Olympia parks employee threatened with knife, Molotov cocktail found. Here’s what happened

A 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of multiple crimes and outstanding warrants Sunday night after he threatened a city of Olympia parks employee with a knife, according to police.

About 9 p.m., the parks employee was driving in the area of Ethridge Avenue and Central Street Northeast when he encountered the man in the intersection, screaming and swinging a knife, Olympia police Lt. Paul Lower said. The suspect then approached the vehicle, punching it and banging on a window with the knife.

He then walked alongside the vehicle, continuing to punch it, then the employee was able to drive away while still keeping his eyes on the suspect, Lower said. The employee saw the man go down an alley where he was later arrested.

Police recovered the knife and found a molotov cocktail in his backpack, Lower said. Police smelled the strong odor of gasoline, then found a bottle filled with liquid with a short piece of cloth sticking out of the bottle.

During the arrest, the suspect allegedly shoved a police officer, so he was restrained before being taken into custody, Lower said.

The man, according to Thurston County jail information, was booked on suspicion of the following: four misdemeanors (resisting arrest, first-degree criminal trespass, obstructing a law enforcement officer and fourth-degree assault) and five felonies (felony harassment, third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, incendiary devices, third-degree theft and fourth-degree assault).