
“It appears now that Mr. Schoffstall is out of that facility, not taking his medication, and once again a danger to others,” reads a statement in the affidavit.
Commissioner Tracy Mitchell approved defense attorney Rachael Tiller’s request for a competency evaluation after Schoffstall, who appeared in court for his preliminary appearance on May 11 via video feed from his jail cell, spat at and attempted to hit the jail officer holding the camera. Mitchell set Schoffstall’s bail at $100,000 “given the seriousness of the allegations,” she said.
He is scheduled to appear for an arraignment hearing on May 20.
