News brief: Former Onalaskan incarcerated for 2010 slayings back for attack on his conviction

February 1st, 2013

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – John Allen Booth Jr. is back.

The convicted triple-murderer who once called Onalaska home was sent to prison for life in December 2011, but was booked into the Lewis County Jail this morning.

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John Allen Booth Jr.

Booth, now 33, filed a post-trial motion which will be heard by a Lewis County Superior Court judge.

Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said it isn’t related to the evidence that turned up in the coroner’s office several weeks after the conviction.

Meagher called it a “collateral attack”.

Booth was convicted in the shooting deaths of David West Sr., 52,  David “D.J.” West Jr., 16, and 50-year-old Tony Williams of Randle. The three, along with Denise Salts who survived a gunshot, were found in the home Salts and the Wests shared on Wings Way in the Onalaska-Salkum area on August 21, 2010.

Last year about this time, Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod said finger nail clippings and hair trimmings from all three victims were found in a sealed bag in the work locker of a former deputy coroner. The materials had no “chain of custody” documentation, nor did they get into the hands of law enforcement or attorneys in the case.

Both Booth’s attorney and  Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said it was a potential appeal issue for Booth.

Booth is scheduled to go before Judge Richard Brosey at 2:30 p.m. on Monday to set a date for the motion hearing.
•••

For background, read “Report: Triple murderer surprisingly charming and well-mannered” from Monday December 19, 2011, here

News brief: Judge denies request to withdraw guilty plea in child sexual abuse, death case

February 1st, 2013

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – James Reeder changed his mind.

The 26-year-old Centralia resident has been awaiting sentencing for the May death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter after pleading guilty last month.

The so-called Alford plea, in which he did not admit guilt, was part of deal which could get him a minimum of about three decades in prison and possibly remain there for life.

From the Lewis County Jail, Reeder penciled a two-page letter to Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler asking to please be allowed to withdraw his plea, saying he has been telling his lawyer all along he wanted to take it to a trial.

Judge Lawler denied his request today.

Reeder pleaded guilty on Jan. 9 to homicide by abuse, second-degree assault, two counts of first-degree rape of a child and possession of methamphetamine. The victim, Koralynn Fister, died May 24 in Centralia.

Reeder’s sentencing remains scheduled for March 6.

Attorneys are still waiting for a pre-sentencing investigation report from the state Department of Corrections.
•••

For background, read “Defendant in Koralynn Fister death pleads guilty” from Wednesday January 9, 2013, here

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 1st, 2013

POLICE: TEENAGER JUMPED IN GANG-RELATED INCIDENT

• Centralia police called about 11 p.m. yesterday to a fight at South Tower Avenue and Cherry Street arrested two men who allegedly beat up a 17-year-old boy who was knocked unconscious in what police called a gang-related incident. The boy, from Centralia, was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to Sgt. Stacy Denham. Police say the boy and two other young men were walking down the street when a vehicle pulled over and the driver got out to ask the boy if he was a gang member or not. When the boy replied no, the driver asked if the boy knew who he was and then told him, “Spooker Josh LVL,” according to the Centralia Police Department. Denham said Joshua Rhoades had a closed knife in his hand when he punched the boy and once they fell to the ground, another male from the vehicle began punching and kicking the boy. The victim’s two friends managed to repel the attackers, police were told, who jumped back in their car and left. Arriving officers arrested Rhoades, 32, for second-degree assault and Michael J. Daily, 25, for third-degree assault, according to police. Both are Centralia residents. Rhoades told police he was the victim in the situation, Denham said. Denham said the teenager didn’t want to go to the hospital, but officers talked him into it because he had been knocked out. The role of the men’s female companion was part of an ongoing investigation today, Denham said.

WHISKEY THURSDAY AT SHOP N KART

• A 34-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly shoplifting two bottles of whiskey, some Visine and also flour tortillas from Shop ‘N Kart yesterday. Police called just after 1 p.m. to the grocery on the 2100 block of North National Avenue booked Christina R. Harris, of Tumwater, into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• And an officer was called back just before 3 p.m. after a customer walked out of Shop ‘N Kart with an unpaid for bottle of whiskey and began drinking it in the parking lot. Matthew E. Eastman was arrested for third-degree theft and then released, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

PRESCRIPTION MIX UP?

