Gang Member Charged With Allegedly Threatening Corrections Officers Using Lakewood's Fallen Four

On Wednesday, Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Dejon Dewayne Michael Simpson, 24, with intimidating a public servant for harassing and threatening two Community Corrections Officers.

On Feb. 28, 2013, the defendant was admitted to the hospital for a stab wound to his back. Two Community Corrections Officers served as his overnight guards. When visitors were restricted from his room, the defendant became enraged, pulling out IV lines and ripping off monitor cable.

The Corrections Officers restrained the defendant to his bed. The defendant became increasingly hostile, stating, "It's officers like you who cause people to do things like what happened in Lakewood...that's what got those four officers killed." In 2009, four Lakewood Police Officers were killed by a gunman in a Forza coffee shop. 

In a gesture to the officer, the defendant made a gun with his fingers, acting like he was pulling the trigger. He repeated this multiple times. Both Corrections Officers felt that the defendant's actions were direct threats. The defendant admitted to making the statements and gestures, but denied they were threats.

The defendant is in custody on unrelated charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and theft. He has prior felony convictions for riot with a deadly weapon, assault and malicious mischief.

He is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon.

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