Lewis County Sirens.com

CENTRALIA WOMAN WAKES UP TO FIND STRANGER SITTING ON HER BED

• Centralia police are reporting this morning about an incident early yesterday in which a woman and her infant woke up to find a stranger sitting on her bed holding women’s lingerie. Officers called about 1 a.m. Thursday to a residence on the 600 block of North Pearl Street learned the woman remained calm and told the intruder she needed to go into another room, according to the Centralia Police Department. The man allowed her to leave and she fled the home with her baby, according to Officer Paul McCormick. Yesterday afternoon, police arrested a 42-year-old registered sex offender who lives a block away as their suspect, McCormick said. Michael A. Sanders was booked into the Lewis County Jail for residential burglary with sexual motivation. McCormick said it appears the intruder came in through a window.

CLOUD OF DUST DRAWS FIRE DEPARTMENT TO POWER PLANT

• Three men working at TransAlta’s power plant outside Centralia were taken to the hospital yesterday after they began coughing and hacking as they were cleaning a very long ventilation shaft. Firefighters called about 11:45 a.m. to the Big Hanaford Road facility concluded that probably a wind gust stirred up a dust cloud from the shaft causing the irritation. Riverside Fire Authority Chief Jim Walkowski said the workers were checked out and taken to the hospital as a precaution. The incident didn’t activate any of the atmospheric monitoring equipment, Walkowski said.

LOGGING EQUIPMENT DAMAGED FROM LOOSENED OIL DRAIN PLUG

• A deputy was called to a logging site west of Centralia after an equipment operator discovered somebody had loosened the oil drain plug on a Cat 245 logging shovel. The vandalism which occurred sometime between 5 p.m. Monday and 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday caused an estimated  $26,000 damage, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The site is off the 5000 line off Cooks Hill Road and is being worked by a Montesano-based company called Papac Logging, according to Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown. A wrench had also been stolen from another piece of equipment, according to Brown. Brown said this morning it appeared the vandal would have had to have some knowledge of the equipment.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called about 9 a.m. yesterday to Northeast Summit Avenue about a vehicle prowl.

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Sharyn’s Sirens was updated at 10:38 a.m. today Friday Oct. 8, 2010

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CORRECTION: The middle initial of the man arrested for allegedly sneaking into a Centralia home where a woman woke up and found him sitting on her bed is “A”. The news item published earlier today incorrectly gave him a different middle initial.

MAD DAD

• A 50-year-old Centralia man was jailed after he allegedly threatened his 22-year-old daughter with a knife, swung a golf club at her and threw a book at her late last night. Deputies called to the 100 block of Salzer Road east of Centralia arrested Michael W. Kelly for first-degree assault domestic violence. Deputies also found phone lines cut in the kitchen and in a bedroom. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said she didn’t know why Kelly was angry, but said he was reportedly intoxicated. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

THEFT AND NO THEFT

• An officer took a report yesterday afternoon of the theft of musical instruments from the 100 block of South Tower Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police reported nothing was taken in a burglary on the 600 block of North Pearl Street that was reported just before 1 o’clock this morning.

ARRESTED SATURDAY, PLEADS GUILTY BY MID-WEEK

• A Winlock man arrested Saturday night after being chased on his speeding motorcycle by a police officer said he was sorry yesterday and pleaded guilty to attempting to elude. Gerald H. Andersen, 44, went before a judge yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court, accompanied by his lawyer Ken Johnson. The Chehalis attorney said his client accepted responsibility and wanted to move forward. Judge James Lawler asked Andersen if he wanted to address the court before he was sentenced. “Mr. Johnson has already said it,” Andersen replied and then continued. “I apologized to the officer, I apologize to the court and everyone involved.” The judge imposed the agreed recommended sentence of one year and a day in prison.