• Chehalis police were called about 5:45 p.m. yesterday about the possible theft of narcotics from the pharmacy at Safeway. An individual said they only got half the number of pills in their Hydrocodone prescription, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The incident was being investigated, according to police.

VIDEO CAMERAS STOLEN BUT IMAGES REMAIN

• A deputy was called about 5:40 a.m. yesterday to a burglary at the 200 block of Hamilton Road North in which someone moved a forklift but got it stuck in some mud and entered several trailers and sheds before leaving with a pump, a seven-drawer Craftsman tool box – with tools – and surveillance cameras. The video images will be reviewed to look for suspects, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

BULLDOZER AMONG MISSING ITEMS

• A deputy called Wednesday to property on the 300 block of Beck Road in Onalaska learned that several items had gone missing since last Friday including a box van, a bulldozer and an asphalt roller. A caretaker of the property had arrived to find someone there with a flatbed trailer, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

DIAMONDS, RUBIES AND MORE MISSING

• A 58-year-old woman reported a theft yesterday of about $2,000 worth of jewelry from her home on the 400 block of U.S. Highway 12 outside Chehalis. A deputy was told that among the items that disappeared sometime since Dec. 31 were a 1972 Toledo class ring with the initials MB, a  gold ring with an rectangle aquamarine stone, a diamond and ruby ring and a solitaire diamond ring, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

LAUNDRY ROOM HEIST

• A washing machine was stolen from a laundry room on the 2900 block of Mount Vista Road in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 12:30 p.m. yesterday. It was a coin operated machine, the theft of which was caught on camera, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BARN BREAK-IN

• Someone stole 200 feet of copper welding wire from a barn on the 300 block of Hamilton Road outside Chehalis, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning. A deputy called to the property learned it occurred sometime between Wednesday and yesterday and appeared to have involved an individual on a bicycle who was accompanied by a vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.

CAR PROWL

• Someone broke out the back window of a vehicle and stole tools and a stereo on the 1000 block of F Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 8:25 a.m. yesterday.

HELMET LIFTED FROM BIKE

• Centralia police were called at 1:30 a.m. today by an individual who said his helmet was stolen from his motorcycle while he was in a tavern on the 100 block of South Tower Avenue.

STREET DEPARTMENT WOES ON PROSPECT

• Chehalis police were called again yesterday morning to Southeast Prospect Street where someone had spray painted two speed limit signs orange and white as well as painted a stop sign white.

INMATE SMASHES VIDEO SCREEN WITH HEAD

• A 35-year-old inmate at the Lewis County Jail was “arrested” after he reportedly shattered the screen on a video visitation monitor on Wednesday. A deputy advised of the damage by jail staff viewed the images that showed Nicholas F. Leroux hitting his head on the screen, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The offense is third-degree malicious mischief. The damage is $800, according to the sheriff’s office.

OUT-OF-CONTROL DOG BITES THREE

• Centralia police say a dog had to be Tased yesterday morning to get it secured after it attacked another dog, bit the victim dog’s owner and attacked a cat. it happened on the 1500 block of Lewis Street, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CHIMNEY FLAMES UP

• Crews were called just before 7 p.m. yesterday to a chimney fire on a home at Southwest 18th Street at Ruzicka Drive in Chehalis. “We put a chimney nozzle down there, put the fire out and went inside to make sure it didn’t extend into the attic,” Chehalis Fire Department Firefighter Jay Birley said. It didn’t, Birley said. The damage was minimal, he said.

Olympia man charged in attack of medics will be sent to Western State Hospital

February 1st, 2013
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Wade C. Buchanan awaits his turn to see a judge in Chehalis on Thursday.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The man accused of biting, hitting and kicking three paramedics in an apparently unprovoked attack at a Centralia gas station will be examined by doctors at a state mental hospital before a criminal case will proceed in Lewis County Superior Court.

Wade C. Buchanan, 47, of Olympia, remains held in the Lewis County Jail following his arrest on Saturday.

Buchanan appeared before a judge in Chehalis yesterday morning, where his lawyer requested a competency evaluation.

“I think there’s competency issues,” Chehalis attorney Chris Baum said. “It’s important to deal with that early on in a case.”

Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer said he was still gathering reports, but believes previous cases against Buchanan have been dismissed, possibly related to issues of competency.

Buchanan was charged on Monday with two counts of second-degree assault and one count of third-degree assault in connection with the afternoon incident at the Chevron station on the 1200 block of Mellen Street, near Interstate 5.

