Man with machete caught throwing objects off Rochester overpass onto I 5
A man armed with a machete was caught throwing items from an overpass on Interstate 5 in Thurston County on Sunday.
No one was injured and the man was stopped, but not arrested.
The incident happened early Sunday evening on the US-12 overpass in Rochester.
Police confirmed that the man was in possession of a machete but was not using it during the encounter.
No injuries or property damage were reported. WSP could not specify what those objects were, but said there was no debris.
A police officer was able to contact the man on the overpass and convince him to stop throwing the objects.
Residents living near the US-12 overpass said they were not surprised by the presence of pedestrians in the area. Kaylee, a local resident, noted that she often sees homeless people near the highway.
The Rochester incident is part of a recurring series of objects thrown from Washington viaducts. In January 2025, the State Patrol reported a series of cases involving rocks, cinder blocks and suitcases.
Trooper Kameron Watts of the Washington State Patrol noted the unpredictable nature of these events.
“This is something we see randomly…often, but randomly in our district and in neighboring districts,” Watts said. “It’s difficult to anticipate these situations.”
KIRO 7 asked WSP why the man wasn’t arrested.
Watts explained that such situations often involve law enforcement discretion and are also influenced by the resources available to prevent the problem from recurring.
He added that these situations usually involve people who are homeless and may be suffering from mental illnesses or drugs.
“Our resources are limited,” Watts said. “It gets to a certain point where if what they’re doing doesn’t meet certain criteria for booking or being admitted to a hospital against their own will, then we just have to create a relationship with these people, find some common ground and some understanding.”
Although no one was injured in Sunday’s incident, other incidents have had disastrous consequences on the lives of motorists and their passengers.
In November, a passenger was left partially blind after someone threw a piece of concrete from an overpass on I-705 South.
In 2025, the Washington State Patrol logged thousands of reports involving pedestrian problems along highways in Pierce and Thurston counties alone. Although the majority of these reports do not involve throwing objects, police say the high volume of pedestrian-related problems creates a persistent challenge for traffic safety.
Trooper Watts advised motorists to remain aware of their surroundings to avoid potential dangers.
“The best thing drivers can do is stay vigilant, as best they can,” Watts said. “Don’t get distracted when driving. Follow the speed limit, so this increases your chances of slowing down or stopping in time.”
