Lewis County Sirens.com

Updated at 6:49 p.m.

RESCUE IN THE MOUNTAINS

• A backpacker who got sick in the Goat Rocks Wilderness area over the weekend was rescued yesterday by a search and rescue team member, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The 37-year-old woman from Tualatin, Ore. with three companions walked into the Snowgrass Flats at the Chambers Lake outside of Packwood to camp on Saturday, but the following day she was suffering from vertigo, vomiting and couldn’t stand up, according to the sheriff’s office. They called for help and rescuers drove partway in, and one of them hiked to the camp reaching it around midnight, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. The area is at an elevation of approximately 5,600 feet, Brown said. The search and rescue team member stayed the night and helped hydrate the woman, so they could walk out yesterday morning, according to Brown. The Oregon woman said she hadn’t had an episode for years, but the elevation may have brought it on, Brown said.

THEFT AT CENTRALIA MILL

• Centralia police were called about 10:15 a.m. yesterday to Northwest Hardwoods at the 3000 block of Galvin Road about the theft of about $6,000 worth of sander bearings. Each of the missing square brass bearings weighs five to seven pounds, according to the Centralia Police Department. Eleven or 12 of them disappeared from a rack sometime during the previous week, according to police. There is no suspect information, Officer Patty Finch said.

THEFT OF CASH

• Centralia police were called about 4:15 p.m. yesterday to the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue regarding the theft of money. The case remains under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

WINLOCK THEFT

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning that someone stole about $1,000 worth of various equipment such as a pressure washer and tools from outside a home on the 200 block of Winter Road near Winlock between 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. last Thursday.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday that nearly $2,000 worth of carpentry tools were stolen from a residence at the 400 block of Hart Road in Winlock between Thursday and Friday.

CHEHALIS THEFT

• More than $8,000 worth of valuables were missing when a 37-year-old woman returned home to find the residence ransacked at the 600 block of Highway 603 west of Chehalis, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday. She left at 11 a.m. and got back at 4 p.m. and discovered someone had forced their way through a door at the garage and left with jewelry, an Xbox and other items such as clothing including Lewis County Sheriff’s Office uniform pants, according to Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown. Also taken was a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Explorer’s notebook, Brown said. Brown indicated that she did not know if it was a deputy’s home that was burglarized.

• A Lawn Chief deck lawn mower and a disassembled 12.5 hp engine were taken from a garage at the 100 block of Lake Creek Road outside Chehalis, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday. The owner said it happened sometime between 5 p.m. last Thursday and 11 p.m. on Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday they are investigating a case in which $2,200 cash went missing from where it was stored under a mattress. The victim, a 68-year-old Chehalis woman, said she always keeps her doors locked and didn’t believe anyone knew it was there, according to the sheriff’s office. She noticed it on Friday, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

MISSING MOTORHOME

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning that a the owner of a 1998 Thor Regency class A motorhome discovered on Friday it was missing from the gated storage area at the Thousand Trails Campground where he had parked it a month earlier. The green and white RV is valued at $27,500, according to the sheriff’s office. Staff at the site on the 2200 block of Centralia-Alpha Road said sometimes guests leave the gate open, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

FAKE BIG BILLS

• Centralia police took a report about 1:30 p.m. yesterday of counterfeit $100 bills being passed at the Centralia Outlet stores.

DRUGS

• A 47-year-old Centralia man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine last night after a pipe with residue was located on his person at South Tower Avenue near the viaduct in Centralia, according to police. James A. Nix was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department. He was to be released with charges filed pending further investigation.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called yesterday morning about a vehicle prowl at the 3300 block of Northeast Adams Avenue. The victim said he found his missing tackle box in the garbage near his apartment, but other property was still missing, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• The vehicle was locked but windows partially down and when its owner returned to the store’s parking lot, several items from inside it including pain medication were gone. Chehalis police were called about 4:30 p.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of South Market Boulevard took a report.

