Man Pulls Gun During Traffic Stop in Concrete

Concrete, WA: On March 18th, 2015 around 8:30 pm a Skagit County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Sobek Lane in Concrete.  The Reporting party was concerned about the van sitting in front of their house for an extended period of time due to recent thefts in the area.

Arriving deputies were unable to locate the van on Sobek Lane, but continued to check the surrounding areas of Cedar Grove.

According to the Probable Cause Affidavit for arrest, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Deputy located a van,  matching the description of the suspicious vehicle on Baker Loop Road.  The van was traveling Westbound on the Eastbound Side of the road.

The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the van and contacted the driver.  The driver stated he was “looking for an address” and after being asked for his drivers license he began fumbling through his wallet looking for it.   The deputy noted the driver appeared to be under the influence of some type of drugs. There was a female  in the passenger seat of the van which the deputy noted had a severe black eye.    After not being able to find his drivers license, the deputy asked the driver to identify himself which he did.  He stated his name was Daniel Leach.

A check of Daniel Leach determined he had an active warrant for Theft 3rd degree out of Burlington and a warrant out of the Department of Corrections. (DOC)

The deputy made contact with  Mr. Leach again and advised him he was under arrest for his warrants and that he needed to exit the vehicle.  As Mr. Leach exited the vehicle he immediately turned away from the deputy.  The deputy told Mr. Leach that he needed to turn around and let him see his hands.  Mr. Leach was still turned away from the deputy when the deputy saw a small firearm fall between his legs onto the floor mat of the van.  Mr. Leach then lunged for the firearm and quickly picked it up.   The deputy pinned Mr. Leach against the Seat while drawing his hand gun.  He told Mr. Leach if he moved, he would be forced to shoot him as he saw the hand gun he had reached for.   The deputy then took Mr. Leach to the ground and did not locate the hand gun on him. When the deputy asked Mr. Leach what he did with the weapon he stated he threw it between the seats.

After securing Mr. Leach in Handcuffs the deputy made contact with the female in the van, who was identified as Kelsey Lafollette.  The deputy had her exit the vehicle and asked her what Mr. Leach had planned on doing with the firearm. She stated she didn’t know, that he had just pulled it out of a compartment.

When asked, Mr. Leach stated he was trying to hide the firearm, then stated it wasn’t his. He said it was the passengers.   The Firearm was then located between the seats of the van. It was a .22 Caliber Beretta. It had one round in the chamber and several rounds in the magazine clip.

It was also  later determined that Mr. Leach was under the influence of Methamphetamine.

He has been arrested and charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Assault 1st degree on top of his previous warrants. He is also listed as a Transient with no known address.

Mr. Leach is presumed innocent of the charges until found guilty in a court of law.