Lewis County Sirens.com

Police apprehend a man who ran off from them at the AM/PM gas station on 13th Street in Chehalis. / Courtesy photo by Angie Denney

Updated

MAN FLEES POLICE, ONTO FREEWAY

• Traffic came to a halt as police chased a detainee who slipped away from them at a gas station on 13th Street in Chehalis and ran onto Interstate 5 crossing nearly to the opposite shoulder before he was taken into custody yesterday. It began about 10:20 a.m. when Chehalis police got a call from Green Hill School giving them a heads up about an employee acting strangely and being made to leave the juvenile detention facility, according to police. Less than an hour later, a 911 caller said the man was behind the counter at the AM/PM across the street and wouldn’t leave, according to Sgt. Rick McNamara. The approximately 6-foot 7-inch tall individual was acting as though he worked there and was scaring people, Sgt. Gary Wilson said. Arriving officers attempted to Tase him, but he jumped over the counter and ran off, police said. He headed northbound on foot, crossed the center barrier and was trying to stop cars. “He was non-compliant and not completely with it,” Wilson said. Finally, as an officer pointed a bean bag shotgun at him in the center of the freeway, he did what he was told, according to Wilson. Wellington M. Waggener, 24, of Centralia, was taken to the hospital to be cleared and then was booked into the Lewis County Jail for obstructing and resisting arrest, according to police.

TRUCK SWITCH INVESTIGATED

• Centralia police took a report yesterday afternoon of a blue 2003 Ford F-350 pickup stolen from where it was parked on Caveness near the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue. Nearby, they found an abandoned white Ford pickup which turned out to be stolen from Portland, Ore., leading them to suspect a connection, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, misdemeanor assault; responses for collision, protection order violation, possible burglary and misdemeanor theft including a three-wheeled, pedal-powered Green Machine from a yard on the 300 block of Wilding Street in Centralia  … and more.

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CORRECTION: The item about the 24-year-old man chased onto the freeway has been updated to reflect the correct timing of events.

Updated at 10:40 a.m.

CAT SURVIVES TWO-STORY FALL DOWN CHIMNEY

• The sound of prancing and pawing on the roof was not reindeer and the one dressed all in fur from his head to his foot who dropped down the chimney was not Santa. Firefighters were called yesterday afternoon to a two-story house on the 300 block of South Gold Street in Centralia, asked to help remove a family pet from inside a chimney. “I was a little hesitant because it was kind of out of the scope of what we normally do,” Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Scott Snyder said. But after talking with the young woman, he knew they could probably help, he said this morning. On Christmas Day, they heard meowing inside the flu, Snyder said. The cat apparently sleeps on top of the chimney and had fallen about 25 feet, he said. The teenage owner of the 9-year-old kitty was ready for them to tear apart the fireplace and chimney, but it was hand built with river rock and volcanic rock, and was something that could not easily be repaired, according to Snyder. “We did a little detective work, dismantled the propane heater fireplace insert, removed some flashing and fished the cat out,” he said. The feline had been resting on a shelf inside the flu, miraculously keeping warm but not succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning as the heater had been run, according to Snyder. The cat was a little sooty, a little scared, but otherwise fine, Snyder said. “He managed to come out in pretty good condition,” he said. “That family was very happy.”

THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 10:30 a.m. yesterday to the parking lot of a motel on the 1000 block of Eckerson Road following the discovery someone had broken into a Schwan’s frozen food delivery truck. The prowler had forced open the doors and left with $300 worth of product, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 6-foot by 10-foot utility trailer was reported stolen yesterday from the 800 block of E Street in Centralia.

• Police took a report about 6:30 p.m. from the 100 block of Benjamin Street in Centralia regarding a package containing gifts which had been stolen off a porch.

