Lewis County Sirens.com

Updated at 3:21 p.m.

ARSON INVESTIGATION

• Centralia police are investigating an incident last night in which someone tried to start a fire in a downtown building containing numerous upstairs apartment. Officers called about 8 p.m. to the 300 block of North Tower Avenue learned a resident heard a smoke alarm going off but said at first she ignored it because it occurs frequently from people cooking, according to the Centralia Police Department. However, when she finally went into the hallway, she saw a smokey haze and discovered a piece of paper burning inside an open light switch box, Sgt. Carl Buster said. She removed it and put it out, Buster said.

MISSING MEDS

• Centralia police were called about 9:20 a.m. yesterday to a report of the theft of a black bag containing medications from the 200 block of Railroad Avenue.

CAR PROWL

• A backpack containing an HP laptop computer was reported stolen from a vehicle parked at the 1100 block of Woodland Avenue in Centralia yesterday. The victim reported about 10:15 a.m. a window had been smashed out in the vehicle.

VANDALISM

• A 45-year-old Centralia man who left to cool off following a dispute yesterday reportedly then punched a dent into the side of a new truck at Main and Iron streets in Centralia yesterday morning. James C. Weatherford was cited for third-degree malicious mischief and then released, according to the Centralia Police Department. The damage is estimated at $500, police say.

UNRULY PATIENT

• A 48-year-old patient was arrested last night for two counts of third-degree assault after he allegedly took swings at medics who tried to prevent him from getting out of a moving ambulance. Darren L. Fullerton was intoxicated and began unstrapping himself, saying he had to urinate as the vehicle was northbound on Interstate 5 near Mellen Street, according to the Centralia Police Department. They pulled over and officers responded to the approximately 11:40 p.m. call, according to police. He was being taken to Providence Centralia Hospital after he was found sleeping on the ground at the entrance to the Airport Depot in Chehalis, police said. Fullerton was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Centralia police.

MORE SEX CRIME ALLEGATIONS

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports the 22-year-old man arrested on Tuesday for an alleged sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl is now facing potential charges involving a second 15-year-old. Michael A. Ryan Jr. was booked into jail for three counts of third-degree rape of a child for instances occurring between August and December of last year, the sheriff’s office reported yesterday. This morning, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said detectives are referring information on the new case to prosecutors for evaluation of charges of two more counts of the same offense, occurring between August and October. The second girl also considered it a dating relationship, Brown said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing, misdemeanor assault; responses for alarm, shoplifting, suspicious circumstances, report of child molestation that turned out to be unfounded … and more.

Updated at 12:40 p.m.

SEX CRIME ALLEGATIONS

• A 22-year-old Winlock man was arrested about 9:30 a.m. yesterday at the 400 block of Sears Road in Winlock in connection with an ongoing investigation in which he allegedly had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports the two considered themselves in a dating relationship and Michael A. Ryan Jr. was arrested for three counts of third-degree rape of a child for instances occurring between August and December of last year. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A 30-year-old Centralia man was arrested yesterday evening following allegations he touched the private parts of a 6-year-old female friend of the family. Allen A. Clark was contacted about 6 p.m. in connection with an incident that allegedly took place previously at Newaukum Golf Drive in Chehalis and arrested for first-degree child molestation, according to the  Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. However, he is to be released with no criminal  charges filed pending further investigation.

MISSING MEDS

• Police took a report last night about the theft of medication from the 900 block of F Street in Centralia.

