Lewis County Sirens.com

Green Hill School escapee Dominic Adams was brought up from the Lewis County Jail today for a bail hearing.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Green Hill student-inmate who escaped the facility for a week earlier this month was brought before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

Dominic Adams, 19, was finishing off a juvenile sentence and scheduled to be transferred next March to adult prison for nearly nine years for an assault. Police said that on the night of May 3, he ran off from a maintenance detail and apparently slipped through a hole someone cut in the fence. He was picked up by police at a mall in Kelso seven days later.

Adams is charged with first-degree escape.

The teenager has a prior conviction for the same offense, as well as three second-degree assaults and a first-degree robbery, Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Sara Beigh told the judge this afternoon.

She didn’t differentiate which were juvenile crimes and which were adult crimes, but today’s appearance was in adult court.

Beigh asked that his bail be set at $50,000.

Judge James Lawler said he preferred to leave it at the $250,000 set in his arrest warrant.

Defense attorney Joely O’Rourke who represented Adams today told Lawler he is not working and qualified for a court appointed lawyer.

The judge appointed Centralia attorney Don Blair. Adams’ arraignment was set for next Thursday.

He was jailed in Cowlitz County after he was captured, and booked into the Lewis County Jail yesterday. Adams was sent to Green Hill from Benton County at age 15.

First-degree escape has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Green Hill School in Chehalis is a secure facility for juvenile boys incarcerated for felonies and operated by the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, under the state Department of Social and Health Services.
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For background, read “Teen escapee from Green Hill found at mall in Cowlitz County” from “Monday May 11, 2015, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Centralia man has made a claim of excessive force against three Centralia police officers, from an incident in which he says they unnecessarily forced him to the ground, pinned him there and then kneed and hit him several times while contending he was resisting.

Steven Radick, 58 at the time, was hospitalized and suffered injuries to his face and chest as well as a knee sprain and back strain, according to his attorney.

Radick filed a claim for damages with the city of Centralia earlier this month in the amount of $25,000, asking to be compensated for the injuries and medical expenses.

The city’s insurer denied the tort claim within days, stating the officers’ actions were appropriate, given Radick’s behavior as police tried to secure him.

The events took place a year and a half ago, when police were called to an apartment complex on South Silver Street regarding a dispute between neighbors.

Chehalis lawyer Jacob Clark wrote in the claim his description of what happened, based on police reports and phone interviews with two of the officers.

Clark relates that police showed up on Nov. 12, 2013 but didn’t arrest anyone after his client got into an argument with a neighbor, who struck him in the eye. Thirty minutes later, police returned because the neighbor claimed his electricity had been shut off, according to Clark.

The Centralia Police Department at the time said Radick was intoxicated.

Sgt. Carl Buster stated that as he was questioning Radick, Radick hit him with the back of his hand on the chest plate, and he stepped back, and Clark writes that the sergeant yelled, “Hey, you can’t touch me,” and grabbed Radick’s arm.

Officers William Phipps and Phillip Weismiller ran over, and Phipps told Clark he grabbed by Radick the neck, forcing him onto the ground, and then put his right knee on Radick’s back and his left knee on Radick’s neck, with Weismiller securing his legs, according to Clark.

They could not get Radick’s hands out from under his chest, so Phipps said he threw several punches to his left shoulder, Clark wrote.

Phipps was telling him, you’re under arrest, stop resisting, Clark states.

“Strikes were landed on Mr. Radick by multiple officers, which led to Mr. Radick being handcuffed,” he wrote.

Clark states his client did not resist, that he had put his hands down to cushion his fall so they were underneath his body, and he could not remove them because he was pinned.

Radick was arrested for third-degree assault and subsequently pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault.

Outgoing Centralia Police Chief Bob Berg offered statistics on his department’s use of force in his March newsletter to the community.

According to Berg, last year force was used by officers on 96 occasions, with 15 of those resulting in some form of injury, 12 of those being relatively minor. More than half the time it was “physical force” with display of a firearm the next most used, according to Berg’s chart.

The claim was received by the city of Centralia on May 12.