JOANNA MCKENZIE PLEADS TO ONY BURGLARY

• The Morton woman who was charged with attempted burglary in connection with the night in April when an Onalaska property owner opened fire on her and her husband when he discovered them outside his house has pleaded guilty, her attorney said today. Joanna McKenzie, 32, was set to appear in Lewis County Superior Court today to set a date for her sentencing. McKenzie made an Alford plea – meaning she did not admit guilt but agreed she would likely be found guilty if a decision was based only on the facts alleged by prosecutors – according to Centralia defense attorney J.O. Enbody. Her husband, 56-year-old Thomas McKenzie of Morton, died from a gunshot wound April 19 outside the house on state Route 508. The man who shot him has been charged with first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault.

ELK VERSUS VAN ON STATE ROUTE 507

• A 36-year-old Centralia woman escaped serious injury when her mini van collided with an elk north of Centralia yesterday morning. Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Casey McCarthy said the animal apparently impacted the driver’s side windshield and left moderate damage the length of the driver’s side of the vehicle. It happened about 4 a.m. on state Route 507 near Troy Avenue, according to the Washington State Patrol.  Marcela Lopez, 36, was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital where she was treated and has been released.

VADER MAN HOSPITALIZED AFTER MOTORCYCLE WRECK IN WINLOCK

• A motorcyclist traveling in the wrong lane of South Military Road on a 25 mph curve yesterday nearly struck an oncoming pickup truck and then hit a van following the pickup, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning. The 60-year-old Vader man was taken to St. John Medical Center in Longview with a possible broken right arm and foot, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. It happened about 4:30 p.m. at he intersection at Roth Road, just south of state Route 505 in Winlock, Brown said. The 56-year-old Winlock woman driving the van was reportedly uninjured.

YOUNG TEEN LOCKED UP FOLLOWING SCISSOR THREAT

• A 13-year-old boy who allegedly threatened to stab someone with scissors was arrested for second-degree assault after police went to a Centralia address on the 900 block of Johnson Road Monday afternoon. The boy, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, was booked in to the Lewis County juvenile detention facility.

MALE WITH HEROIN HOSPITALIZED

• Centralia police reported yesterday they found discovered heroin on a male found under the influence and hospitalized following an approximately 4:10 p.m. contact with police on Monday at the 200 block of West Maple Street. Further details were not reported by police.

STOLEN VEHICLE

• Chehalis police reported yesterday an officer took a report of a stolen vehicle from State Avenue the afternoon before.

DRUNKEN SUPER HERO ARRESTED IN CENTRALIA AFTER REPORT OF PROWLER, POLICE SAY

• A man dressed in a green Power Ranger costume was arrested last night in Centralia after police were called about a prowler in a motor home on the 2900 block of Russell Road. When officers arrived after the 11:11 p.m. call, they found Kristopher S. Lummus, 28, standing in the doorway of the RV dressed as a Power Ranger, a children’s cartoon character, with his mask in his hand, according to the Centralia Police Department. Police Sgt. Stacy Denham said the subject was highly intoxicated and said he had been at a party and then friends showed him to this motor home and left him there, so he went inside. Denham said he didn’t know why Lummus was dressed up. “He definitely indicated he didn’t know where he was at at that point in time,” Denham said this morning. The Centralia man was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree criminal trespass.

“HABIT I GUESS”, RUNNING FROM COPS, SUSPECT SAYS

• A motorcyclist speeding through Winlock Saturday escaped temporarily but its driver was found at his home a short while later because the pursuing officer recognized the passenger, according to the Winlock Police Department. An officer went to the suspect’s Rhodes Road home and ended up tackling Gerald H. Andersen after a short foot pursuit toward a wooded area, according to Chief Terry Williams. When asked why he fled, Andersen responded, “Habit, I guess,” the chief said. Williams said the pursuit began just before 6 p.m. at the liquor store and went down Cemetery Road, onto state Route 505 and up Kakela Road at speeds of at least 80 mph. The motorcycle turned east on Nevil and then north on Minkler where the officer lost sight of it, according to Williams. Andersen, 44, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for attempting to elude, according to the chief. The chase followed a complaint of two motorcycles just after 5 p.m. traveling an estimated 100 mph and heading into Chehalis. No arrests were made in Chehalis, according to police there.

