Lewis County Sirens.com

Updated at 6:47 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The preliminary witness list for the coroner’s inquest into the 1998 death of former Trooper Ronda Reynolds in Toledo was released today by Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod.

Ronda Reynolds

Not on the list is former Lewis County Coroner Terry Wilson, but McLeod said in a news release any potential witnesses who have not yet been subpoenaed are not listed.

He expects the list to be complete by Sept. 9.

The inquest is currently scheduled for the second week in October, to be held in Lewis County District Court in Chehalis. McLeod will be the presiding officer.

Reynolds, 33, was found with a bullet in her head and covered by a turned-on electric blanket on the floor of a closet in the home she shared with her husband of less than a year, Ron Reynolds, in December 1998.

Among those McLeod has subpoenaed to testify are Ron Reynolds and his three sons who were present when the first sheriff’s deputy arrived, the deputies and detectives who examined the scene, and two of their superiors from the sheriff’s office.

Others include an outside former homicide detective who reviewed the case for the sheriff’s office and concluded it was a homicide, and two outside investigators who reviewed it after that and concurred with then-Sheriff John McCroskey that the determination of suicide was appropriate.

The case was the subject of a judicial review in Lewis County in November 2009 after which a panel of citizens concluded then-Coroner Wilson’s determination that Reynolds died of suicide was arbitrary, capricious and incorrect. A judge ordered Wilson to change the manner of death, but Wilson appealed.

One of McLeod’s first acts after he took office in January was to change Reynolds’ death certificate from suicide to undetermined and announce he wanted to hold a coroner’s inquest.

McLeod has said an inquest is an investigation, not a trial.

The coroner’s jury will consist of five individuals plus two alternates. They will be encouraged to reach a unanimous decision about the cause and manner of death, but will be permitted to make a determination by majority vote, according to the rules McLeod has adopted.

If they determine it to be homicide, they will be asked to determine whether by a preponderance of evidence they can identity the person or person’s responsible for the death.

If someone is named as causing the death, Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer has said he would have to decide what to do next. One of the RCWs states the coroner shall issue a warrant if the person committing the homicide is ascertained by the inquisition.

The inquest jury’s determinations are not binding, but McLeod has said he will abide by them.

The courtroom is expected to have seating for 60 persons, with as many as 20 allocated for the news media.

The witness names are as follows:

• Gary Holt – retired Lewis County sheriff’s deputy
• Robert Bishop – former Lewis County sheriff’s deputy
• Dave Neiser – retired Lewis County sheriff’s detective
• Jerry Berry – retired Lewis County sheriff’s detective
• Joe Doench – retired Lewis County sheriff’s chief criminal deputy
• Glade Austin – retired Lewis County sheriff’s detective’s sergeant
• Steve Aust – Lewis County Sheriff’s Office commander
• Carmen Brunton – former Lewis County coroner’s chief deputy
• Laurie Hull – friend
• David Bell – friend
• Ron Reynolds – husband of decedent
• Joshua Reynolds – son of Ron Reynolds
• David Reynolds – son of Ron Reynolds
• Jonathan Reynolds – son of Ron Reynolds
• Tom Lahmman – former Toledo School District superintendent
• Kathryn Hatulla (sp) – Ron Reynolds’ ex-wife
• Dr. Daniel Selove – forensic pathologist
• Barbara Thompson – decedent’s mother
• Marty Hayes – firearms examination
• Mark Liburdi – decedent’s ex-husband
• Richard Underwood – polygraph expert
• Terry Ball – polygraph expert
• Steve Birley – polygraph review
• Joe Upton – handwriting examiner
• Vernon Geberth – consulted
• Rod Englert – consulted
• Raymond Pierce – consulted
• George Fox – former Attorney General’s Office investigator
• Richard Steiner – former Attorney General’s Office investigator
• Gary Aschenbach – forensic statement analyst
• David Stritzke – Washington State Patrol crime lab
• Matthew Noedel – Washington State Patrol crime lab
• Kenneth McDermott – Washington State Patrol crime lab
• Ronald Wojciechowski – Washington State Patrol crime lab
• Raymond Kusumi – Washington State Patrol crime lab
• Jill Bartlett – Washington State Patrol fingerprint division

•••

See the rules governing the procedures for McLeod’s coroner’s inquest, here

•••

For some background and to see the roles some of the above individuals may have played, read “Jury finds coroner erred in ruling former trooper’s death a suicide”, here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CENTRALIA – A small object at a Centralia residence that its owner thought looked like a pipe bomb, was a pipe bomb.

Police were called about 9:40 a.m. today to a house on the 1300 block of Crescent Avenue in the north end of town, and summoned a bomb squad from the Washington State Patrol.