SHOPPER LEAVES DOG IN CAR

• A 40-year-old Tacoma resident was cited for animal cruelty after he allegedly left his dog inside his vehicle for more than an hour in 90 degree weather yesterday, while parked at the Centralia Outlets. An officer called about 1:30 p.m. to the 100 block of High Street found the Pit Bull laying across the seats, panting heavily and the windows slightly down. Vatsana Phaisan showed up about the time the officer did and said he didn’t think it had been long, that time got away from him, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ASSAULT

• A 36-year-old Vancouver man who reportedly fled after assaulting a woman outside a store on the 2900 block of Jackson Highway in Chehalis was picked up at his home by law enforcement from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Lewis County Jail. A deputy called on Sunday night was told a citizen intervened after the man choked the woman he was dating, hit her in the face several times, threw her to the ground and broke her phone, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The 48-year-old Chehalis woman said it began with an argument and she then thought he was going to kill her, according to the sheriff’s office. Jagwinder Singh was arrested for second-degree assault, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

MOTORCYCLE INCIDENT

• A male was cited after he lost control of his motorcycle yesterday afternoon at the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia. Centralia police say he dropped his bike and was not not wearing a helmet, nor did he have a motorcycle endorsement. Spencer Baumgartner then walked back to work, Officer Patty Finch said.

COLLISIONS

• A driver was hospitalized after a single-vehicle wreck in Tenino on Saturday night, in which his car left the roadway at a corner and traveled down an approximately 20-foot embankment. Firefighters were called about 11 p.m. to the scene, on Bluemauer Road, just west of Crane Street, according to Thurston County Fire District 12. He was transported by paramedics to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, according to District 12.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday a 23-year-old Chehalis resident sustained a head injury when he reached for his cell phone and ran into a ditch and culvert at the 400 block of Avery Road East on Sunday. He was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital and cited for wheels off the roadway, according to the sheriff’S office.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, disputes, hit and run, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor theft, dog inside hot vehicle; complaint of barking dog … and more.

Updated

ROADSIDE UN-ASSISTANCE

• An Elma man who left his tent trailer on the side of Interstate 5 with a flat tire returned the following morning to find it had vanished, but followed drag marks for roughly 10 miles to a driveway in Winlock. The tent trailer was recovered, and deputies who spoke with individuals at the 100 block of Lane Drive have a suspect, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The incident from Saturday remains under investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

FOOD FIGHT LANDS ONE IN JAIL

• A 38-year-old Centralia man was arrested for misdemeanor assault after throwing mashed potatoes on another customer at the 600 block of West Main Street in Centralia yesterday afternoon. Officers responded about 4:50 p.m. and booked Mitchell L. Galster, into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department. Police called to Kentucky Fried Chicken for a disorderly person, found Galster had walked outside, and then was  confronted by a male coming through the drive through who got out of his vehicle, according to police. Officer Patty Finch said Galster reportedly flung the food onto the male and his vehicle. The officer noted Galster smelled highly of alcohol, Finch said.

LIVESTOCK SET FREE

• Centralia police took a report about 11 a.m. yesterday in which an individual at the 1900 block of Van Wormer Street said someone cut his fence and allowed his cows to escape.

AUTO THEFT MORTON

• Morton police took a report on Saturday from an individual who said his 1998 Subaru Legacy vanished sometime after midnight while he camped at Gust Backstrom Park. The loss is estimated at $5,000, according to the Morton Police Department.

BURGLARY CHEHALIS

• Chehalis police were called to the 2100 block of North National Avenue on Friday morning regarding the theft of various items from vendors during the night.

YOGI WANNABES

• Morton police were called about 2:40 a.m. on Friday to Gust Backstrom Park where a camper had chased what they thought were two teenagers going through their coolers. Nothing was missing, according to the Morton Police Department.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Chehalis police were called about 2 o’clock this morning regarding a car prowl on Northeast Washington Avenue.

• Chehalis police were called to Southwest Lewis Street early Saturday morning regarding a car prowl.

COLLISIONS

• A 64-year-old Packwood man was hospitalized after a single-vehicle wreck on U.S. Highway 12 today four miles east of Randle. Troopers called about 2:50 p.m. found Larry M. Henricksen was traveling eastbound when his Ford F350 pickup left the road to the right and rolled onto its top. The vehicle was totaled and impounded, according to the Washington State Patrol. The cause of the crash is under investigation, the state patrol reports. Henricksen was transported to Morton General Hospital.

