A frightening incident at a car wash ended with a man being arrested after he allegedly threatened employees with an ax. The situation could have turned much more dangerous, but quick action by workers helped stop the suspect before anyone was seriously hurt. Police later took the man into custody and charged him with multiple offenses.
Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Car Wash Workers With Ax
A 36-year-old man identified as Bryce Thayer has been arrested after allegedly threatening employees at a Tidal Wave Car Wash with an ax.
According to reports, Thayer arrived at the car wash right at closing time. When staff members told him they were closed and could not serve him, he allegedly became angry and started threatening workers with the weapon.
The situation quickly turned tense as employees tried to keep themselves safe while dealing with the aggressive behavior.
Employee Notices Strange Behaviour
One of the workers, 18-year-old Leodan Pino, said Thayer had been acting strangely from the moment he arrived at the car wash.
Pino recalled that the man appeared confused and repeatedly asked about his wife. According to the employee, Thayer said something like, “Where’s my wife? I can’t find my wife.”
Workers soon realized the situation could become dangerous when the suspect allegedly began threatening them with the ax.
Employees Overpower Suspect
Instead of running away, two employees decided to act quickly to protect themselves and others.
Pino and another worker managed to push Thayer to the ground and get control of the ax. They then held him down while waiting for police officers to arrive at the scene.
Their quick response helped prevent the situation from escalating further.
Reports also say that Pino has training in mixed martial arts and recently enlisted in the military, which may have helped him handle the confrontation.
Police Find Drug Paraphernalia
When authorities arrived, they searched Thayer and reportedly found a meth pipe in his possession.
Investigators also reviewed security camera footage from the car wash and collected witness statements from employees. The evidence reportedly confirmed the workers’ accounts of what happened during the incident.
Suspect Faces Multiple Charges
Bryce Thayer was taken into custody and booked into jail following the incident.
According to jail records, he is currently being held on a bond set at $65,000.
Authorities have charged him with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The case will now move forward through the legal system as investigators continue reviewing the evidence.
