Lewis County Sirens.com

Members of the Chehalis Fire Department tackle multiple grass fires along the freeway. / Courtesy photo

FOUR DEPARTMENTS TO PUT OUT FREEWAY GRASS FIRES

• Chehalis firefighters began getting calls about 4:40 p.m. yesterday of numerous fires along the southbound shoulder of Interstate 5. Firefighter Braxton Traylor said they stretched from about milepost 79 down to milepost 72. Already the closure of the Chamber of Commerce Way overpass changed their response route, according to Traylor. They couldn’t enter the freeway at the 79 interchange, so they headed out Main Street and decided to go south from there, asking Riverside Fire Authority to cover the northern portion, he said. Personnel from Lewis County Fire District 6 and 5 also responded as well to extinguish the burning grass and brush, according to Traylor. The Chehalis Fire Department understood the fires may have been ignited by a motorist dragging a chain or something similar, but Washington State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Will Finn tweeted ” … Tire from semi the cause.” just before 5 p.m. Traylor said it took a couple of hours to get it all put out.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 1:30 a.m. to the 300 block of West Summa Street when the owner of a vehicle came outside as their vehicle was being driven away. It had been left running, according to the Centralia Police Department. However, it was later found, undamaged, in Chehalis, according to police.

ARREST AT FULLERS

• A 26-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for second-degree burglary at the 500 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia at about 7:30 p.m. yesterday. Lucas D. Bryan was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called just before 8 a.m. yesterday about a vehicle prowl at the 100 block of South Diamond Street. Somebody rummaged through the unlocked vehicle but nothing appeared to be missing, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

TRESPASSING

• Centralia police responding to an approximately 10:25 a.m. call yesterday to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue ended up arresting a 45-year-old Chehalis man for trespassing and for obstructing a law enforcement officer. Joshua L. Harris 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, probation violation, malicious mischief, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, suspicious circumstances … and more, among 170 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

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Grass and brush burns next to Interstate 5 in Chehalis. / Courtesy photo

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OUT-OF-CONTROL AT ROCK PIT

• A 24-year-old Centralia resident who smelled of intoxicants was finally detained after he allegedly tried to steal four vehicles early yesterday morning, was found at Sterling Breen Crushing at the 800 block of state Route 507, and yelled at deputies to get out of his way as he tried to back up a truck, but could only spin its tires. Deputies responded about 4:30 a.m. to a 911 hang up call and located a suspect at the rock pit, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said he ignored repeated commands to put show his hands and exit the vehicle. Emmanuel Martinez allegedly had also driven a dump truck over a rock pile and nearly into the water, causing an estimated $2,000 damage, Brown said. Two knives were retrieved from the seat beside him, she said. He was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for vehicle theft, burglary and malicious mischief, she said. Brown said he had also poured gas and oil on vehicles, walls and the floor in his father’s garage.

ELBOW TO FACE

• Chehalis police were called about 11:30 p.m. yesterday to Green Hill School to take a report of a student-inmate allegedly assaulting a staff member. The incident between the 17-year-old boy and a 27-year-old man involved an elbow to the face, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The case is being referred to prosecutors for a possible charge of custodial assault, according to police.

ELDERLY RESIDENT SCAMMED

• A man in his 80s reported to Centralia police yesterday he was contacted by phone and told he’d won prize money, and wired $500 to claim it.

SHED BURGLARY

• Police were called to the 100 block of East Carson Street in Centralia yesterday morning where they were told that sometime during the previous week, someone stole a pressure washer and a trimmer from their shed.

AUTO THEFT

• Chehalis police called at 1:30 p.m. yesterday about an abandoned vehicle at the 200 block of Southwest Sixth Street found it had been stolen. The owner of the Honda Civic came and got it, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Sometime between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. yesterday, a black 1995 Honda Accord vanished from where it had been parked at the 100 block of U.S. Highway 12 south of Chehalis. Its owner said she had left the keys on a spare tire next to the car, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The keys, the car and the tire were all missing, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A 2002 Infinity with a license plate reading AUM 867 was reported stolen at about 7:15 a.m. yesterday from the 500 block of South Pearl Street in Centralia.

VEHICLE PROWL

• An officer was called about 2:40 p.m. yesterday about a car prowl at the 1000 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia. Someone took a wallet from the unlocked vehicle, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called just before 9 a.m. yesterday to the 1500 block of Northwest State Avenue regarding the discovery of damage to a new vehicle, when someone attempted to remove a “lock box,” according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 57-year-old Chehalis woman was uninjured but her 2011 Chevrolet sport utility vehicle sustained major front end damage when she struck a deer on the 2200 block of Pe Ell-McDonald Road at about 5 o’clock yesterday morning.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, probation violation, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, third-degree theft, hit and run, civil issue, suspicious circumstances, barking dog, collision on city street, report of inappropriate touching that occurred more than five years ago  … and more, among 157 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

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Correction: The item involving Green Hill School has been updated to correctly reflect the possible charge.