MISSING MONEY

• Police were called to the 900 block of South Schueber Road about 12:10 p.m. yesterday about the theft of money while the victim was in the hospital. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

MISSING HEADLIGHT

• A 34-year-old Centralia resident on a bicycle who last night reportedly tried to evade an officer attempting to stop him and warn him about not having lights was arrested for obstructing a public servant. Levi P. Hart was cited and then released, after contact with police about 10:50 p.m. at the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DISORDERLINESS

• A call yesterday morning about a woman chanting and throwing rocks at passing motorists along the 9000 block of U.S. Highway 12 ended with a warrant arrest for the agitated suspect at the Gas Plus in Morton, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. As a deputy arrived about 10:30 a.m., the woman had just boarded a bus and when it stopped in Morton and she was contacted, the deputy learned she was wanted by Chehalis police in connection with a previous disorderly person case, according to the sheriff’s office. Thirty-six-year-old Heather Villalba of Mossyrock was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

DOG FIGHT

• Chehalis police were called about 3:20 p.m. yesterday to the parking lot at Yard Birds Mall to a report one dog attacked another dog inside a vehicle. Detective Sgt. Gary Wilson said he didn’t have all the details yet, but believed it involved a Healer and a Dachshund and understood it was fairly horrific. The smaller dog was taken to a veterinarian severely injured, he said. The pets both belong to the same man who was inside Yard Birds, he said. The animal control officer is investigating.

BARN FIRE AVERTED

• Firefighters were called about 7 p.m. yesterday to a barn fire near the 200 block of Cousins Road west of Chehalis. There was a little bit of fire inside the structure that had begun working its way up a wall but the owner had put it out with a garden hose before the crew arrived, according to Lewis County Fire District 6.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for dispute, shoplifting, collision on city street, suspicious person … and more.

SWITCHED PLATES

• A 75-year-old man called Chehalis police yesterday to report someone had stolen his license plates after he got a call from the Seattle Police Department telling him his van was used in a robbery. The man took a look at his vehicle and realized neither the front or back plates he saw were his, according to the Chehalis Police Department. He suspects it could have happened while the van was at property he owns on the 1100 block of North National Avenue, according to police. His van wasn’t involved in the robbery, detective Sgt. Gary Wilson said.

STOLEN COMPUTER

• Centralia police were called about 3:15 a.m. today to the 500 block of East Magnolia Street about the theft of a computer from a residence.  The case is under investigation.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called about 11 a.m. yesterday about a wallet taken from a vehicle while parked at the McDonald’s at Airport Depot on the 1400 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

VANDALISM

• A Centralia police officer took a report about 6:40 p.m. yesterday of a window at a local business shattered by an unknown suspect on the 600 block of North Tower Avenue.

MISSING CHILD

• Chehalis police were called at 3:05 p.m. yesterday about a missing 5-year-old boy from Cascade Elementary School who didn’t get off his school bus. Officers searched the area and by about 4:20 p.m. the child was located at Southeast Sixth Street and Washington Avenue, according to the Chehalis Police Department. An officer took him back to the school where he was reunited with his mother, detective Sgt. Gary Wilson said.

WRECK

• Two people were transported to Morton General Hospital after a wreck yesterday evening on U.S. Highway 12 near at the east end of Savio Road near Randle. Lewis County Fire District 18 Chief Ed Lowe said they assisted District 14 with the approximately 7 p.m. call. Firefighters had to extricate the occupants by cutting the truck, which was hauling a car trailer, Lowe said. “I don’t know what caused it, it was in the ditch with the truck on its side,” Lowe said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor  theft, violation of protection order, driving under the influence; responses for alarms, disputes, suspicious person … and more.

Updated at 6:13 p.m.

DOGS GONE WILD

• A 59-year-old Chehalis-area man will be issued a citation after five dogs reportedly ran from his yard and surrounded a passerby, barking and growling at her. The 28-year-old woman was bit in the calf by one of the dogs, in the Friday afternoon incident along the 100 block of Hillcrest Road south of Chehalis, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The dog’s owner was just cited in July for the same offense, prohibited activities by dogs, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Chehalis police were called about 3:45 p.m. on Friday to the 300 block of James Street where a dog attacked and killed another dog. The family had brought home a pit bull that was otherwise friendly, but  took a dislike to the smaller canine that already lived there, according to the Chehalis Police Department. An animal control officer removed both animals at the request of the owners, according to police.

