Yakima burglary suspect assaulted security, arrested then released after claiming to have Coronavirus
YAKIMA WA April 3 2020 — Yakima police say a man they caught burglarizing Astria Hospital in Yakima and assaulting security guards was arrested, but then released after he said he had the Coronavirus.
Police say they got the call just after 10 p.m. Friday March 20th, of a possible burglary at the former Astria Regional Medical Center building.
A security guard said when he returned to his post after doing patrols he found a door had been pried open and his backpack was missing.
After checking security camera footage the officer left to check a lead, and then got a call for the security guards saying they’d caught the suspect inside the hospital.
Guards said there was an alarm inside the hospital’s third floor and when they went to investigate they found a man who claimed to be a security guard.
The two guards say the man was wearing a hat from their security company that had been inside the stolen backpack.
Security says when they said they were calling police the man attacked, throwing one into a wall and punching the other.
Guards say they chased him and tackled him to the ground.
Police arrived and arrested 38-year-old Raymond D. Corona.
YPD says along with the stolen backpack they found items on Corona stolen from a van in the parking lot.
Police say he complained of chest pain and was taken to the hospital for treatment but left a short while later saying they were taking too long.
Officers took Corona to the hospital to be booked on charges of 1st Degree Burglary, 2 counts of 4th Degree Assault, and 2nd degree Vehicle Prowl.
According to court documents, when they arrived to the jail Corona again began complaining of chest pains and claimed he had the Coronavirus.
Police say jail staff said they couldn’t book Corona with the medical complaints he made.
Chief Scott Himes with the Yakima County Jail spoke with Action News, saying jail staff did not refuse to book the suspect.
He says jail staff told officers they would need to get a medical clearance from the hospital for the suspect to be booked.
Himes says this is standard procedure for suspects making medical complaints and then it is up to the officers to get the medical clearance or to choose to release the suspect pending arraignment on charges.
Charges were forwarded to the county prosecutor.
Himes says the jail is following CDC guidelines to protect staff and inmates.