Clark lists hospital diagnoses of open cheek wound, facial contusion, chest wall contusion, lumbar strain and right knee strain.

On May 15, the city’s representative – Washington Cities Insurance Authority – denied the claim, stating Radick resisted attempts to take him into custody and officers used reasonable force.

Senior Adjuster Gordy Van, of WCIA, wrote that Radick was so intoxicated that at the hospital he had to be watched for alcohol withdrawal.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Vader man arrested following an investigation into what police called a large supplier of heroin in Lewis and Cowlitz counties was sentenced yesterday to 20 months in prison.

Francisco “Poncho” Guerrero, 36, was charged in March in Lewis County Superior Court in connection with a search of his home on Alpine Court in which police seized several thousands of dollars in cash, about nine ounces of pure heroin and approximately 20 grams of cocaine.

Francisco Guerrero

Guerrero pleaded guilty yesterday to delivery of heroin, as well as possession with intent to deliver heroin.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello said as part of a plea deal, he dropped a charge of possession with intent to deliver of cocaine because it wouldn’t change the amount of time the defendant faced. Masiello said he also dropped a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm, because he didn’t have evidence Guerrero actually possessed the weapon.

The investigation was conducted by the Centralia Police Department’s special Anti-Crime Team, Chehalis police detectives and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

The search of the residence took place back in December, and for unspecified reasons police did not make any arrest until March 3. Arrested at the same time was Guerrero’s 33-year-old girlfriend Jennifer M. Hayes who also lived in the home.

Her lawyer in mid-March filed a demand for so-called discovery materials, and by the end of March, prosecutors dropped the case against her.

Masiello asked for and was granted a dismissal of the charges, noting a lack of evidence against Hayes. They were dismissed without prejudice, leaving open the possibility they could be filed again in the future, he said.

Masiello said today the girlfriend was present, but in order to be an accomplice, one has to do more than just be present.
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For background, read “Accused Vader drug dealers plead not guilty” from Friday March 13, 2015, here

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Lewis County man sent to prison last fall has died after sustaining serious injuries during an assault there.

Gordon C. Powell Jr., 45, was arrested in early October for breaking the glass front door at a distillery on North Tower Avenue and stealing four bottles of liquor and then hours later tussling with a police officer who tried to remove an extremely intoxicated beggar from an area store, according to court documents.

Gordon “Casey” Powell Jr.

Powell was serving a five year sentence, for second-degree burglary and third-degree assault, at the Monroe Correctional Complex.

“I’m very disappointed,” his lawyer David Arcuri said upon hearing the news. “Gordon was not a violent person.”

Arcuri represented Powell in Lewis County Superior Court at least once, and likely other times over the years.

“He was a young man, and though he may have had issues that caused him to be taken out of society, it’s pretty sad he goes to DOC and ends up getting killed,” Arcuri said.

Court documents show Powell as transient, police reported he lived in Chehalis when he was arrested.

Prison officials say Powell was transported to the hospital on May 9 and passed away Monday morning.

He was being held at the Special Offender Unit at Monroe, according to the state Department of Corrections.

A 35-year-old fellow inmate doing time for first-degree manslaughter was being held in segregation and prison officials are working closely with local law enforcement who are investigating the incident, according to DOC.

The assault occurred in a common area, prison officials said.

The other inmate, Benjamin Price entered the prison system in August 2010 for the conviction out of Skagit County and was serving a sentence of just over 12 years. Price also had a prior conviction for second-degree assault with a firearm, according to the news release.

The (Everett) Herald reports Price has a history of mental illness and is alleged to have waited for Powell while inmates were returning from the dining room, and kicked and stomped him during an attack that lasted nine seconds; Powell never regained consciousness.

Powell’s older sister said the Centralia native who went by the nickname Casey was a victim of the system.

“They knew he was mentally ill,” Stephanie Leisure said. “He should never have been put in prison, he should have been sent to Western State.”

At least twice before he’d been to the psychiatric hospital and found not competent to assist with his defense, according to Leisure.

He lived with her family in Centralia, she said.

“He was basically an outgoing, sweet guy,” she said. “Always smiling, always happy; he loved everybody.”