METH ARREST

• Centralia police arrested a 53-year-old early this morning possession for methamphetamine and cocaine as well as an outstanding warrant. Cecillia A. Leyva was booked into the Lewis County Jail after a contact with an officer about 3 a.m. at the 300 block of North Railroad Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department.

TWO UNLAWFUL IMPRISONMENT ARRESTS

• Centralia police arrested two men within about an hour of each other early Sunday in two unrelated incidents of unlawful imprisonment and fourth-degree assault domestic violence. Officers were called about 2:20 a.m. on Sunday to the 1000 block of North Schueber Road where a 26-year-old woman had yelled for help out her apartment window after her husband had grabbed her arm and prevented her from leaving a bedroom, according to police. Anthony J. Lynch, 26, of Centralia, was later booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Officer John Panco. Officers called about 1:25 a.m. the same morning to the 400 block of South Silver Street arrested Willie J. Jordan, 24, of Centralia, for unlawful imprisonment and fourth-degree assault domestic violence and booked him into the jail. Panco didn’t have further details on the Silver Street incident.

INTRUDER STEALS ELECTRICAL WIRING AND COPPER PIPE FROM HOME

• Somebody entered an unoccupied Chehalis residence and made off with some of its wiring as well as copper water pipes, according to a report made to police about 5 p.m. on Saturday.

REPORTS OF GUNS IN THE CITY

• Chehalis police were called Southwest Cascade and Fifth avenues on Friday evening after an individual reported somebody in a car “pulled a shotgun” on them. However, the car in question was checked and no weapon was found, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called Sunday evening about kids approaching other kids with a BB gun. The parties were warned they can’t shoot a BB gun inside city limits, according to police.

CAR PROWLS

• Centralia police took a report of a vehicle prowl about 6:15 p.m. on Saturday at the 100 block of West High Street.

• Chehalis police were called Friday evening about an attempted vehicle prowl that occurred at Wal-Mart on the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue while the victim was at work. The door lock was damaged, according to police.

• Police were called just before 4 p.m. on Friday to the 1500 block of North National Avenue about a possible attempted vehicle theft. The ignition was damaged, according to police.

• Chehalis police were called just after 3 p.m. on Friday about a vehicle prowl in which s subject reportedly left a cell phone and tools in a car at the auto shop at Yard Birds mall on the 2100 block of North National Avenue.

STOLEN TRUCK FOUND IN MINERAL

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning a vehicle stolen from a woman in Roy was found on Thursday behind a gate off Mineral Hill Road in Mineral. The 1991 Chevrolet pickup was in the same condition it had been when it was taken, according to the sheriff’s office.

ASSAULT

• A 22-year-old Centralia man was arrested overnight for second-degree assault domestic violence after police responded to the 1100 block of South Pearl Street about 1:30 a.m. David M. Cash was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

HEAD BUTTING AND MORE LAND MAN IN JAIL, POLICE SAY

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported on Thursday they arrested a man on Tuesday for multiple offenses at a Winlock address including reportedly striking a woman with a car door, taking her vehicle twice, hitting her in the head with his head and running his van into her truck. Deputies who responded about 6:30 p.m. to the 100 block of McGlaughlin Road booked Calvin L. Rhodes into the Lewis County Jail for fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, malicious mischief, hit and run and taking a motor vehicle without permission, according to Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown.

DRUGS AND WARRANT

• Centralia police arrested a 37-year-old man for possession of unspecified illegal drugs and an outstanding warrant after a contact yesterday afternoon at Harrison and Belmont avenues. Jeramie L. Zerger of Centralia was into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

PANHANDLING ARREST

• Centralia police arrested a man for alleged aggressive panhandling after he reportedly grabbed the arm of an individual who declined to give him money in downtown Centralia. Benjamin R. Hardy, 34, of Centralia, was arrested for pedestrian interference about 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday after the incident on the 100 block of North Tower Avenue, according to police.