• A 73-year-old Seattle woman was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle yesterday after the sport utility vehicle she was driving was hit by an oncoming car on state Route 123 about 10 miles east of Packwood. The Toyota Highlander spun around and went down an embankment, according to the Washington State Patrol. Her 84-year-old passenger, Dee J. McGonigle, also from Seattle, was injured and taken to Morton General Hospital, according to the state patrol. Troopers called about 1:20 p.m. to milepost three concluded a Honda Civic driven northbound by a 26-year-old Renton resident crossed over the centerline and hit the SUV in the driver’s side front end, according to the state patrol. The Renton man, Andrew J. Wilkerson, was also transported to the Morton Hospital, the investigating trooper reports. Both vehicles were described as totaled.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarms, disputes, bark fires, possible fraud, eggs thrown, loud nighttime music from a bar, collisions on city streets,  … and more.

DRIVER PINNED AFTER HIGHWAY 12 CRASH

• An 18-year-old Salkum resident is being treated at Providence Centralia Hospital after a single-vehicle wreck on U.S. Highway 12 that left his legs trapped beneath his car early this morning. Troopers and aid called about 4:30 a.m. to the area near Jackson Highway found Roberto A. Sanchez had rolled his 1996 Hyundai and was ejected, according to the Washington State Patrol. The car was probably 30 feet off the south side of the roadway and up against a tree, not really visible to passing traffic, according to Lewis County Fire District 5. The patient didn’t know how long he’d been there or remember what happened, Firefighter Maria Kennedy said. “He called himself in,” Kennedy said. “If he didn’t have a phone, I don’t know how long he’d have been sitting there; probably until the sun came up.” With help from a crew from Lewis County Fire District 6, troopers, a deputy and a paramedic, they were able to safely raise the car and remove the young man, Kennedy said. By that time, he was alert and oriented and doing surprisingly well, she said. The investigating trooper concluded Sanchez had been traveling eastbound and fallen asleep, without a seatbelt. He was cited for second-degree negligent driving, according to the state patrol.

DRIVER KILLED IN CAPITOL FOREST

• A 53-year-old Tacoma man is dead after a wreck in the Capitol Forest yesterday, in which a UTV went off the road, down an embankment and rolled. Richard S. Daniel was driving a 2014 Kawasaki KRT800 – also known as a side-by-side, according to Trooper Guy Gill – on the B-Line Road just west of the C-Line Road at Rock Candy Mountain, according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers called about 1:30 p.m. found his two passengers unhurt. The crash was blamed on going too fast.

BRUSH IGNITES NEAR WINLOCK HOME

• Firefighters from three surrounding departments joined Lewis County Fire District 15 yesterday afternoon when a brush fire broke out north of Winlock. Crews called about 4:15 p.m. to the area near Tennessee and Nelson roads found grass, trees and blackberry bushes burning and heading toward a home, District 5 Firefighter Maria Kennedy said. “We immediately put a defensive line around the residence,” Kennedy said. District 5 Chief Gregg Peterson, who served as incident commander, said it covered probably less than an acre and two small outbuildings burned. Nobody was hurt, personnel from the state Department of Natural Resources took over and will be determining the cause, Peterson said.

MISSING GUN FOUND

• Centralia police recovered a firearm stolen in Everett during a traffic stop at Cherry Street and Tower Avenue late yesterday afternoon. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 38-year-old Kelso woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine last night after contact with an officer about 9 p.m. at Main and Yew streets in Centralia. Lisa M. Cahoon was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants driving under the influence; responses for misdemeanor assault … and more.

Updated at 6:29 p.m.

FIRE IN CENTRALIA’S INDUSTRIAL PARK

• Five engines and a ladder truck responded when a fire broke out at Sierra Pacific in Centralia this morning. The fire was in a building connected to the structure that holds the sawmill’s boiler, a ways away from where they do the milling, according to Riverside Fire Authority. The 9:23 a.m. alarm activation at  the 3100 block of Kuper Road in the Port of Centralia’s industrial park off Harrison Avenue drew crews from Chehalis and Rochester as well, Capt. Terry Ternan said. “They opened up the wall, shut the power off and extinguished the fire,” Ternan said. There was a little bit of extension into the ceiling and firefighters were on the scene about two hours, he said. Ternan didn’t know the cause but described the damage to the smaller building as significant. “Not a lot of dollar loss, but a lot of cleanup,” he said. Employees on the scene got on the cleanup while firefighters were there, he said.

RANDLE RESIDENTIAL FIRE RULED ACCIDENTAL

• A fire investigator found wiring had shorted out in the back of an old stove, sparking a fire on the 100 block of Kiona Road in Randle yesterday morning. No one had been there for a few days, Fire Investigator Jay Birley said this morning. The fire damage to the double-wide mobile home was primarily contained to the kitchen, but left smoke damage throughout, according to Lewis County Fire District 14 Chief Jeff Jaques.

