Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney Sue Baur says that the Kelso man who used a bow and arrow to shoot a would-be burglar back on December 13th of last year will not face any charges. Baur reported on the decision from her office late on Friday. Last December, Scott Schwingdorf, 33, heard some glass breaking at a neighbor’s house in the 1100 block of 10th Avenue. He armed himself with a hunting bow and arrows, also asking his mother to call 911. Schwingdorf went outside, and confronted Galen Louis Crayne, who was coming out of the neighbor’s house, carrying a box. Crayne took off, and Schwingdorf pursued. After a foot chase, Schwingdorf fired one arrow, hitting Crayne in the buttocks. Crayne broke the arrow off, jumped into a pickup, and drove away. Schwingdorf was able to get the license number of the truck, and provided that information to police. In Friday’s statement, Baur explained that state law does allow citizens to use “reasonable force” to protect property that they own or are entrusted with. She says citizens can try to stop fleeing felons, in extremely limited circumstances. Baur says in this case, it does appear that Schwingdorf acted to stop a fleeing burglar, taking items from a house that he was asked to watch. Given this specific set of circumstances, Schwingdorf acted within the law, and he will not be charged with a crime.