Law enforcement was there for two to three hours, eventually taking the item into his backyard and detonating it, home owner Robert Knutz said.

Nobody was hurt and nobody was in too much danger, according to Centralia police.

It was a working pipe bomb, Officer John Panco said.

It’s a mystery who built it or who it belonged to; and, according to Panco, not one that’s likely to be solved.

It was amongst a box of junk given to Knutz by a friend who cleaned out a house at the Greenwood Cemetery along Van Wormer Street in Centralia, Knutz said.

The rental house is owned by cemetery owner John Baker, but has been in the possession of the woman he assigned to take care of the properties while he was in prison.

Knutz said he put it in his garage weeks ago, and didn’t look closely at it until last night.

That’s when he noticed a fuse, he said.

Panco described it as about three-quarters of an inch in diameter and about two and a half inches long.

Panco this afternoon said he was told by the investigating officer there have been so many people in an out of the Van Wormer house, they didn’t expect to be able to pin down the pipe bomb’s owner.

Police would like to know why someone had a bomb, he said, but at this point they don’t know.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A former Lewis County employee has filed a lawsuit against the county’s director of public works alleging discrimination, a hostile work environment and retaliation.

Cyndi Ticknor names Lewis County, its Department of Public Works and its director, Tim Elsea, in the suit filed earlier this month in Lewis County Superior Court.

Ticknor, according to court documents, is the former Lewis County Maintenance and Operations Superintendent, a job from which Elsea demoted her in June of last year.

Her attorney writes she was the first woman to hold the position, and the alleged unprofessional behavior that led to her demotion was similar to conduct condoned by or ignored by superiors when engaged in by male co-workers.

When he disciplined her, Elsea was “well aware many male employees had exhibited similar if not more egregious behavior and not been subject to discipline,” her attorney alleges.

Ticknor, 48, is asking for damages in an amount to be proven at trial.

She didn’t respond to attempts to contact her for comment. Elsea said last week he isn’t in a position to speak about the lawsuit.

Lewis County commissioners have approved a resolution providing Elsea legal representation by a Seattle law firm.

Ticknor’s Olympia attorney Christopher Coker writes in the complaint that prior to the demotion, during her 15-year tenure, Ticknor’s personnel record was impeccable.

According to Coker, Ticknor worked as a senior transportation dispatcher for the county, and through her “hard work and determination” was promoted several times.

In 2002, she was made fleet manager, the first woman to hold the position, and in 2007, promoted to Lewis County maintenance and operations superintendent, also the first female to hold that job, according to Coker.

She worked in a male-dominated environment, often exposed to yelling, profanity and similar behaviors, he writes. She acted in a manner consistent to her male co-workers to fit in and earn their respect, he writes.

“She admits at times her language was strong, but no different than any of her male co-workers,” Coker writes.

Tim Elsea was hired June 1, 2010 as public works director and county engineer.

Elsea said last week Ticknor was on leave when he was hired, and he completed the investigation that led to her demotion.

The document outlines Ticknor’s responses to the demotion as her submission of written responses, which her attorney says resulted in escalating harassment, bullying and retaliation.

After she finally saw a copy of the investigation, she was disturbed by the “baseless and unfounded allegations” against her and last August, she submitted a rebuttal document to the county risk management department, Coker writes.

The lawyer writes that on Sept. 2, Elsea took her out a training session and into a meeting room at the fairgrounds where he “proceeded to intimidate, threaten and verbally abuse” her about her rebuttal. The same day, Elsea followed her to lunch and waited in parking lot, something she thought was meant to further intimidate her, Coker writes.

Ticknor applied for leave, and in October filed a formal complaint with the county alleging retaliation, harassment, age and gender discrimination.

On Nov. 24, 2010, she was terminated

Ticknor’s civil complaint alleges Elsea and the county failed to adequately investigate her allegations, but instead put her on leave and investigated her.

Her attorney claims she suffered damages – including prolonged stress and humiliation – and is asking for compensation for various damages, among them lost wages, benefits and attorney fees.

Elsea is required to file an answer in Lewis County Superior Court to her complaint by the end of the month.

The building belonging to Volunteer Firefighter Nicholas Delin was pushed over after it was destroyed by fire early Thursday.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

TOLEDO – Police Chief John Brockmueller and Officer Sam Patrick planned to start digging today through the rubble that is left of the commercial structure that burned in downtown Toledo early Thursday morning.

What remained after the overnight fire had to be pushed down with heavy equipment on Thursday to make it safe to poke around in, Brockmueller said yesterday.

The cause is unknown, Brockmueller said.

“We’re gathering information, doing interviews and what-not, trying to figure it out,” the chief said.