FUNNY MONEY

• Centralia police were called yesterday morning to a store on the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue that had taken in two fake $100 bills.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence; responses for hit and run, collision on city street … and more.

Updated at 6:12 p.m.

ACRE OF BRUSH IN NORTH CENTRALIA BURNS

• Members of Riverside Fire Authority spent the better part of five hours today extinguishing a fire on property next to the abandoned Centralia Plywood Mill at the north end of town. Crews were called about 10 a.m. to the area where Central Boulevard dead ends after they began to get calls about a large amount of thick black smoke, Chief Mike Kytta said. “We did find fire in vegetation, so it was in grass, brush and some trees,” he said. “It spread out over about one acre.” The chief said they had reason to suspect it may have been burning all night, as they found deeply charred logs. The smoke began when the rubber on old conveyors and tires laying around ignited, he said. They were joined by an engine from Chehalis. Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Rick Mack is looking into the cause, he said. The area is overgrown with berry vines, and not really frequented, he said. Representatives of the property owners, Jorgensen Timber LLC, were bringing in an excavator and planned to sit on it and watching for spot fires, according to Kytta.

RANDLE HOME CATCHES FIRE

• Firefighters responded about 9 o’clock this morning to a fire in a double wide mobile home in Randle that appeared accidental, according to Lewis County Fire District 14. Chief Jeff Jaques said nobody was home at the time at the residence on the 100 block of Kiona Road. “There was fire damage to the kitchen but there was smoke damage throughout,” Jaques said. It was extinguished by 11 members of the fire departments in Randle and Glenoma. The cause is being looked into by a fire investigator, he said.

ASSAULT

• Police were called to the emergency room at Providence Centralia Hospital about 5:10 a.m. today after a patient allegedly punched a nurse in the face. Further details were not readily available.

THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 4:20 p.m. yesterday to the 1600 block of Johnson Road regarding the theft of jewelry.

• Chehalis police were contacted yesterday about a compound bow missing from Northwest Middle Street.

DRUGS

• A 22-year-old woman was arrested yesterday in Chehalis for alleged possession of heroin in connection with a search of a vehicle discovered unoccupied after a short police pursuit early last week. Sarah J. Branam, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police arrested two underage males yesterday evening for possession of marijuana at the 1200 block of Woodland Avenue. Grant T. Brandt, 20, of Centralia, and Dakota J. Tryon, 18 of Olympia, were cited and then released according to the Centralia Police Department.

DOG FIGHT

• An Onalaska pet already labeled a potentially dangerous dog from a June incident is in trouble again after allegedly fighting with a neighbor dog and biting the neighbor who tried to break it up last night. A deputy called to the 500 block of Burnt Ridge Road was told by the 64-year-old man he heard his dog yelping as they walked back from the mailbox, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said he got bit near his thumb and his pet had injuries on its stomach and leg but didn’t note what if any injuries the Pit Bull sustained. Its owner, a 28-year-old Onalaskan, will be getting a citation in the mail, Brown said. The case will also be referred to animal control for review, according to Brown.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, resisting arrest; responses for disputes, misdemeanor theft, violation of protection order; complaint of surly subject in a wheelchair at freeway offramp, woman screaming at children to quit crying in Wal-Mart parking lot … and more.

Updated at 7:08 p.m.

THEFT IN CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 11:25 a.m. yesterday regarding two televisions stolen from the 600 block of Nick Road. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THEFT IN VADER

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports this morning a Vader resident was cited for allegedly restoring his water service himself by cutting a lock after he had been blocked from the service. A deputy responding on Monday to the 500 block of B Street learned that Jason Rayfield benefitted by getting possibly as much as 500 gallons of water, according to the sheriff’s office. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said Rayfield admitted he did it but said he didn’t know it was a crime. He was issued the citation and then released, according to Brown. The loss is estimated at $178, Brown said.

FRAUD OVER THE PHONE

• Chehalis police were contacted yesterday morning regarding a possible telephone scam involving the IRS. Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said the department has been getting a lot of those kinds of reports lately.

ANIMAL SOUNDS EMITTING FROM UTILITY POLE

• Chehalis police were called about 1:10 a.m. today about a power pole making river otter noises for the previous two hours. Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said he had no information on what the officer may have found. The Chehalis Fire Department said it apparently was one of three old emergency speakers around town and public works went out and turned it off, as perhaps its battery was dying.