AMR’s headquarters is just around the corner

Police say no one could explain why Buchanan lashed out at the men.

The AMR medics were fueling up their ambulance and Buchanan’s vehicle was parked at the gas pumps in front of them, according to police.

Centralia Police Department Sgt. Carl Buster said Buchanan made a comment about them driving a new ambulance and then charged one the medics. Court documents allege Buchanan approached the driver, Steven Spurgeon-Busz, and tried to pull him out of his rig; he resisted and Buchanan bit him on the arm, breaking the skin.

Buster said, after the arrest, that surveillance footage of the scene showed the driver kicking Buchanan away from the ambulance.

The video captured what appear to be the first portions of what turned into a brawl, but much of it becomes blocked by a gas pump and then an arriving truck.

Charging documents say when Ronald Dire-Day moved in to help, Buchanan struck him in the face leaving a large cut; the two AMR employees tackled Buchanan and then a third medic arrived to assist.

Scott Riley was trying to control Buchanan’s legs when he was kicked in the chest, according to charging documents.

Another customer, 49-year-old Victoria Disney, of Vancouver, Wash., told police she jumped on Buchanan’s back in an effort to help the medics, according to authorities.

Buchanan allegedly continued to fight when four police officers responded, as one applied a Taser to the back of his neck and another sprayed pepper spray in his eyes and mouth, according to charging documents.

“(He) attacked them and he’s crazy,” Disney reportedly told police. She was unhurt.

Buster said Buchanan sustained some scrapes.

In court yesterday, Buchanan was shackled at both his waist and ankles.

Judge James Lawler signed an order allowing DNA to be taken via a mouth swab so it could be tested for communicable diseases, given one of the medics was bit.

A review hearing was scheduled for Feb. 21, so the lawyers could inform the judge if the report from Western State Hospital is back after the competency evaluation.
•••

For background and link to video footage, read “Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup – THREE MEDICS INJURED IN GAS STATION BRAWL” from Sunday January 27, 2013, here

Local medic punished for discrepancies, violations regarding medications

January 31st, 2013

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Lewis County paramedic’s credential has been suspended indefinitely for forging forms related to controlled substances and for administering unauthorized doses of morphine to patients.

Marla Fleming-Nixon worked for Lewis County Medic One and also as a volunteer medical coordinator for the Napavine area fire district.

Her credential expired in April of last year. Nixon was fired from Medic One a few months before that and resigned from Lewis County Fire District 5 at the same time.

Grant Wiltbank, executive director of Medic One, a shared ambulance service formerly known as South Lewis County EMS, said his internal investigation was limited to discrepancies in documentation.

“Probably the strictest policies we have are dealing with controlled substances,” Wiltbank said, adding that it wouldn’t cost a person their job if it only happened once.

The investigation that followed, conducted on behalf of the state’s manager of emergency medical services, resulted in a statement of alleged charges issued last September.

Nixon chose to forego a hearing on the matter and signed an agreed order two weeks ago acknowledging she committed unprofessional conduct, according to documents filed with the state Department of Health.

The resolution of the case was reported publicly by the Department of Health yesterday.

The facts Nixon agreed were true are as follows:

Between October and November 2011, on about eight occasions, she administered 20 mg or more of morphine sulfate to patients without medical control authorization. Protocols allow a paramedic to give as much as 10 mg without additional permission.

Between February and August of the same year, Nixon falsified the the required witnesses’ signature when she completed a patient controlled medications documentation form which includes a section noting amounts disposed of. That happened about four times, according to the documents.

Wiltbank described the disposal or waste of controlled medications issue explaining, for example, a standard vial holds 10 mg and if a patient is given less than that, a medic must get rid of the excess in front of a witness.

The conduct was found to cause no or minimal patient harm, according to the state documents.

Fire District 5 Chief Eric Linn said Nixon worked with his district for about two years and he had no reason to think she did anything unsatisfactory.

“I was very surprised, she’s a good medic, she worked very hard,” Linn said.

As the medical services officer, Nixon supervised and taught EMTs, and was responsible for quality assurance and ordering supplies, he said.

Paramedics employed by Lewis County Medic One respond jointly with fire districts in south and central Lewis County.

Wiltbank, who didn’t have personnel records in front of him this afternoon, said he thought Nixon worked for Medic One for three, perhaps four or even five years.

He called it an unfortunate situation, and said there was no animosity on his part.