Her brother started showing signs of mental illness in his 20s, she said. He was being seen at a local clinic regularly before his arrest, she said.

“The police are always arresting him,” she said. “He does things he’s not supposed to do, but he’s still a really good kid; he couldn’t help it.”

Monroe’s Special Offender Unit was opened in 1981 to provide a facility to treat and house the many seriously mentally ill offenders, according to DOC spokesperson Andrew Garber.

Updated at 3:36 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A road construction crew working near the freeway exit ramp by the Outlet Mall cut CenturyLink’s communications cables, causing a loss of service to more than 1,000 customers in Centralia.

The issue came to light yesterday morning and there is no estimated time of repair yet.

The outage is affecting landline phone service and Internet service, but not cell phones, according to company spokesperson Brian Dalessi.

Dalessi said technicians are working on the problem, but it’s a very involved and complex fix.

“Unfortunately, it’s pretty large copper trunks and two fiberoptic cables,” he said this morning.

Lewis County 911 Manager Craig Larsen said their system based in Chehalis is not affected, except that any person in Centralia without phone service can’t call them, unless they use a cell phone.

One large customer, the Centralia School District, is working to create alternate ways for parents and others to contact the schools if they need to.

District spokesperson Ed Petersen indicated he learned of it about 10 a.m. yesterday, and the best estimate he’s heard so far is it could continue at least until Sunday.

People trying to call them get just a busy signal, Petersen said.

Dalessi said he notified the news media yesterday evening to try to get the word out, to reassure the public technicians are working to isolate the problem and restore services as quickly as possible.

He said he understood the damage was related to the Interstate 5 construction project, and the outage is mostly west of the freeway.

Eleven hundred and seventy two residential and business customers are affected, he said.

Dispatchers at the Lewis County 911 center suggest anyone who is unable to contact them to report an emergency ought to use a cell phone to dial 911 or contact their local fire or police department.

They ask also that members of the public take a moment to check on neighbors, friends or relatives who could be affected by the outage to make sure they are safe and secure.

And further, they ask anyone who sees, hears, or becomes aware of any alarm or emergency or other need for police, fire or medical aid, to please call 911 immediately if they can.

Mount St. Helens

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the Mount St. Helens Institute invite the public to join them this weekend as they commemorate the 35th anniversary of the volcano’s eruption.

Today was opening day of the Johnston Ridge Observatory overlooking the crater of Mount St. Helens.

But tomorrow, a unique and free of charge opportunity awaits with a series of 30-minute talks by people whose lives were forever altered by their experiences at Mount St. Helens.

The eruption eyewitness stories event takes place at the Mount St. Helens Science and Learning Center, at 19,000 Spirit Lake Highway.

Photos and stories will describe the incredible events leading up to the catastrophic May 18, 1980 eruption and the massive landslide, lateral blast, mudflows and ash cloud that followed. Meet eruption eyewitnesses and leave with an autographed poster or book.

Visitors will hear from a group who stopped for a walk at the South Fork of the Toutle River and then as the lateral blast blew from the mountainside leapt into their truck and found themselves in a race for their lives, from a pair who were camping near Bear Meadows and captured amazing photographs of the collapsing north flank of the volcano and will hear readings from Richard Waitt, from his new book, “In the Path of Destruction: Eyewitness Chronicles of Mount St. Helens.” And more.

The series runs from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

On Monday, at the same location, another free series of talks features presentations by scientists describing their 35 years of discoveries at the volcano, and includes hands-on demonstrations.

The talks run from noon until 4 p.m.

The center opens at 10 a.m. on Monday, and at 10:30, forest service officials will hold a ceremony commemorating the 1980 eruption. They and invited guests will recall the events of 35 years ago and how Mount St. Helens transformed the landscape surrounding the volcano and their understanding of geologic processes and their influence on the world around us.

DIRECTIONS: The Science and Learning Center is located on state Route 504, 43 miles east of Interstate 5. Take exit 49 off Interstate 5 and head east on state Route 504 for 43 miles until you pass the turn-off for Johnston Ridge. Continue straight ahead a short distance past the turn-off and into the parking lot of the Science and Learning Center.