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Updated at 3:46 p.m.

MAN FINDS STRANGER IN HOUSE ON SEMINARY HILL

• A 29-year-old woman with a gun was arrested after a K-9 track located her talking with a neighbor on a front porch following an interrupted burglary on the 100 block of North Green Street in Centralia yesterday. Police were called at 12:30 p.m. after a resident arrived home to find a female he didn’t know inside his house, but she fled, according to the Centralia Police Department. A police dog with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded and found “articles” allegedly dropped by the intruder and subsequently came upon the suspect, according to the sheriff’s office. A Glock with a loaded magazine was found in her backpack, Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said. Candice R. Baughman, of Rochester, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree burglary, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of methamphetamine, according to Kimsey.

POLICE: UNRULY DRUNK

• A 27-year-old Chehalis man was arrested yesterday evening after police were called to Southeast Dobson Court for a complaint that a person was pounding on other people’s doors. Police responding to the approximately 7:30 p.m. 911 call found a subject who was intoxicated and allegedly threatened bodily harm to the officer, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Michael K. Franz was arrested for harassment to a criminal justice employee and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

THEFT

• An officer was called late yesterday afternoon to the 200 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue in Chehalis where an individual said a parcel containing medication had been delivered but was not actually received.

• Chehalis police were called just after 3 p.m. yesterday for an overnight vehicle prowl on Southwest William Avenue. A handbag with wallet and a shopping bag were stolen, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called at 9:20 a.m. yesterday to the 100 block of Harrison Avenue about the theft of money sometime during the night.

• Chehalis police were called to the 200 block of Southwest 13th Street just before 8 a.m. yesterday for a vehicle prowl that occurred during the night. Missing were two backpacks and a set of head phones, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 68-year-old Curtis man may have fallen asleep before he drove off the side of the 600 block of Boistfort Road and struck a power pole yesterday afternoon, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy called to the scene about 4:10 p.m. found the 2006 Nissan pickup sustained major damage but the driver was uninjured, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, shoplifting, suicidal person, suspicious circumstances, barking dog, collision on city street … and more, among 153 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

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Updated at 3:16 p.m.

PRUNO CONFISCATED

• A 20-year-old inmate is facing a possible criminal charge for allegedly attempting to make jailhouse wine yesterday. A deputy responded over to the Lewis County Jail last night where a sergeant handed over three bottles of suspected “Pruno,” according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Pruno is a concoction inmates sometimes create using leftover food and a fermentation process, according to the sheriff’s office. In this case, the suspect said he used an orange, an apple and some bread that morning, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said. Samples are being sent to the Washington State Crime Lab and if alcohol is detected, he will be charged with possession of a controlled substance by an inmate, Brown said.

BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• A barn on the 3600 block of Cooks Hill Road in Centralia was broken into sometime between Sunday and yesterday, with a variety of property stolen including a small Frigidaire, a 20-gallon hot water heater, a cordless drill and a 50-foot hose, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Also missing is the barn key and a tool box, according to the sheriff’s office.

ANTIQUES LIFTED FROM PARKED CAR

• Centralia police responded to the discovery of a vehicle prowl at 7:45 a.m. yesterday at the 100 block of North Tower Avenue. An officer was told that sometime during the night, someone broke in and stole a bag of jewelry, two Rolex watches and other items the victim was planning to sell at the antique festival, according to the Centralia Police Department.

OTHER THEFT

• An officer was called to a business at the 1500 block of South Gold Street in Centralia yesterday where they took a report of the theft of mail. This case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 3:15 p.m. yesterday when a business on Northwest Louisiana Avenue reported a tall, dark-skinned male with long dark hair stole their tip jar from the counter.

• Centralia police were called about 1:30 p.m. yesterday to the 900 block of South Scheuber Road where the victim reported the theft of $40, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A deputy was called about 5 p.m. yesterday for a single-vehicle collision in East Lewis County about five miles up Forest Service Road 25, in which a passenger suffered an apparent broken arm. The driver, a 59-year-old man from Castle Rock, said he had no recollection of what happened before their 1985 Toyota pickup ran into logs and trees, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. His 63-year-old passenger, also from Castle Rock, said she thought it was a mechanical issue as when the truck began pulling left and he tried to counter-steer, there was no response. They had worked on a steering issue prior to their trip, according to the sherif’s office. The truck was totaled, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

• A 46-year-old Packwood man escaped serious injury when he swerved to miss elk and ran into a utility pole yesterday evening along the 200 block of Cannon Road in Packwood. A deputy responding about 4:35 p.m. found the 2009 Dodge Ram was totaled, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Chehalis police were called about 11:20 a.m. yesterday when a red car in a parking lot on Southwest Pacific Avenue struck a pedestrian and drove off. An officer was told no aid was needed.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, suicidal person, suspicious circumstances, disorderly persons, barking dog, gas drive-off, receipt of fraudulent check … and more, among 150 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

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Updated at 6:14 p.m.