“This is a very big deal,” Wiltbank said. “This was the first time we had to deal with a situation like this.”

Attempts to reach Nixon for comment were unsuccessful. A phone number listed for her in Winlock has been disconnected.

The documents state that if she seeks to reinstate her paramedic credential, she would be placed on probation for at least two years with monitoring to ensure public safety. She also would be required to complete a number of classes beforehand, as well as pay a fine of $500.

Nixon first became licensed to practice as a paramedic in Washington in 1995.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

January 31st, 2013

FIREFIGHTERS DOUSE FLAMES INSIDE VACANT APARTMENT

• Nobody was injured when a fire broke out last night in a vacant upstairs apartment in Centralia. Firefighters called just before 9:30 p.m. to the complex on Virginia Drive just off North Pearl Street found smoke coming out the front and back windows, according to Riverside Fire Authority. The building has six units but other residents had gotten themselves outside, according to Assistant Chief Mike Kytta. It appears to have been a malfunctioning baseboard heater, Kytta said. The damage was primarily to the wall, the heater and the nearby carpet, he said.

OFFICERS FIND WANTED MAN HIDING IN HIDE-A-BED

• Police arrested three people when they found a man wanted on a warrant attempting to conceal himself in a hide-a-bed at the 1200 block of Alder Street in Centralia yesterday. Officers went to Dominic L. Combs’ trailer home in the Pepper Tree RV Park with information he was there just before 4 p.m., according to police. A man and woman told officers Combs was not inside but he was subsequently found with items piled on top of him on his bed, Sgt. Stacy Denham said. Found under the bed were prescription drugs not prescribed to Combs so he was booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession of those and his warrant, Denham said. Booked for rendering criminal assistance were Ashley M. Williams, 24, of Rochester and Joseph L. Nickols, 30, a local homeless person, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THEFT PACKWOOD

• A deputy took a report yesterday from a man who takes care of another individuals’ horses at the 100 block of Timberline Drive in Packwood that sometime over the weekend someone got into a shed and stole a lantern, an emergency radio, waders and a half tank of gas from a van, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

THEFT CHEHALIS

• Chehalis police yesterday were investigating a possible fraud involve someone making transactions on someone’s account. Further details were unavailable.

THEFT CENTRALIA

• Centralia police took a report about 11 p.m. yesterday from an individual at the 1100 block of West First Street who said someone stole his wallet while he was playing dodge ball.

THEFT CHEHALIS

• Chehalis police were called about 10:40 a.m. yesterday about a vehicle prowl at the 1200 block of Bishop Road. Further details were unavailable.

UNRULY SUBJECTS

• A pair of Castle Rock residents were arrested late yesterday afternoon for fighting in public at the 1500 block of Lum Road in centralia. Matthew S. Brown. 25, and Shane A. Ibarra, 30, were both then released, according to the Centralia Police Department. Brown was additionally cited for resisting arrest, according to police.

• A 35-year-old Bellevue man was arrested just after noon yesterday at Woodland Avenue and Hunt Street for obstructing a peace officer, according to the Centralia Police Department.

MARIJUANA FOUND AT HIGH SCHOOL

• Chehalis police were called about 8:30 a.m. yesterday to W.F. West High School about a student with suspected marijuana. The officer spoke to the 17-year-old girl and confiscated the material so it could sent to a drug lab to be tested, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• A Centralia police officer responded just after 3 p.m. yesterday about a building tagged with graffiti on the 400 block of North Gold Street, according to the Centralia Police Department.

News brief: Firefighters rescue Centralian after boat flips in river

January 31st, 2013

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Crews responding this morning to a call about an upside down pontoon boat and an oar spotted in the Skookumchuck River in north Centralia found a man who was out of the water but prevented by thick brush from getting up the bank.

Two men from Centralia in two boats had apparently launched from the park off B Street and one of them overturned near there, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

The swift water carried his companion’s craft probably another three quarters of a mile downstream before he was able to get off the river, Assistant Chief Mike Kytta said.

The man, in his 50s, had gone into the water and was carried by the river underneath some branches and trees but got himself to the water’s edge, according to Kytta.

Firefighters had to clear a path through the berry vines and brush, Kytta said.

“He was tired and cold and they had to assist him up the bank,” Kytta said.

He was loaded into an ambulance by 11:10 a.m. and taken to Providence Centralia Hospital to be evaluated, according to the chief.