Roy Man Pleads Not Guilty to Robbing Day Island Home, Fleeing by Rowboat

A man suspected of pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in Pierce County court last week.

Scott Derek Reeder, 44, is a Roy resident and faces two charges of second-degree assault, residential burglary, two counts of failing to stay at a collision scene and second-degree theft.

He was ordered on Feb. 6 to remain in jail in lieu of $350,000 bail. Superior Court Commissioner Meagan Foley cited concerns for “community safety” if he were released.

Reeder was arrested by University Place Police on Monday, Feb. 4 after neighbors called in a suspicious person inside a house in the 2400 block of Day Island Boulevard West.

After being confronted, he allegedly tried to escape in his yellow Dodge Neon. He drove through the victim's fence, rammed the detached garage and the witness' vehicle, who attempted to block him in. The witness sustained injuries in the crash.

According to court documents, the homeowner left work and also attempted to block the suspect's car with her vehicle. Her car was rammed by the suspect car too and she also sustained injuries from the accident.

Police say Reeder then sped up the narrow boulevard in the car before ditching it and fleeing on foot. He stole a rowboat and navigated less than a mile north to the Tacoma Outboard Assocation at Titlow Park.

University Place deputies located the suspect "climbing out of the water" and took him into custody, said Chief Mike Blair.

Reeder has been convicted of multiple felonies, including burglary. He told officers he was only in the residence to take pictures. 

Investigators found the back door of the home kicked in and bedrooms had been ransacked. The detached garage looked rummaged through and items were staged there, which lead investigators believe the suspect meant to come back for them.

Like University Place Patch on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for the daily newsletter