Lewis County Sirens.com

Suspect exits Wal-Mart following high-dollar theft.

MAN GRABS JEWELRY FROM DISPLAY CASE

• Police are on the lookout for a thief who has targeted the jewelry department at Wal-Mart in Chehalis, making off with an estimated more than $3,400 of earrings and other valuables. He’s described as a heavy-set male and an image captured by store security video is being distributed by Crime Stoppers of Lewis County in hopes someone might recognize him. It was about 5:35 a.m. on Feb. 2 when he entered the store on Northwest Louisiana Avenue, approached a countertop spinnable display case and used a tool to break the lock and steal the merchandise, according to Crime Stoppers. Authorities say he was picked up and dropped off by taxi at the Pepper Tree Motel in Centralia. The same subject is believed to have committed the same crime at the same place the day before. Crime Stoppers asks anyone with information about the location of the property or the identity of the person responsible to contact them.  Crime Stoppers pays up to $1,000 for information leading to the clearance of crimes. Anonymous calls can be made to 1-800-748-6422 or information may be shared online at www.lewiscountycrimestoppers.org

AUTO THEFT

• Police took a report last night of a 1995 Nissan Maxima stolen from the 100 block of Virginia Drive in Centralia. The four-door car is described by the Centralia Police Department as gray, almost black, with zebra-striped heart stickers in the back window. It has a license plate reading AOU 3246, according to police.

• Centralia police took a report about 1:30 p.m. yesterday of a vehicle stolen from the 1000 block of Scammon Creek Road which was subsequently located in an unspecified area “out in the county.”

CAR PROWL

• A purse was stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked at the 1300 block of Lum Road in Centralia, according to a  report made to police about 6:25 p.m. yesterday.

DRUG INVESTIGATION

• Centralia police say they located methamphetamine when arresting Jacob R. Woods, 39, for an outstanding warrant about 7:30 p.m. yesterday at the 1200 block of Alder Street. The Chehalis resident was booked into the Lewis County Jail for the warrant, but officers continue to investigate the drug aspect of the case, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BENEFIT FOR THEFT VICTIM IS TONIGHT

• Tickets to the annual crab feed hosted by the Tenino area fire department are among the auction items donated for tonight’s event to benefit stone carver Keith Phillips whose livelihood was threatened when his tools were taken in a burglary. The dinner is set to take place at the Tenino Eagles at 349 Sussex Ave. W. from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

AND MORE

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

POSSIBLE THIEF SCARED AWAY

• Deputies and a police dog responded about 5:10 p.m. yesterday to the 100 block of Belleville Road west of Chehalis when a resident headed to his shop to check on his cats discovered an individual trying to break in to the building. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said the dark-haired male in his late teens or early 20s was “pulling and prying” on the shop, trying to make entry, but ran off into the woods when he saw the victim. The dog track was unsuccessful, Brown said.

FIREARMS STOLEN

• Someone broke into a home on the 300 block of Cinebar Road between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. yesterday stealing two rifles, a red toolbox and other valuables, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said the front door was forced open and the victim is still compiling a list of property that was taken. The sheriff’s office has suspects, as a witness saw a vehicle leaving with two subjects in it, Brown said.

OTHER THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 5 p.m. yesterday to the 100 block of West Pear Street about a theft in which tires stored in a basement were missing.

• A Centralia police officer took a report yesterday of someone stealing an ashtray from a backyard on the 700 block of West Chestnut Street.

DRUGS

• He said it was’t his, and it was sea salt used for cooking, however, an officer concluded 38-year-old Jamey R. Smith, of Chehalis, would be arrested for possession of methamphetamine. The arrest took place around 10 p.m. on Wednesday after police were called about a couple arguing at the 300 block of Southwest Third Street in Chehalis, according to police. Smith was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

ARMED ROBBERY IN TENINO

• The Olympian reports The Whistle Stop Grocery at the 12000 block of Old Highway 99 in Tenino was robbed at gunpoint around 8 p.m. yesterday. Nobody was hurt and a track with a police dog failed to locate a suspect, according to news reporter Jeremy Pawloski.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as responses for protection order violation, disorderly person, collisions on city streets, a male grabbing a female’s butt as she walked by … and more.

