UP Deputy Gets Eye-Full Of Bear Repellent During Traffic Stop

A Lakewood man allegedly sprayed a deputy with a bear repellent spray during a traffic stop over the weekend.

Franklin G. Cole Jr., 26, was arraigned on suspicion of second-degree assault Monday in Pierce County Superior Court, and his bail was set at $100,000.

According to authorities, a Pierce County deputy stopped Cole in the area of 52^nd Avenue and 68^th Street West for an unregistered vehicle Saturday.

The deputy spoke to Cole, who allegedly gave the officer two false names. After the deputy discovered the second false name, he walked back to the car to arrest Cole.

As the deputy opened the door to pull him out of the car, Cole allegedly sprayed him with a 32-ounce can of bear repellent, OC spray.

Chief Rusty Wilder said the deputy experienced immediate, extreme pain and couldn’t open his eyes, and Cole allegedly fled the scene. Medics arrived and “decontaminated” the deputy's eyes.

“We’re just lucky he didn't want to fight and disarm the officer,” Wilder said of Cole.

According to the website www.udap.com, the bear repellent dilates the capillaries of the eyes causing temporary blindness, induces choking coughing and nausea, and causes mucous membranes to swell to restrict breathing.

“It’s powerful stuff,” Wilder said.

After the alleged spraying, authorities located Cole at a transient hotel in Lakewood the next day. He fought with officers again, as well as a K9 unit, Wilder said. Once he was subdued, police found the spray on him.

Cole — who has an extensive felony conviction record — is now in Pierce County jail.

The University Place deputy, who’s been a member of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department for 10 years, is doing well and has no permanent injuries, Wilder said.