CHEHALIS RETIREMENT HOME REPORTS ANOTHER THEFT

• Chehalis police said on Thursday they responded to a report the day before of about $100 missing from a patients room at a retirement center on  Northwest Quincy Place. On Monday, an officer was called to the same place, Chehalis West Assisted Living, to a report of the theft of $40 from a patients room.

STARVING HORSE SEIZED

• A 30-year-old emaciated horse seized from the Winlock area was in such bad shape it had maggots living in open sores but is expected to make a full recovery, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said a deputy went to the 1700 block of Winlock-Vader Road on Tuesday following a anonymous tip about a starving horse. The animal is being treated at the Lewis County Animal Shelter and the sheriff’s office is investigating a woman in connection with second-degree animal abuse, Brown said yesterday.

COLLISIONS ALL OVER

• A rollover accident on Thursday afternoon at North Pearl and Sixth streets was caused when a westbound driver ran a stop sign and was hit by a southbound vehicle, Centralia police reported yesterday. Occupants of both vehicles reportedly suffered only minor injuries, according to the Centralia Police Department. It was one of four two-vehicle collisions Centralia police responded to on the same day. None resulted in more than minor injuries, according to police.

• Two people were taken to Providence Centralia Hospital after a motorcycle wreck Thursday evening at the 1300 block of North Fork Road east of Chehalis. Lewis County Fire District 6 was called about 7:15 p.m. to the accident about six miles east of Jackson Highway, according to Fire Chief Bud Goodwillie.

• Three individuals were hospitalized after a two-vehicle collision northeast of Winlock on Wednesday night, according to Lewis County Fire District 15. Responders were called just before 10 p.m. to the area at North Military and Antrim roads, according to Firefighter Kevin Anderson. A fourth person declined to be transported, Anderson said.

• A Mossyrock man escaped serious injury when his vehicle was struck in the rear on Interstate 5 just north of Woodland and rolled over. John A. Vawter, 59, suffered neck and back pain after the Thursday morning wreck but was not hospitalized, according to the Washington State Patrol. His 2007 Ford Edge sustained an estimated $6,000 damage, the state patrol reported. The 24-year-old driver from Castle Rock was taken to St. John Medical Center in Longview with possible injuries to his collarbone and foot, according to the responding trooper. He was cited for following too closely. His 2005 Honda was described as totaled.

ATTEMPTED LURING AT CHEHALIS PLAYGROUND

• A 43-year-old man was arrested yesterday after allegedly trying to lure a 5-year-old boy away from Penny Playground in Chehalis. Chehalis police detective Sgt. Rick McNamara said an individual at the park off 13th Street Southwest was uneasy after the man tried to talk to their child and flagged down a passing deputy after the man was then talking with another child. McNamara said William L. Baskett of Centralia asked the boy to go with him to look for something. Baskett was arrested for child luring and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Baskett was released from jail in the afternoon without being charged, pending further investigation.

CHILD HIT BY CAR

• A toddler reportedly escaped any injury after running in front of a passing car and being struck on South Tower Avenue in Centralia yesterday evening. Police and aid were called just after 7:15 p.m. to the area near South Street and found the 2-year-old unhurt, according to authorities. Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Greg Schwartz said the car was traveling very slow and the child apparently didn’t even get knocked over. Centralia police reported the driver was not cited.

MINOR SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT

• Nobody was injured in what was described as a minor accident between a school bus and another vehicle yesterday morning in Centralia. Police and aid were called just after 8 a.m. to Lum Road and West Reynolds Avenue. Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Scott Weinert said responders verified with the children and the driver everyone was okay. Centralia police did not report if any citations were issued.

THEFT AND FRAUD

• Centralia police took a report yesterday evening about a burglary on the 100 block of West First Street in which two gaming consoles were reported stolen.

• Centralia police are investigating a case from yesterday in which a woman received a check in the mail at the 1900 block of Harrison Avenue stating she had won a large sum of money.

