Thurston County man married, arrested 1 hour later • Published July 21, 2011
It was a short honeymoon.
Less than an hour after Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christine Pomeroy officiated Christopher Ross Barnard’s wedding Monday afternoon, he was arrested on suspicion of first-degree robbery and found himself back in court Tuesday.
Thurston County Superior Court employees described Barnard, 19, and his bride as sweet and polite. But according to court papers, Barnard and three others assaulted a couple Sunday evening in a clearing near the railroad tracks parallel to Henderson Boulevard near Union Avenue and stole a ring.
Also according to court papers:
A woman who was assaulted told police that a $150 diamond ring was stolen while a knife was being held to her male companion’s throat. A backpack containing an iPod and a camera, along with $10 in cash, was reported stolen from the man.
Olympia Police Lt. Jim Costa said Wednesday that the robbery was a “drug deal gone bad.” Court records indicate that the couple had tried to purchase methamphetamine from the group that included Barnard, and met with them a second time near the tracks to complete a sale.
During the robbery, Barnard allegedly told the couple “they better not report this to the police, because ‘we have straps’ and threatened to shoot them if it was reported to police,” court papers state. A “strap” is street slang for a handgun.
Olympia police arrested Dillon Barnard, Jason Beeson and Randi Carney on the tracks after conducting a K9 track. The victims identified them, and a knife and stolen items were recovered, court papers state.
Beeson told police that Christopher Barnard had assaulted the male victim.
Pomeroy officiated the wedding about 5 p.m. Monday. The ring Barnard gave his bride was not the ring that was allegedly stolen Sunday, Olympia Detective Chris Johnstone said.
Pomeroy said it’s “amazing” that someone would be arrested on suspicion of a violent felony less than an hour after being married. But it’s not the first time she can recall someone being arrested shortly after marrying.
She said she once married a couple on a Friday, and the groom was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of a misdemeanor charge after a melee broke out during the wedding reception.
Barnard was uncooprative during his arrest and was tased, court papers state. He denied involvement in the robbery.
Barnard was being held without bail Wednesday at the Thurston County Jail.
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http://www.theolympian.com/2011/07/20/17...l#ixzz1Sk8fzKJp
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