• On Saturday morning, a deputy was called to the 200 block of Klein Road south of Chehalis after four to five black pit bulls came to a woman’s yard, growled at her and then attacked her dog who ran out to defend her. She was able to chase them off and rescue her dog, but it sustained multiple cuts and a broken leg, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The 62-year-old owner will be issued a citation, according to the sheriff’s office.

BREAK-IN RANDLE

• A Randle residence on the 9000 block of U.S. Highway 12 was burglarized sometime between 6 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday. Someone came through an open window in the home that being renovated and stole a horse collar, a can of paint, a small antique clock and a figurine of a man playing a fiddle, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

DRUGS

• Conrad J. Perry, 31, was arrested this morning after police were called about a man asleep behind the wheel parked at a fuel pump at the 600 block of West Main Street in Chehalis. An arriving officer noted a pipe on the center console, which tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Perry was awakened and then booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession, police said.

RIDING THE RAILS, INTO THE JAIL

• A 48-year-old man from California was arrested for trespassing after a 911 call from a train heading into Chehalis, saying a man with a duffel bag was traveling on one of its engines around 12:15 a.m. yesterday. The train stopped at West Street and a man walking away was contacted, according to police. Cristopher S. Hazen was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

FROM PARADISE TO JAIL

• A 68-year-old woman was arrested on Saturday after a deputy was dispatched to the 100 block of Paradise Drive in Ashford about a trespasser. Virginia V. Creim said she used to own the property and was waiting for its new owner to arrive to see if she could buy it back, but a deputy contacted the 53-year-old Tacoma man who owns it and he said he wanted her off his property and wanted to pursue charges,  according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Creim, who is described by the sheriff’s office as transient, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree trespassing as well as a warrant for failing to appear in court for a previous trespass case, according to Chief Ciivl Deputy Stacy Brown.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police took a report about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday of stereo equipment stolen from a vehicle parked at the Twin City Town  Center on the 1400 block of Louisiana Avenue.

• Centralia police were called to a vehicle prowl about 1 p.m. on Saturday at the 2500 block of Mount Vista Road where someone had smashed the window and stole a purse.

• An officer took a report that someone got into a car parked at a business at the 200 block of Williams Street in Mossyrock  and stole a Kindle, a CD holder and prescription medication, last Monday morning, according to the Morton Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Someone slashed a tire on a vehicle at the 200 block of North Tower Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 11 a.m. yesterday.

BRUSH FIRE WINLOCK

• Local firefighters spent a few hours on Saturday shuttling water for personnel from the Department of Natural Resources as they extinguished a brush fire in Winlock that may have been smoldering for a couple of days before it was found. Firefighters were called just before 4 p.m. on Saturday to the 100 block of Brady Lane after a neighbor that smelled smoke went out to investigate, according to Lewis County Fire District 15. Firefighter Patrick Jacobson said it it was an area of about 100 feet by 100 feet beyond the yard behind a house, a place that looked like it had been cleared of brush. It was not a very active fire, but a lot of smoldering Jacobson said. The property owners were away, he said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, trespass, obstruction, shoplifting, probation violation,  misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for disputes, collisions on city street, collisions on county roads … and more.

Updated at 4:17 p.m.

TENINO HOUSE FIRE

• Tenino firefighters were called to a house fire last night on Vantime Road about three miles northeast of town. “On arrival we had smoke coming out of the house, on the second floor,” Thurston County Fire District 12 Battalion Chief  James Fowler said. “The interior crew got upstairs and found fire in a closet.” Crews were joined by personnel from three other fire departments and were on the scene about two hours, Fowler said. Nobody was hurt, he said. He estimated the damage at perhaps $50,000 because of wallboard that will have to be replaced. The bedroom sustained smoke damage and the first floor just a little water damage, he said. The contents of the closet were consumed. The two-story structure is like a mother-in-law house where the property owner’s band practices, according to Fowler.