KNIFE SCARE

• A 30-year-old man from White Swan was arrested at a gas station in Centralia yesterday after his passenger told a clerk he’d pulled out a knife and threatened to cut her as they traveled down Interstate 5. Police responding about 10:30 a.m. to the Chevron on the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue arrested Nathan L. Roy at gunpoint and booked him into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree assault. Sgt. Kurt Reichert said the two acquaintances were on their way home from up north and he was apparently unhappy she’d missed the exit to Interstate 90 in Seattle. When she mentioned it to the clerk, the clerk asked if she’d like police called and she said yes, Reichert said. There were two children with them in the store when officers arrived, he said.

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

• A 38-year-old woman reported to police yesterday afternoon that her husband assaulted her last Wednesday at their home in Centralia. The investigation continues, according to the Centralia Police Department.

UNHAPPY CUSTOMER ESCORTED OUT

• A 33-year-old Chehalis woman was arrested and jailed for disorderly conduct after an incident yesterday at a restaurant in Napavine over her order. Deputies called just before 2 p.m. to the Plaza Jalisco at the 100 block of Birch Street Southwest were told she’d ordered food to go, but was dissatisfied was given a refund. The sheriff’s office says Calee F. Anderson however began yelling and refused to leave. Deputies escorted her out and booked her into the Lewis County Jail, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

CIGAR OFFERS CLUE

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports this morning that two teen suspects from a Monday night burglary at a gas station in Packwood were arrested Tuesday evening, when a deputy contacted a pair of 16-year-old boys at Blanton’s Market. Someone broke a window at the 12000 block of U.S. Highway 12 about 10:30 p.m. and stole packs of Swisher Sweets cigars, business cards and a magnifying glass, according to the sheriff’s office. When a deputy contacted them, one of them had a Swisher Sweets cigar sticking out of his pocket, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. They were booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center, Brown said. They are from Ocean Park and Ilwaco, she said.

VEHICLE ACCIDENT

• A 56-year-old Winlock man was hospitalized yesterday after he exited a moving vehicle on the 300 block of Drews Prairie Road in Toledo. Aid and deputies called about 4:20 p.m. found he had a head injury and he was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital. Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said he was on medication and apparently thought they had arrived at their location. “I don’t know if he stepped out, or jumped out, but he opened the door and got out of a moving vehicle,” Brown said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for shoplifting; responses for alarm, misdemeanor assault, family dispute, suspicious circumstances, a strange dog jumping into the back of someone’s pickup truck … and more.

Updated at 7:52 p.m.

MAN PUNCHED IN FACE, SUSTAINS SERIOUS INJURY

• A 26-year-old Centralia man is hospitalized with a possible broken eye socket and another man is jailed after an assault last night at the 1700 block of Big Hanaford Road outside Centralia. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded about 9 p.m. to a dispute involving the pair as well as two women, ages 21 an 25. The disagreement was over a relationship and possible infidelity, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. The sheriff’s office concluded Michael Thorson, 34, from Bucoda, punched the victim; he was picked up a few hours later at his residence, according to Brown. Thorson was booked into the Lewis County jail for second-degree assault and felony harassment, Brown said. She indicated the victim was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Thorson was released today from the jail with no charges filed, pending further investigation.

MAN ARRESTED FOR “SPANKING” CHILD WITH CORD

• A 23-year-old Centralia man was interviewed and subsequently arrested yesterday for third-degree child assault in connection with an incident late last week in which the daughter of his significant other was left with bruises and marks on her bottom and legs from punishment administered with a cord, according to the Centralia Police Department. The incident and injuries to the pre-school aged girl were reported late Thursday night from the 100 block of Virginia Drive, according to police. Mario Vasquez was booked into the jail the following day for unspecified reasons, according to police. “It’s not spanking when you do it with a cord,” Sgt. Kurt Reichert said.

REMODEL NIGHTMARE

• Centralia police were called about 1 p.m. yesterday to a house being renovated on the 2800 block of Russell Road where someone had stolen copper plumbing pipes from beneath the structure.

THEFT

• Someone stole packages from the front of a home on the 100 block of F Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police yesterday morning.