FROM THE COURTHOUSE

• Benjamin E. Hearn made an Alford plea – not admitting guilt – yesterday to third-degree rape of a child, in connection with allegations of a sexual relationship with a teenage girl. The 35-year-old Curtis resident was arrested in January for events that allegedly began in 2012 involving a 14-year-old friend of his daughter. He was taken into custody yesterday on a no-bail hold until his sentencing, which is scheduled for the morning of Sept. 17 in Lewis County Superior Court, according to court documents. His lawyer David Arcuri has said Hearn faces a year and a day in prison. The standard range for the offense for a defendant with no criminal history is 12 to 14 months.

COLLISIONS

• Troopers were called last night after a Chehalis police car traveling on the 2300 block of Jackson Highway collided with a deer at about 10:20 p.m. Nobody was injured except for the deer and the damage to the vehicle was fairly minor, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• A 45-year-old Onalaska man sustained a possible concussion when he totaled his car on the 800 block of Middle Fork Road at about 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said this morning. Darren S. Carmen was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for driving under the influence and with a suspended license, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

• A 25-year-old Pe Ell woman and a 1-year-old child both suffered possible head injuries when she lost control of her Ford Bronco and rolled it last night on Lost Valley Road in Curtis near milepost four, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy called about 10:45 p.m. was told by the driver she was going too fast down a hill, according to the sheriff’s office. The baby boy had been strapped into a car seat, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. They were both transported to the hospital, she said. The driver was cited for speeds to fast and no insurance, according to Brown.

• Three adults and a 3-month-old infant were hospitalized last night after a three-vehicle wreck on Interstate 5 in Centralia that began with a deer on the roadway. Firefighters called about 10:50 p.m. to the northbound lanes north of the Wal-Mart exit found all lanes were blocked and all victims had gotten out of their cars on their own. Troopers report a couple from Edmonds swerved to avoid the deer, lost control and rolled their four-door Saturn before hitting the center barrier. A 29-year-old woman driving a Ford Focus stopped so she wouldn’t hit them, and a 21-year-old Onalaska resident in another Focus ran into the first Focus, according to the Washington State Patrol. They were all (except for the 29-year-old) transported to Providence Centralia Hospital in stable condition, according to Riverside Fire Authority. According to a hospital spokesperson, treated and released were Dennis M. Campion, 57, Donna J. Jensen, 59, both of Edmonds; and Phaedra S. Witzel, 21, Onalaska. The state patrol described  the baby boy as uninjured.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault; responses for alarm, disputes, misdemeanor theft, hit and run, collisions on city streets, suspicious circumstances; complaint of dog on a walk leaving poop in yard … and more.

MISSING EXCAVATOR TURNS UP IN CENTRALIA

• Two people were arrested in an investigation that wrapped up yesterday involving a stolen excavator recovered on property at the 1400 block of South Schueber Road in Centralia. Deputies learned from the 44-year-old victim in Rochester he got a tip on social media where his missing machine might be and deputies found it on Saturday on property belonging to 52-year-old Terry M. Petrich, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Petrich told deputies that 50-year-old Michal R. Larisch from Rochester brought it there to do some work in exchange for a couple of vehicles, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies concluded Larisch used it for a job on the 3700 block of Cooks Hill Road and his own property, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. Larisch happened to be driving by when deputies were at Petrich’s place and a bucket for the excavator was found in the back of his vehicle, according to Brown. Both men were booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree possession of stolen property and trafficking in stolen property, Brown said. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a truck and trailer which were stolen in Rochester and believed to be used to haul the excavator, which was stolen from a nursery.  The trailer was recovered yesterday and deputies suspect the truck was dismantled and its engine and transmission sold to someone in Oakville, according to Brown. Prosecutors were to release Petrich today without charges, pending further investigation.

BREAK-IN GLENOMA

• A deputy was called yesterday to a burglary at the 8800 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Glenoma in which a resident arrived home to find a bedroom curtain hanging out the window and a screen removed. Unspecified items from the carport and shed were found sitting in the yard but nothing was missing,  according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called about 7 a.m. today about a possible vehicle prowl on South Market Boulevard.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, violation of no-contact order; responses for alarm, disputes, misdemeanor theft, collisions on city streets, suspicious circumstances … and more.