CENTRALIA DRIVER VICTIMIZED BY ROCK THROWER

• A 28-year-old Centralia man was arrested after he was caught parked in a vacant lot off the 900 block of West Main Street in Centralia yesterday, allegedly lobbing rocks the size of baseballs out his sunroof at passing cars. Officers were initially called at 12:30 p.m. about someone tossing rocks at parked cars near the Centralia Outlets and an individual followed him to Main Street, according to the Centralia Police Department. A victim whose windshield he had allegedly broken showed up about the same time as police, Officer Mike Lowrey said. Jonathan Solis-Cuevas denied doing it, but officers found a large pile of rocks next to him inside his car, Lowrey said. After being placed into Lowrey’s patrol car, Solis-Cuevas reportedly kicked out one of its windows. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree malicious mischief.

POLICE: OUT-OF-CONTROL MOM

• Chehalis police were called just before noon yesterday to the second-floor of the Lewis County Law and Justice Center on Main Street where a 31-year-old Chehalis woman allegedly grabbed her 11-year-old child and pushed her against a wall in a corner, leaving redness on her head. The woman left, leaving behind six children, who were ultimately turned over to Child Protective Services, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The suspect, Ladawn B. Jorgenson, then returned and was arrested for fourth-degree domestic assault, according to police. She was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

THEFT, THEFT, THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 8:45 p.m. yesterday to the 2100 block of Haviland Street where a victim business reported a male stole their tip jar off the counter and fled the scene in a small black two door passenger car driven by a female, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 5:20 p.m. yesterday to the 2500 block of Kresky Avenue where they were told sometime that morning someone stole gasoline out of three parked vehicles. Officers are awaiting security video to review, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 2:30 p.m. yesterday by a woman at the 300 block of Southeast Washington Avenue who reported someone used her bank card out of state to steal $10 and then $199. Police are investigating, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called just after 2 p.m. yesterday to the 1900 block of South Gold Street to take a report of the theft of money from the victim’s bank account, allegedly by a family member. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 7:40 p.m. yesterday by a victim from the 100 block of Benjamin Street who reported the theft of his license plate from off of his vehicle sometime over the previous five days. The missing plate reads C12476F, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 11 a.m. yesterday about a vehicle prowl at the 2000 block of Borst Avenue where an identification card and credit cards were taken.

STRANGER IN THE PARK

• Centralia police were called about 3:50 p.m. yesterday to Fort Borst Park on a report that a man tried to lure a 4-year-old girl into his car, spoke to the mother and the man and didn’t establish that a crime occurred. Officer Mike Lowrey said he talked to the mom first and she told him she looked up and the guy was trying to give bubbles to her daughter and he looked somewhat transient. Lowrey said he then talked to the man whose version of what happened was different. “He said suddenly the kid popped up looking in his passenger side window,” Lowrey said, and he asked if she wanted some bubbles. He has indeed been living in his vehicle, saying he’d been in the area about a month, the officer said. It was odd enough to err on the side of writing a report for informational purposes, he said.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police attempted to pull over a driver about 6:20 p.m. yesterday to arrest him for a warrant but he fled the area of the 3000 block of Foron Road and began driving recklessly so he got away, for now, according to the Centralia Police Department. Centralia police say Aaron D. Malone, 27 of Chehalis, was behind the wheel of the silver Hyundai Accent, with a license plate reading AAT 1417. Officers are looking or him, police reported this morning.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving with suspended license, protection order violation, possession of marijuana; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances … and more, among 146 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

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CAMPOUT GOES BAD IN MINERAL

• A deputy on Saturday investigated an assault at the Lion’s Club Campground in Mineral in which a 26-year-old man allegedly broke his friend’s eye socket and left cuts on his scalp by repeatedly hitting him over the head with a folded up lawn chair. It happened around 1 a.m. on Saturday and reported that evening, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The victim, a 26-year-old from Bonney Lake, got stitches at Morton General Hospital and then went to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to get his eye injury treated, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies were unable to locate the suspect, Buck R. Mc Bride, from Carbonado, so are referring a case of second-degree assault to prosecutors, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said this morning.