VEGETABLES CASUALTY OF HIGHWAY WRECK

• The driver wasn’t injured but lost some of his load of corn when a semi truck landed on it side along state Route 6 west of Chehalis yesterday morning. Aid called about 7:10 a.m. to the scene found the westbound truck in the ditch, near Curtis Hill Road according to Lewis County Fire District 6. It was a slow speed incident, the vegetables spilled onto a field and the driver declined aid, Chief Tim Kinder said. The Washington State Patrol cited Jerry D. Foster, 51, of Curtis, for defective brakes and blamed the incident on inattention as Foster had tried to stop  his 1991 Freightliner for another vehicle on the roadway.

COLLISION AND HEART ATTACK

• A 62-year-old Winlock man was hospitalized after a wreck last night on Interstate 5 at Napavine in which responders found him in cardiac arrest.  Troopers and aid called about 11 p.m. to the northbound lanes near milepost 72 found John R. Boyer’s pickup truck had run into the left hand concrete barrier after striking the guard rail on the other side of the freeway, according to the Washington State Patrol. Firefighters from Lewis County Fire District 5, who had to force open one of the doors, conducted CPR and were able to get him back, Firefighter Brad Bozarth said. Boyer was taken by ambulance to Providence Centralia Hospital and then transferred to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, the state patrol reports. He did have minor injuries from the collision, Bozarth said. The Ford Ranger truck was described as totaled. A hospital spokesperson said this afternoon that Boyer passed away; enroute to the Olympia hospital, according to the state patrol.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with suspended license; responses for suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor theft, collisions on city streets; complaint of loud music … and more.

Updated at 6:18 p.m.

WHEN DOGS ATTACK

• Chehalis police were called about 11 a.m. yesterday to the area of Southwest 19th Street and Snively Avenue when a citizen saw a dog run into a yard and then come running back out with a cat in its mouth. The cat died. Because nobody witnessed exactly what occurred, the owner was issued a citation only for dog at large, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Its owner and the owner of the mixed-breed canine were working the cat issue out between themselves, detective Sgt. Gary Wilson said.

• A 59-year-old woman taking a walk along the 700 block of Eadon Road outside Toledo yesterday was knocked down and bit in the forearm by a yellow lab, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Its owner was cited for “dog at large”, was advised to quarantine the pet for 10 days and the incident is being referred to the code enforcement department, according to the sheriff’s office. The victim, who had been carrying flowers to a neighbor, declined aid, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

OUT OF CONTROL

• A 58-year-old Centralia man was subdued by a Taser after he reportedly told deputies to just shoot him when they arrived to a dispute at the 300 block of Haliday Road last night. Deputies subsequently learned he had thrown a phone at a 57-year-old woman, causing her duck and breaking a mirror, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Rickey A. Francis was in his truck when law enforcement arrived, and drove toward them causing them to take evasive action to avoid being hit, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. Brown said Francis was yelling and making obscene gestures and at one point he drove around the back of the residence, and then drove toward deputies again, causing them to take cover behind their vehicles, but was finally taken into custody. Francis was taken to to Providence Centralia Hospital so blood could be taken to check for intoxicants, according to Brown. He was booked for fourth-degree assault and malicious mischief and possibly faces another count, of driving under the influence, Brown said.

NEW BURGLARIES

• A deputy responding yesterday to the 100 block of Salkum Road learned someone broke into a shed and a home and stole an estimated $2,000 to $3,000 worth of valuables including  two security systems and 10 bags of aluminum cans. Among the other items taken sometime between Friday and yesterday were computers, numerous flooring tools and other tools according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A deputy called yesterday to the 300 block of Chandler Road west of Chehalis learned someone entered the shop area of the Hoffman Cedar Products mill and stole items including a blue bucket of tools, some of which feature the initials JM welded onto them. It happened sometime between 11 a.m. on Saturday and 7:30 a.m. yesterday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Someone stole 50 gallons of diesel fuel, a car stereo, a camera, tools and other items from a logging site off Johnson Road in Onalaska sometime between 3 p.m. on Friday and 6 o’clock yesterday morning, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is almost $3,000, according to the sheriff’s office.