ASSAULTS

• Centralia police booked a 23-year-old man into the jail this morning in connection with an incident reported yesterday at the 200 block of North Iron Street in which he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend and took her cell phone. Officers called about 1:40 p.m. yesterday learned David J. Rangel had left before they were called, according to the Centralia Police Department. Officers later went to the residence because Rangel was there and he fled out the back door, according to police. Police dog Lobo was called to the area and located their suspect hiding in some bushes several blocks away. He was booked for second-degree robbery. Officers also arrested an 18-year-old Centralia resident for obstructing, contending they had delayed Rangel’s arrest, giving him time to escape. Baylor Jackson Scott was cited and then released, according to police.

• Centralia police were called about 7 p.m. yesterday to a dispute at Centralia College Boulevard and Silver Street where witnesses said a male pointed a gun at several people and pulled a female into his dark-colored sport utility vehicle and assaulted her. The participants are all known to each other, according to the Centralia Police Department. No arrest has been made, police report this morning.

DRUGS

• A 22-year-old Centralia man was arrested yesterday for a warrant and possession of methamphetamine after contact with an officer about 1:15 p.m. at the 1000 block of Scammon Creek Road in Centralia. Jarrin A. Smalley was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FORK PEAK FIRE UPDATE

• The Fork Peak Fire southwest of Pe Ell has been held to 126 acres and is now 95 percent contained. “There is still some heat in the interior of the burned area that is also being mopped up to minimize the chance of wind-thrown embers,” the Department of Natural Resources states in its morning report. There is very little fire activity near the fire’s edge, according to DNR spokesperson Jay Guthrie. The forest fire about five miles southwest of town began Sept. 11 in an active logging area, on private timberland owned by Rayonier. Still, 103 personnel are working the site, with three hand crews, seven fire engines, two water tenders and one piece of heavy equipment, according to Guthrie. Guthrie notes he expects the update he sends out tomorrow will be the final one for this fire. DNR took the opportunity to suggest to the public that autumn is a great time to improve your property and implement a firewise home and community. For more information about Firewise Communities check out the website www.firewise.org

WSP WELCOMES NEW TROOPERS

• A new trooper is joining the state patrol detachment in Morton  following his graduation from the Washington State Patrol Academy. Justin R. Schaffer, from Centralia, is among 39  individuals sworn in this week at a ceremony at the Capitol in Olympia. Also presented their official commission cards on Wednesday by Gov. Jay Inslee and WSP Chief John Bastiste were Centralia resident Jacob D. Payne, who will be working out of Yakima and Christopher L. Hendrickson from Tenino who is assigned to the Hoquiam detachment, according to the state patrol.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor theft; responses for collision on city street, misdemeanor assault … and more.

POLICE: GUN IN FACE LANDS DAD IN JAIL

• A 43-year-old Toledo man was arrested yesterday for allegedly pointing a firearm at his 16-year-old daughter’s face in their home on the 100 block of Barnes Drive. Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said it apparently occurred on Saturday and deputies learned of it on Monday from Child Protective Services and investigated. The girl said her father had been drinking with his friends, and the incident was related to a dispute over him making his daughter dance with one of his friends, Brown said. Jose C. Rodriguez was contacted yesterday and then booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree assault, Brown said.

MISSING MEDS

• Centralia police took a report yesterday morning regarding prescription medications stolen from the 900 block of South Tower Avenue.

ANGRY TEEN

• Chehalis police were called about 10:15 p.m. yesterday to a report a female was seen putting sugar in the gas tank of a car at the 300 block of Southwest Third Street. Two girls who were contacted in the area said the woman who owns the vehicle had been harassing them on Facebook, according to the Chehalis Police Department. One of them a 15-year-old, was booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center for second-degree malicious mischief, according to police.

VACANT HOUSE NOT EMPTY

• A 44-year-old homeless man was arrested yesterday when cleaners showed up at a vacant rental home in Centralia and found him sleeping inside. An officer responding about 9:45 a.m. to the 600 block of Alder Street booked Gordon C. Powell Jr., of Chehalis, into the Lewis County Jail for trespassing, according to the Centralia Police Department. Powell said he found the front door unlocked, Officer Patty Finch said.