POLICE: TAKING GRANDFATHER’S BANK CARD

• A 39-year-old Chehalis man was arrested on Friday for allegedly taking his grandpa’s debit cards and using them at multiple locations in Lewis County and Thurston County, racking up $5,842 in losses. Richard L. Dawson and his girlfriend, Melissa A. Alderman, 32, also from Chehalis, were booked into the Lewis County Jail for two counts of second-degree theft and 11 counts of identity theft, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies obtained surveillance images showing purchases as well as withdrawal of money from an ATM, and even more charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continues, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said this morning.

YARD PROWLER

• Centralia police were called to the 100 block of B Street yesterday afternoon where they were told sometime during the night someone entered a backyard and stole a Graco paint sprayer.

BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• Centralia police responded about 5:30 a.m. yesterday to the 1000 block of Caveness Drive and arrested  Joel A. Towne, 36 of Centralia, for second-degree burglary. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police yesterday afternoon located a vehicle stolen several days prior, associated with a location on the 1100 block of South Silver Street.

HEAVY SHOPLIFTING

• Centralia police were called about 5:30 p.m. yesterday to the 1400 block of Lum Road after three individuals entered a store at the Centralia Outlets, stole over $800 worth of merchandise an fled in a silver car with Oregon license plates.

• An 18-year-old Chehalis woman was arrested on Friday and booked into the Lewis County Jail for organized retail theft. Chehalis police say Angela M. Crowe was involved in a shoplifting incident at the Lewis County Mall a few days earlier and has been associated with similar offenses three other times going back to mid-June.

LIGHT SHOPLIFTING

• A 23-year-old Centralia woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine after a shoplifting call to Sears on Friday at the Lewis County Mall. Sabrina L.R. Towne allegedly tried to steal $30 worth of men’s underwear, according to the Chehalis Police Department. When contacted and searched, suspected meth was found, according to police. Towne was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police responded to to a call just before 10 a.m. on Friday to the 2600 block of Howard Avenue where  several residents in the area report thefts of fuel from their vehicles overnight. Three batteries were also stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BAD BILLS

• Centralia police were called to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue just before 6 a.m. today for a counterfeit $100 bill being passed at a business.

• Chehalis police were given a counterfeit $100 bill on Friday they were told was passed at the 1400 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

OUT-OF-CONTROL CAMPFIRE

• Centralia police were called just before noon yesterday to the 800 block of Field Avenue to investigate a reckless burning incident in which an unattended campfire had begun burning a surrounding area.

ANIMAL ABUSE

• Morton police were called just after 2 p.m. yesterday when a woman said she saw a dog in her front yard and then shortly after that saw it in the neighbor’s yard, where a male driver arrived and repeatedly punched the chocolate Labrador and twice picked it up from the ground by its legs, the second time throwing it in the back of a truck. The 911 caller followed the truck to a driveway and police went to check it out but could locate neither the man nor the dog, according to the Morton Police Department.

DEAD BUNNIES

• Morton police are investigating the discovery of several rabbit carcasses left in a dumpster at at the 600 block of Airport Way. An officer called about 4:20 p.m. on Friday concluded it occurred sometime in the previous few hours.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Two people were hospitalized after their Ford Focus tried to make a left turn out of Morton onto U.S. Highway 12 at about noon yesterday and collided with westbound pickup truck pulling a travel trailer. The driver, Rebecca E. Battle, 27, and her passenger, Michael I. Turner, 29, both from Auburn, were transported to Morton General Hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol. Battle was then flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. according to the state patrol. The car was totaled, the investigating trooper reports. The driver of the Doge pickup was reportedly uninjured. He is from Oregon City, Oregon.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting,  misdemeanor domestic assault, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, disorderly person, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, barking dogs, a small baggie of a brown substance found on the ground… and more, among 131 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Flames consume vacant Griel Road house. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 1

ONY HOUSE FALLS VICTIM TO STORED DYNAMITE

• Onalaska area residents may see smoke for a couple of days rising from property along Griel Road after last night’s disposal of old dynamite in a long uninhabited house. Family going through and sorting items inside the structure came across several boxes of old dynamite, according to Lewis County Fire District 1. Fire Chief Andrew Martin said the state patrol came out and concluded the safest way to deal with the explosives was to light that section of the house on fire. Members of neighboring fire districts joined in the effort to burn the building while keeping the surrounding vegetation from igniting, according to Martin. The chief said no explosions occurred because of the dynamite.

AUTO THEFT

• A black 2007 PT Cruiser was stolen out of a locked garage at the 1100 block of South Silver Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 2:40 p.m. yesterday.

SCAMMED ONLINE

• Centralia police were called yesterday afternoon to an address on the 900 block of G Street where a woman reported she’d befriended a male online, that he had sent her checks asking her to cash them and send him the money. The checks were returned as forged, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, probation violation, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving under the influence, third-degree malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, loud party, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances … and more, among 178 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.