OLD BURGLARIES

• A DNA match from dried blood left on a power cord at a Centralia burglary scene a year ago led to the arrest yesterday of a 28-year-old woman, according to the Centralia Police Department. An off-duty officer spotted Jobie K. Watson and caught up to her on Chamber of Commerce Way in Chehalis; she was taken into custody, according to police. Sgt. Kurt Reichert said in mid-March of last year, someone stole items including a cell phone, computer, jewelry and a car from a home on the 900 block of Ham Hill Road in Centralia.

• Centralia police arrested a 38-year-old woman at the 1300 block of Windsor Avenue yesterday for first-degree assault in connection with an incident earlier this month in which a subject was nearly run down by an escaping vehicle after he interrupted a morning burglary at the 500 block of Hillkress Street in Centralia. It was on March 6 when he saw a female carrying items out his back door and she got into the vehicle with another female and fled, according to the Centralia Police Department. Sgt. Kurt Reichert said Susan L. Ward, from Rochester, was booked into the Lewis County Jail also for burglary.

BULLET MARK FOUND ON VEHICLE

• Centralia police were called about 8:30 a.m. yesterday to the 600 block of South Pearl Street in Centralia where a vehicle showed showed damage apparently from a gunshot. Sgt. Kurt Reichert said it appeared to have glanced off, having struck with some velocity. The report didn’t indicate any reason from the owner as to why anyone would shoot the vehicle, Reichert said.

SEX OFFENDER REGISTERING ADDRESS IS ARRESTED FOR FAILING TO REGISTER

• A 33-year-old homeless man who is a registered sex offender went to the sheriff’s office yesterday to turn in his “transient log” – of places he had been staying in the recent week – and was arrested for a warrant which had been issued for failing to register, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The new arrest was because he failed to notify the sheriff’s office when he previously left the county, according to Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown. James D. Sutherland was booked into the Lewis County Jail, Brown said.

DRUGS

• A 29-year-old Chehalis woman was arrested for possession of a little bit of suspected methamphetamine after a traffic stop of a vehicle in which she was a passenger yesterday evening. It was about 6:45 p.m. at North National Avenue and Northeast Coal Creek Road and the officer learned Natasha A. Moore was wanted on a warrant from the state Department of Corrections, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Moore was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• A 22-year-old inmate at the Lewis County Jail was arrested overnight for a drug violation after corrections officers, acting on a tip, found five pills rolled up in a sock in her cell. Darcie N. Negrete, of Centralia, has been in custody since Friday, brought there by community corrections officers in connection with a drug violation, according to the sheriff’s office. Charges are not being filed, pending further investigation.

LOGGING DEATH INQUIRY CONTINUES

• The state Labor and Industries investigating last week’s deadly logging incident in Salkum reports the victim was working for TJB Enterprises Inc. of Winlock. John B. Leonard, 69, was struck by a large limb early last Thursday morning as he and a second individual cut timber on property just north of the 2200 block of U.S. Highway 12. L and I spokesperson Elaine Fischer indicated yesterday she expects the death will be under investigation for “quite awhile.”

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for misdemeanor assault, protection order violation; responses for alarm, suspicious circumstances, possible DUI, collisions on city streets, concerns of a suicidal family member, concerns about a friend not seen for days, a 15-year-old boy found passed out drunk, a person with a “food” wanted sign found passed out in front of a building … and more.

BAREFOOT BANDIT

• Centralia police were called yesterday about 4:20 p.m. when a barefooted man running away from the hospital was seen going through the garage door of a home in the area. Its occupants were not home, but officers arriving to the 1600 block of West Mellen Street found Benjamine D. Winebrenner, 23, in the kitchen and in his pockets were jewelry, money and other items that belonged to the residents, according to the Centralia Police Department. The home belonged to one of his relatives, but he didn’t have permission to be there, Sgt. Kurt Reichert said. The incident followed a call to the hospital about a disorderly person believed to be intoxicated and believed to be Winebrenner, Reichert said. Weinbrenner was arrested for burglary and theft and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

THEFT FROM MUSEUM

• Police were called just after 6 p.m. on Saturday to the Lewis County Historical Museum on Northwest Front Street where someone had broken into an outdoor storage shed. The report said “metal” was taken, according to the Chehalis Police Department. There was no mention of any artifacts getting stolen, detective Sgt. Gary Wilson said.

