Nov. 27—A 22-year-old man was arrested Tuesday near the Clarkston Walmart and O’Reilly Auto Parts for allegedly displaying a weapon and trespassing.
Aaron J. Swartzfager will appear in Asotin County Superior Court today for a bond hearing.
According to the arrest affidavit, Swartzfager was involved in an altercation and “brandished a gun.” Sergeant Bryon Denny of the Clarkston Police Department quickly arrived on scene and drew his firearm when the man reportedly reached for his gun.
Sergeant Darin Boyd placed another man involved in the incident in handcuffs, and Officer Devin Webber assisted with the arrest. The 9mm pistol, which reportedly had hollow-point bullets in the magazine and an empty chamber, was taken into custody along with Swartzfager.
Witnesses interviewed by police said Swartzfager displayed his gun Monday in the area of 13th Street, where several transients have parked their RVs. According to court documents, the display was an attempt to “intimidate the homeless.”
One of the men involved in the dispute said he was begging near Walmart when another man and Swartzfager approached him Tuesday and lifted his jacket to show the gun.
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The man who was with Swartzfager told police he did not pull the gun from its holster, the affidavit said.
Based on the witness statements and initial investigation, Denny took Swartzfager into custody on several pending charges. He was advised of his rights before being transported to the Asotin County Jail for booking.
In the patrol vehicle, Swartzfager allegedly threatened to sue police, saying he had a permit for the firearm. However, Denny told the man that weapons should not be displayed in a threatening manner, and that reaching for a firearm as police approach and giving verbal commands could have endangered his life, the affidavit said.
In the report, police reiterated that Swartzfager’s alleged actions could have led to the use of deadly force. Additionally, in a previous case from 2019, Swartzfager had been off-limits to Walmart for 99 years, leading to additional booking fees.
During an earlier investigation, a relative of Swartzfager reportedly told police that Swartzfager had the mental capabilities of a child between the ages of 10 and 12. At the time, police said Swartzfager was not allowed to carry a firearm, according to the report.
Swartzfager will be arraigned early next month and will have the opportunity to enter a plea in Superior Court. He will make his first court appearance today for his bail hearing.
Sandaine can be reached at kerris@lmtribune.com. You can follow her on X @newsfromkerri.