Also, continuing Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings are public memory gathering experiences in Portland, Vancouver and Longview.

Representatives from the Mount St. Helens Institute invite any and all to join them in sharing stories. They encourage folks to bring photos, scrapbooks, and other items to share.

There is a suggested donation of $5 per person. Food and beverages are available separately for purchase. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the speaker will begin at 6:30 p.m.. All ages are welcome except on Thursday in Longview, which is 21 and over only. Space is limited so arrive early.

Monday, May 18, 2015
Lucky Lab Beer Hall
1945 NW Quimby St, Portland
with Christine Colasurdo

Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Loowit Brewing
507 Columbia St, Vancouver
with Susan Saul

Thursday, May 21, 2015
Hop -N- Grape Smokehouse Pub
924 15th Ave, Longview
with David Freece

Chan H. Oscar faces a judge in Lewis County Superior Court on charges of first-degree assault and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Updated at 10:11 a.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Bail was set yesterday afternoon at $500,000 for the 36-year-old man accused of shooting and injuring his cousin in Chehalis.

Chan H. Oscar appeared in Lewis County Superior Court where temporary defense lawyer Joely O’Rourke said she believed he qualified for court appointed counsel.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Bohm argued for the high bail noting Oscar has five superior court cases in his past and an in-progress driving under the influence case.

O’Rourke said her client’s only felony was an eluding case in 2007.

He’s lived here for the past 15 years, has very strong ties and family in the area, O’Rourke said as she appealed to the judge for lesser bail of $50,000.

Oscar is charged with first-degree assault and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

He was arrested shortly after midnight Wednesday when police stopped a vehicle that left a residence he’s been known to stay at, a few blocks from the scene, about three and half hours after the shooting.

Authorities initially said they learned from witnesses that Oscar was walking on the sidewalk on Southwest William Avenue near Fourth Street and fired a round at his cousin’s passing car, and when the car stopped, approached and fired another round which went through his cousin’s hand as he held it by his head to block it.

Charging documents give a slightly different account, making no mention of the suspect walking along the sidewalk beforehand. The court documents state Oscar was a passenger in a sport utility vehicle being driven by a female, and that he got out when the blue Honda pulled into the area, and the rest unfolded.

The un-named female told police Oscar and his cousin, Kevin St. Catherine, had gotten into a verbal argument beforehand.

St. Catherine, 36, from Chehalis, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital where he was treated and then transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He is listed in satisfactory condition this morning.

Police said they didn’t have a motive for the shooting, but charging documents state that when he was being searched, Oscar turned to one of the officers and asked if he knew what his cousin had done to him first.

Chehalis police said they recovered a  9 mm semi-automatic handgun; charging documents said the loaded handgun was found on his person.

Oscar, who is a Chehalis resident, has six convictions for fourth-degree assault in the past 15 years, including one stemming from an incident in a downtown Centralia bar where he was arrested after a tussle and he stabbed two men. He and his lawyer contended it was self-defense and he made an Alford plea and spent seven weeks in jail.

His arraignment is scheduled for next Thursday.

Also arrested was 50-year-old Lenard A. Carlile who was a passenger in the vehicle that police found Oscar in. Carlile was charged yesterday with rendering criminal assistance.

Charging documents state that at one point during the manhunt, an officer spoke to Carlile who was on his porch on the 700 block of Pacific Avenue and asked if he’d seen anybody (black or white) about 6 feet tall in the area. He said he hadn’t.

O’Rourke told the judge yesterday afternoon Carlile has worked at Dennys and lived nearby for the past 10 years, in suggesting he was not a big flight risk.

She pointed out his family and friends were in the courtroom to support him.

Judge James Lawler set his bail at $10,000.

Carlile’s grown daughter Crystal Carlile said outside the courtroom her dad didn’t know Oscar was wanted, that Oscar is just a guy her dad allowed to stay at his place in the recent past.

Her brother was driving, and they were just headed to get a bite to eat or something, she said.

His arraignment is scheduled for next Thursday as well.
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For background, read “Police: Chehalis resident jailed for shooting cousin on neighborhood street” from Thursday May 14, 2015, here