VEHICLE THEFT

• A shopper at K-Mart in Chehalis on Saturday returned to the parking lot to find her van missing. An officer responding about 11:50 a.m. to the 1200 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue learned the woman may have dropped the keys to her green 2001 Ford Windstar, according to the the Chehalis Police Department.

OTHER THEFT

• Centralia police took a report yesterday morning of a wallet being stolen from a home on the 500 block of Davis Street.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Police were called just before 3 p.m. yesterday to the 200 block of North Market Boulevard in Chehalis where someone had prowled a car as it was parked in its garage. The garage door had been open. The window was broken out of the locked vehicle, according to police.

CRASH VICTIM RECOVERING

• The Centralia woman injured in a two-vehicle collision on Friday night in Rochester is listed in satisfactory condition this morning at a Seattle hospital. Brittny S. Canfield, 20, and Samuel J. Canfield, 22, of Centralia, were transported to Harborview Medical Center following an 8:40 p.m. wreck on U.S. Highway 12 west of Grand Mound. A hospital spokesperson indicates she didn’t have information on the condition of Samuel J. Canfield, which sometimes occurs when a patient chooses to keep their information, even their presence at the facility, confidential. Two others injured were taken to Providence Centralia Hospital where they were treated and released.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, violation of no-contact orders; responses for misdemeanor theft, possible fraud, suspicious circumstances, vandalism, collision in city streets, noisy teenagers walking the streets, someone seen digging through a dumpster … and more.

SUSPECTED PROWLER RESCUED FROM ROOFTOP

• Firefighters were called about 3:30 a.m. yesterday to help police remove a suspected burglar from atop the steep pitched roof of a two-story house in Centralia. Police responding a few minutes to the 100 block of North Oak Street earlier say the 32-year-old man was attempting to break into the home and had broken a window. Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Casey McCarthy said the crew brought ladders and assisted in coaxing the somewhat uncooperative man down. He was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital for possible hypothermia, as it was raining and cold and they didn’t know how long he’d been up there, McCarthy said. Justin S. Hill, 32, from Seattle, was then booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree burglary, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DOMESTIC CAR THEFT

• A 43-year-old man was arrested by Centralia police yesterday after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend and took her car by force knowing he does not have a driver’s license. Police responding about 2:30 p.m. in connection with the 1200 block of Mellen Street and booked Billy D. Powell into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree robbery, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS AND THREAT

• A 22-year-old Chehalis man is in the Lewis County Jail booked for second-degree burglary after an incident at the 400 block of South Pearl Street on Friday night in which he allegedly entered a home and threatened its occupants. Police responding about 10 p.m. located Cole E. Taylor at another residence nearby, according to the Centralia Police Department. He was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine, according to police.

MISSING MEDS

• Police were called about 12:45 p.m. yesterday to a report of medication stolen from a motel room at the 1200 block of Alder Street in Centralia. The victim named a possible suspect, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police took a report on Friday of two windows being shot out a rental property with a BB gun on the 1200 block of B Street.

FIRE HYDRANTS WILL BE INTENTIONALLY LEAKING

• Beginning tomorrow, if you see fire hydrants around Centralia spouting large amounts of water, stay clear. Workers will be flushing water lines to remove sediment from the mains and introduce fresh water to dead end lines, according to the city water department. The process requires water to be expelled from the hydrants in large quantities at high velocities, according to the city. They say the flushing could continue for approximately three weeks. According to a news release, households may want to do laundry or perform other water-using activated before 7:30 a.m. and after 5 p.m. to avoid times when the water quality may be disturbed – or at least check their water supply first. To find out when your neighborhood will be affected, call 360-330-7512.

COLLISION

• A 29-year-old motorist was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital after a single-vehicle wreck last night on Interstate 5 in Centralia blamed on distracted driving. Troopers called about 11 p.m. to the Harrison Avenue interchange indicate she was southbound and lost control of her car, struck a barrier on her right and then traveled down an embankment across the exit coming to rest in the ditch. Amber S. Hartdegen, from Tacoma, was not wearing a seatbelt and sustained unspecified injuries, according to the Washington State Patrol. Her 2001 Pontiac Aztek was described as totaled. The investigating trooper reports she was distracted by “items” inside her vehicle.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor domestic assault … and more.