The building belongs to Volunteer Firefighter Nicholas Delin, of Toledo, who recently shut down Toledo Hardware around the corner.

Lewis County Fire District 2 Chief Grant Wiltbank said it was used as storage for liquidation sales.

Brockmueller said Delin had a similar building that was lost in a fire in Winlock about three years ago.

Firefighters from Districts 2, 5, 7 and 5 were called out just before 1 a.m. on Thursday to the corner of Augustus Street and Ramsey Way – formerly Second Street in downtown.

Neighbors reported hearing explosions; crews battled the blaze defensively, meaning they worked simply to keep adjacent structures from catching fire.

One District 2 firefighter suffering from dehydration was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital for observation, according to Wiltbank.

It’s the third building on the west side of the block to be destroyed by fire in recent months. Only Timberland Bank remains on the corner at Kellogg Way – also state Route 505.

A three-alarm fire on Christmas morning swept through the former Masonic building that held Cowlitz River Antiques and the adjacent Used Book Store.

Toledo Police Officer Patrick is a trained fire investigator; Brockmueller will be assisting him to find what caused the fire.

Tavern owner Jack Leduc snapped this photo with his phone early Thursday morning.

Byron Wilson, with his mother Jessica Mullins beside him, is among several local people honored for saving lives.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CENTRALIA – Eleven individuals were honored yesterday for acts that saved a life or made a difference in someone’s life at the Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast of Lewis County.

The event held annually at Centralia High School is a fundraiser for the American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter, meant also to inspire folks to prepare for the unexpected, for example by taking a course in CPR.

A huge audience heard the following stories yesterday:

Lifesaver Rescue Hero
Terry Boyet

Boyet, an off-duty firefighter-paramedic, was with his family at the Tilton River in Morton over the Fourth-of-July holiday when he noticed a teenage boy thrashing in the water as if he were drowning.

A fully clothed Boyet jumped into the river, retrieved the teenager and pushed him toward his parents.

Workplace Safety Heroes
Kristina Maxwell and Nancy Owens

Maxwell, an employee at Thorbeckes Fitlife Center in Centralia and Owens, a nurse, went to the aid of a man who collapsed while working out at the gym in June.

The women performed hands-only CPR for 10 to 15 minutes, for the man was breathing on his own when medics arrived.

Fire Rescue Hero
Byron Wilson

Byron, 4, saw flames smoldering in a crawl space and yelled to wake up eight family members who safely escaped their burning home in Ethel in January.

His shouting alerted his family even before the smoke alarm was triggered.

Spirit of Red Cross Hero
Chief Matt Hadaller

Hadaller exemplifies the award for his contributions to the citizens and the fire service he served for 26 years.

The work of the chief of Lewis County Fire District 3 in Mossyrock was cut short when he suffered a heart attack while at home, on call and died June 27.

Water Rescue Hero
Randy LeDuc

LeDuc was fishing on the Cowlitz River in July of last year when he saw a jet boat that had slammed into a stump and was taking on water.

In the strong current, he steered his boat to the two fisherman and helped free their boat.

Medical Rescue Heroes
Jordan Beaver, Mary Buzzard, Jerry Rader, Wendy Rader

The four were at work at Cardinal Glass in Winlock when a co-worker collapsed in December.

They performed CPR for nearly 10 minutes on George Ruff until paramedics arrived. Today, Ruff is back on the job.

Youth Humanitarian Hero
Nicole Beck

Seventeen-year-old Nicole, diagnosed in February with cancer, was awarded a “wish” from the Make-a-Wish foundation, and gave it away.

The W.F. West High School student is using the money from the foundation to upgrade the six tennis courts at her school.

Advocates for medical marijuana wave to passing motorists outside Centralia City Hall.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CENTRALIA – A small group of medical marijuana users held a little “rally” across from Centralia City Hall yesterday hoping to gain support for making the substance easier rather than harder to obtain.

“Really, we just want to end criminal penalties for adults who use medical marijuana,” 34-year-old Ryan Shewell of Chehalis said.

Shewell, who organized the gathering, was pleasantly surprised to learn after they arrived the city council was scheduled last night to have the issue on its agenda.

Shewell prefers marijuana to the Vicodin and Percocet he takes for phantom pain; he lost his lower legs and fingers to a disease he contracted as a child.

“I take a handful pills, and they’re killing my liver,” Shewell said.

He’s been fairly active in initiative campaigns and voicing his opinion.

He was one of only two people who spoke at a public hearing last week held by the Lewis County Commissioners on the topic of collective medical marijuana gardens.

Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield told the three county commissioners he thinks more harm than good will come out of the new state law went into effect on July 22, but he wants to make the best out of a bad situation as the county considers how to reconcile conflicting federal and state law on the subject.