• Police were called yesterday to the 100 block of East Carson Street where a woman reported somebody used her credit card she had lost, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ASSAULT IN WINLOCK

• A 42-year-old Winlock man was ordered held on $50,000 bail following his Monday arrest in Winlock for second-degree assault and four lesser charges related to a domestic incident. Defense attorney Bob Schroeter told a judge yesterday afternoon Scott M. Wallin’s situation involved a divorce case. Deputy Prosecutor Colin Hayes said it involved an allegation “he ran his vehicle into her vehicle with her in it.” Wallin is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges tomorrow.

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This was updated on Thursday Sept. 30 at 7:42 a.m.

SUSPECTED STOLEN VEHICLE DRIVER FOUND HIDING NEAR ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL

• The subject of police pursuit yesterday that prompted the lockdown of Rochester High School and the grade schools south of there was a Chehalis man wanted on a Chehalis DUI warrant who was apprehended about 1:15 p.m., according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Richard N. Mayer, 44, was booked into the Thurston County Jail after he was found hiding near a home on the 20,000 block of Carper Road Southwest, adjacent to the high school, sheriff’s Lt. Chris Mealy said this morning. The situation began around 6 a.m. when law enforcement officers from Grays Harbor County and then Thurston County pursued a stolen vehicle along U.S. Highway 12 and into Rochester, Mealy said. The driver ditched the Chevrolet Silverado near the 7400 block of James Road and a police dog tried to track him but he apparently went into the Chehalis River, Mealy said. At about noon, 911 began getting calls, including one of a man seen walking into a wooded area near the primary school’s soccer field. Deputies advised the Rochester Primary School, Grand Mound Elementary School and the high school to lock their doors as a precaution, Mealy said. Mayer was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER “PEEPING TOM” REPORTS IN CHEHALIS

• Chehalis police arrested a 42-year-old man after getting two different reports of a man peering into windows on South Market Boulevard. It happened around 9 p.m. on the 1600 block and the 1800 block, according to detective Sgt. Rick McNamara. Jose N. Gonzalez-Lemus, whose home is listed in Anaheim, Calif, was arrested for criminal trespass, a misdemeanor, McNamara said.

THEFT FROM PATIENT REPORTED AT CHEHALIS RETIREMENT HOME

• Chehalis police were called yesterday home to a retirement center on Northwest Quincy Place to investigate the theft of $40 from a patients room.

PURSE STOLEN FROM PARKED CAR

• The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office reported today they took a report of a vehicle prowl on the 20,100 block of Dakota Court Southwest in Centralia. Somebody took a $220 navigation system from a Honda and also stole a purse containing a checkbook and $132 dollars of tip money, according to sheriff’s Lt. Chris Mealy. It happened late on Sept. 19 or early the following morning. The victim said her car may have been left unlocked, he said.

SCAM REPORTED IN CENTRALIA

• Centralia police are warning the public about a scam they say has reached the local area. Basically, according to police, if a person ever receives a check in the mail they are asked to deposit and then return some amount of money back to the sender: it is a scam. The recent case involves a letter congratulating the potential fraud victim for being chosen to pose as a customer service evaluator at selected stores, according to a news release. The target is asked to deposit the enclosed check, conduct certain purchases and then return the leftover money via Western Union, according to police. Anyone who receives such a letter is asked to call their police department and advised not to cash the check.

TARGET OF CHILD SEX STING GETS MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON

• A 24-year-old Tumwater man caught in a sting operation in which he thought he was meeting a mother and her 13-year-old daughter for a sexual encounter but was instead met by waiting Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detectives, was sentenced this morning to a minimum of seven and a half years in prison. Michael J. Eplett will be subject to supervision by the state Department of Corrections for the rest of his life following his sentencing in  Lewis County Superior Court for second-degree attempted rape of a child, according to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office. Eplett was charged in May and in August, a jury returned a guilty verdict in just nine minutes. As part of his sentence, Eplett must get a sexual deviancy evaluation, submit to the recommended treatment and may not access the Internet, according to a news release.