UPDATE: The Superior Court charges filed against Darius Davon Tate were dismissed July 19 with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled, after Tate pleaded guilty in juvenile court, records show.
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A 17-year-old boy from Vancouver has been arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery and assault, potential charges stemming from a failed car theft from the driveway of a local home and an ensuing fight with the owner.
The incident happened in late February. The Vancouver Police Department reported at the time that two 17-year-old suspects were arrested but did not provide their names.
Darius Davon Tate was picked up by Vancouver police this week and may face charges of first-degree attempted robbery, second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to a probable cause affidavit filed Monday.
The affidavit says a Vancouver police officer was dispatched to the 3300 block of East 13th Street on Feb. 22 and met the victim, Timothy Warren.
Warren told police three men tried to steal his car, which was warming up in his driveway. He pulled a male from the driver’s seat as the car was in reverse.
Warren fought with the man while his vehicle rolled down the street and came to rest against a telephone pole. He punched the male three to four times while the thief landed a single strike, according to the affidavit.
“While wrestling with the subject, Timothy (Warren) said he heard three gunshots and he quickly jumped up and looked west down 13th Street,” spotting two people dressed in dark clothing, the affidavit says. Warren ran back toward his porch; the three suspects took off west down the street.
The account in the court document mirrors information released by the police department on the day of the incident. But the affidavit goes on to say that Tate showed up at VPD’s West Precinct four days later to “clear the air.” Tate was not detained during the interview.
Tate told investigators he tried to steal the vehicle but realized it was a manual transmission, which he did not know how to drive, so he scooted over to the passenger seat to let his friend drive. That’s around the time Warren intervened.
“Tate stated that he saw (his friend) getting beat up by the vehicle owner, so he fired three shots ‘at the guy,’ ” the affidavit says.
The teenager said he obtained the gun “from the streets” three days before the attempted theft, according to the affidavit.
During an initial court appearance on Tuesday, Tate was assigned a defense attorney and his bail was set at $20,000. His next court date was set for Friday.
