Warrant for attempted murder issued for man accused of stabbing Thurston County deputy

As Pierce County man Ronald Clayton is being treated for multiple gunshot wounds in a Seattle hospital, a warrant for his arrest was issued in Thurston County.

The warrant alleges Clayton, 42, committed first-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment with sexual motivation all stemming from events on Friday that put Clayton and a Thurston County Deputy in hospitals.

The deputy, Andrea Moore, was released from the hospital. Clayton, meanwhile, is listed in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center according to a press release from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office distributed yesterday.

Court documents filed yesterday in Thurston County Superior Court provide more details of the alleged events Friday night. According to the documents, sometime Friday evening, Clayton knocked on a door to a residence on Holly Street Southeast in Yelm. A woman answered the door and Clayton introduced himself as “Ron.” The woman told authorities she had known Clayton a few years prior.

Within five minutes of Clayton arriving at the residence, he allegedly pulled a knife on the woman and said he was there to sexually assault her. According to court documents, Clayton positioned himself between the woman and the way out of the residence. The woman told authorities she was able to continue talking with Clayton for about 10 to 15 minutes, attempting to talk him out of his plans. That’s when a knock came at the door, and a neighbor came in to see if the woman was OK.

The woman pointed to knives in the kitchen and then at Clayton, in an effort to communicate that he was armed. The neighbor promptly left the residence, and called the woman’s cellphone, asking if they should contact 911, to which the woman replied “Yes” and hung up the phone.

Clayton reportedly took the woman’s phone away, and told her a story about a time when he was a teenager and he threatened and sexually assaulted a woman.

“I may have to hurt you since you know who I am,” he said, according to court documents. At around that time, Moore knocked at the door.

The woman told Clayton she would answer the door and tell whoever was knocking to leave. Instead, went to the door and stepped out. Moore asked if she was OK, and the woman shook her head. Clayton allegedly emerged from the door and shoved the woman out of the way. She landed on her face, and couldn’t see the altercation between Moore and Clayton. She got to her feet and went back into the residence, according to documents.

A second deputy arrived moments after, and found Moore on the ground suffering from a knife wound to the neck. Clayton had multiple gunshot wounds. The deputy handcuffed Clayton and began giving aid to Moore, who was transported to St. Peter Hospital.

According to a Fox Q13 article, hours before the shooting in Yelm, Clayton had cut off an ankle monitor in Spanaway. Clayton is a sex offender registered as a transient resident of Pierce County. At the age of 16, he was convicted on rape and assault charges and sentenced to over a decade in prison. More recently, he served 24 months for failing to register as a sex offender.