Shewell told the commissioners collective gardens are not a problem, but a solution for those like him who can’t easily grow their own.

Yesterday, the dozen or so individuals who joined Shewell in Centralia voiced similar thoughts, but the placards they held up to passing passing motorists broadcast a variety of philosophies, such as:

“Cannabis Cures” and “Help end marijuana prohibition” and “No prison for pot”.

And not all were willing to speak quite as openly as Shewell.

“Please don’t use my last name, I have a job,” one woman from Rochester said.

“I really don’t want to tell you my last name, cause of the feds,” a 56-year-old Centralia man in a wheelchair said.

Several of them however enthusiastically spoke of what they viewed as signs of support from passing motorists on Pearl and Maple streets.

“We’ve got nothing but high-5’s, peace signs, smiles and honks,” Sarena Haskins of Rochester said. She’s an activist who focuses on Lewis County for a group called Sensible Washington.

Shewell said only “a couple” of drivers flipped them off.

The city council last night passed a six-month moratorium on collective gardens, A public hearing will be held Sept. 27 on the topic.

They are approaching it similar to the county, according to City Attorney Shannon Murphy-Olson.

Lewis County commissioners last week enacted a 60-day moratorium, while the sheriff’s office, the prosecutor’s office and likely the planning commission devise a plan.

•••

For more about the county plans, read “County leaders want your opinions on how to grow (medical) marijuana” from Tuesday Aug. 2, 2011, here

A medical marijuana user displays her sign at the corner of Pearl and Maple streets.

Mossyrock Police Chief Jeremy Stamper is surrounded by police, deputies and troopers after today's sentencing of Wayne Burdette.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – More than two dozen uniformed law enforcement officers dominated the courtroom gallery, figuratively and then literally standing behind Mossyrock Police Chief Jeremy Stamper today.

They were there to observe the sentencing of Wayne Burdette, a 44-year-old man convicted last week of obstruction and acquitted of a more serious charge of felony harassment.

Wayne Burdette

The charges stemmed from a June traffic stop in which Burdette got out of his truck with his right hand behind his back and advanced on Stamper – after being told to stay put – prompting the officer to draw his pistol and retreat behind his patrol car. Burdette was arguing he wanted to see the radar reading.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher told the judge Burdette willfully and egregiously placed the officer in fear he was going to be shot.

Meagher asked the judge to send Burdette to jail for one year, the maximum amount allowed for the crime of obstruction, saying the judge needed to send a message.

“You and I have a bad day (at work), I go home with a headache,” Meagher said. “This officer has a bad day, he may not go home.”

Meagher had argued unsuccessfully in the trial last week in Lewis County Superior Court that Burdette’s actions and manner amounted to a threat to kill.

Defense attorney Ken Johnson this morning reminded the court Burdette was convicted of a gross misdemeanor, not the other charge and suggested the punishment should fit the crime.

The delay in the speeding ticket getting issued was not extensive, Johnson said.

Normally obstruction would be dealt with in District Court and the outcome might be two days in jail with the balance suspended, he said. His client has already been held for 71 days, he said.

Since the judge agreed to consider writings found in Burdette’s home, Johnson said he needed to explain some background.

Johnson told the judge Burdette has experienced police misconduct first-hand, which colors his view of officers, and has been seeking avenues of redress.

“There is a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it,” Johnson said. “Clearly arguing on the side of the road is the wrong way.”

Stamper asked Judge Richard Brosey for a sentence of one year, telling the judge Burdette is a danger.

“This guy is gonna kill one of us, given the first opportunity,” Stamper said.

Burdette took the judge up on his offer to comment.

“This is the third time I’ve been chained and caged,” he said.

“Words just really fail me, because what do you do about incompetence? What rights do you have?” Burdette asked.

Judge Brosey offered a lengthy soliloquy, telling Burdette that whatever may have occurred in the past elsewhere had nothing to do with any officers in Lewis County.

“Just because they choose to wear a uniform doesn’t make them inherently evil or out to get you,” Brosey said.

Brosey told him if he has issues with cops, he needs to take it up in court.

“You got a fair trial, perhaps the fairest I’ve ever seen,” he said. “That doesn’t alter the fact you did in fact obstruct, and you’re darn lucky you’re not dead.”

Brosey gave him 365 days in jail, with credit for time served.

The judge and the defendant exchanged more words after a statement was read about his appeal rights.

“You can say all the pretty legal words you want but it does not make it justice,” Burdette said.

Brosey once again tried to convince Burdette the system works, although it’s not fast or easy. And then the hearing was over.

“We’re done,” Brosey said.

•••

For more background, see “Breaking news: Burdette: Acquitted of felony harassment” from Friday August 19, 2011 at 5:23 p.m., here