Yesterday Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged 55 year old Mark Kevin Tolson with one count of felony harassment and one count of malicious harassment, which is Washington’s hate crime. Bail is set at $80,000.00.

“Protecting the public includes protecting our officers,” said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “The officer took the defendant’s threats seriously because of recent events and so do we.”

On July 16, 2016 Tacoma police responded to a report of a possible domestic violence incident in the 1600 block of east 60th Street.

When officers arrived, witnesses reported the suspect and the victim had both fled the area.

Officers located Tolson and ordered to the ground. Instead of complying, the defendant ran but was later apprehended.

While in the pre-booking area of the jail the defendant stated that the Lakewood police officers killed in 2009 got what they deserved and when he got out of jail he would make the arresting officer “like them.” He also called the officer a “racist white cop.”

The officer stated he took the threat very seriously in light of recent attacks on police officers and the defendant’s clearly expressed racial hatred for white police officers.

Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.