Violent felon with 20 felony convictions arrested with loaded pistol in Tacoma; bail set at $5,000

A man with 20 felony convictions and an outstanding escape warrant was arrested in Tacoma last Thursday, after a struggle with Pierce County deputies.

On Jan. 5, Pierce County deputies and officers with the Department of Corrections arrested the man outside a home in the 5900 block of Portland Avenue East.

As law enforcement approached the man, he ran. Deputies grabbed at his puff jacket, but the man was able to wiggle out.

After a brief struggle, the man was taken into custody.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, the man’s jacket appeared to be unusually heavy. In one of the pockets, a deputy found a loaded pistol.

The man told deputies the jacket wasn’t his, but deputies also found his social security card and a debit card in the jacket.

Deputies also found $400 and 4.7 grams of methamphetamine.

Deputies said the man told them he would receive a life sentence if he was caught was the gun and asked them several times to get rid of it.

The man was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and obstructing an officer.

According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, the man has had 20 previous felony convictions that include possession of stolen property, theft, eluding, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of a firearm and residential burglary.

He also has nine misdemeanor convictions and a history of 15 bench warrants being issued.

At an arraignment, the man pleaded not guilty and a judge set his bail at $5,000.

Deputies said the man’s girlfriend said she would post his bail once it was set.

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