FORK PEAK FIRE UPDATE

• Authorities report this morning the fire activity on the Fork Peak Fire has been greatly reduced by all the hard work of firefighters, who were assisted by rain overnight on Wednesday. The 126-acre fire is 90 percent contained,  according to the Department of Natural Resources. The forest fire about five miles southwest of Pe Ell began late last week in an active logging area, on private timberland owned by Rayonier. The area has been assessed for hot spots with a hand-held infrared viewer, according to DNR’s morning report. One hundred thirty six personnel are assigned to the fire. Today’s objective continues to be to keep fire south of A-Line, north of the 7820 Road, west of the F-line and east of the Weyerhaeuser ownership, according to the report.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, disorderly conduct, misdemeanor theft, misdemeanor assault; responses for disputes, shoplifting, suspicious vehicle … and more.

A map from DNR shows the footprint of the Fork Peak Fire. Click here to open a PDF of this image.

Updated at 6:34 p.m.

BANK FRAUD

• Centralia police yesterday took a report from the 200 block of North Pearl Street regarding fraudulent checks being written at a bank.  The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• Centralia police arrested  25-year-old man yesterday morning for possession of heroin and a warrant. Panther W. Risling of Centralia was booked into the Lewis County Jail after contact with an officer at the 1200 block of Alder Street about 9:30 a.m., according to the Centralia Police Department.

FROM THE COURTHOUSE: NAPAVINE’S NAKED DRIVER LOCATED

• Jeremy R. Hamilton was charged only with attempting to elude police for the Napavine incident in which he allegedly slipped away as he was being handcuffed and fled through a field into the night, barefoot and completely unclothed. The 39-year-old Napavine resident is expected in Lewis County Superior Court tomorrow for his arraignment; he was charged on Monday following his arrest over the weekend. According to charging documents, Napavine Police Chief Chris Salyers discovered Hamilton was in the jail on outstanding warrants. The Sept. 5 incident began about 10 p.m. when police were called by a resident on the 400 block of Eighth Avenue who said a person was in a car parked in front of her house, she asked him to leave and he refused, according to the documents. Police said as a patrol car approached, Hamilton drove away without turning on his headlights, and  a short pursuit ensued, basically around the block and ended back in front of the original home. Officer Noel Shields drew his Taser and ordered Hamilton from the vehicle, which he did, charging documents state. Hamilton was naked and struggled away after he was partially handcuffed, according to police. He escaped over a fence, but Shields identified him by the Washington State identification card in the wallet on the ground next to his car, charging documents state. The court papers offer no explanation as to why he was driving around nude, nor if he was acquainted with the woman whose house he was parked in front of. However, among his past criminal offenses are harassment, a drug violation, a protection order violation and a warrant for an unresolved indecent exposure offense from 2009, according to court documents. He remains in the jail on $25,000 bail.

FORK PEAK FIRE UPDATE

• The seventh day of firefighting on timberland outside Pe Ell began with the Fork Peak Fire at 80 percent containment. The forest fire has spread over 126 acres since it was discovered, about five miles southwest of town in Pacific County, according to the Department of Natural Resources. The property is owned by Rayonier. DNR reported this morning it continues to smolder, with low spread potential. Two hundred and twelve personnel are assigned to the fire. On today’s plan of action was to keep fire south of A-Line, north of the 7820 Road, west of the F-line and east of the Weyerhaeuser ownership, according to the report.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor theft; responses for disputes, suspicious circumstances, drug investigation, telephone harassment, dead deer across from Southwest Moonlight Lane in Chehalis, a vehicle stuck on railroad tracks on Floral Street in Centralia, naked man sitting in the bushes near Best Western Hotel in Chehalis who turned out to be sleepwalking; complaints about landlord, people laying on outdoor benches, vehicle owner’s behavior when contacted by a repo man … and more.