DRUGS

• A 23-year-old Centralia man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant following contact with an officer about 10:40 p.m. yesterday at the 800 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department. Jacob D. Holmgren was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

PEDESTRIAN HIT ON FREEWAY NEAR VADER

• A Longview man is listed in good condition after he was struck by a van on Interstate 5 near Vader this morning. Troopers called about 7:10 a.m. to the area near milepost 58 report a 31-year-old Winlock man driving a 2005 Ford work van southbound moved to the right when he saw the pedestrian come out from the center median area. The pedestrian ran to the westside ditch and then back into the lane where he was hit, according to the Washington State Patrol. John R. Church, 38, of Longview, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the state patrol. The investigating trooper reports it’s unknown if drugs or alcohol may have been involved. No citation or charges are expected for the driver.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for collisions … and more.

CAR STOLEN FROM U.S. TREASURY STOPPED IN CHEHALIS

• Police descended upon the Chehalis Industrial Park area last night after a teenager fled a stolen car pulled over on Interstate 5. Trooper Tara Hicks said it was around 6:20 p.m. when she stopped the northbound vehicle near milepost 73 for failing to keep right except for passing. There were four occupants, but one of them ran away, according to Hicks. A Chehalis police dog and its partner subsequently located the 18-year-old suspect – from Antioch, Calif. – in the area of Jackson Highway and Rush Road, police said. He was taken to the hospital to be treated and was booked into the Lewis County Jail along with two others. A juvenile male was booked at the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center. Hicks said the 2007 Buick Lucerne belonged to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and was listed stolen out of Pittburg, Calif. Prosecutors declined to file charges and the three adults were scheduled to be released from jail this afternoon. Hicks said the investigation is ongoing.

DRUGS

• A 33-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant following contact with an officer about 5 o’clock this morning at the 600 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department. Jesse T. Anderson was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Centralia police took a report yesterday from the 1400 block of Logan Street regarding a car prowl that occurred sometime during the night on Monday. A purse was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Someone poured antifreeze into the gas tank of a car at the 100 block of Mayfield Court near Mossyrock sometime between 5:30 p.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. yesterday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The damage is estimated at $4,000, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Someone broke out the rear window of a car at the 1800 block of North Pearl Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police yesterday morning.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, disorderliness, protection order violation, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances … and more.

Updated at 11:43 a.m.

DOG TRACK AT DRYAD PARK LEADS TO ARREST

• Deputies set up containment around Rainbow Falls State Park west of Chehalis on Tuesday evening while a police dog searched for an individual apparently attempting to avoid being picked up on a warrant from the state Department of Corrections. Centralia Police Department K-9 Kayo located Jamie L. McCarty hiding behind a tree, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning. The 27-year-old Chehalis resident was taken to the hospital to be treated for what the sheriff’s office described as a minor bite on both of his legs before he was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Cmdr. Steve Aust. It began around 6 p.m. when deputies went looking for McCarty at a residence on the 600 block of Leudinghaus Road in Dryad with a warrant and then observed a vehicle associated with him pass by, which they caught up with at the entrance to the park, Aust said. The passenger exited and ran, but was caught; the driver, Jennifer R. Purcell, 20, of Chehalis, was arrested and booked for rendering criminal assistance, according to the sheriff’s office. McCarty was additionally booked for resisting arrest, Aust said.

BURGLARY IN RANDLE

• Sometime between 6:45 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. on Tuesday, someone entered  home on the 900 block of Silverbrook Road in Randle and made off with two homemade jewelry boxes and their contents, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy responding to the Christmas Eve break-in reports the loss is estimated at $200, according to the sheriff’s office.

DRUGS

• A 30-year-old Centralia woman was arrested for possession of heroin following contact with an officer about 5:20 p.m. yesterday at the 1200 block of Mellen Street in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department. Nicole R. Sellards was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• Police responding at mid-day on Tuesday to the area of Washington Elementary School on the 800 block of Field Avenue in Centralia arrested a 35-year-old Centralia man. Lance J. Myhre was booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and a possible assault charge is pending as he reportedly pushed his girlfriend, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Police responded yesterday to a report of several car tires slashed overnight in the area of the 3000 block of Borst Avenue in Centralia.

• A 21-year-old Centralia woman was arrested  for allegedly cutting the tire on her boyfriends’ car in connection with the 700 block of South Gold Street in Centralia on Tuesday afternoon. Ashley M. Bryant was booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree malicious mischief, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with suspended license, misdemeanor assault; responses for alarm, misdemeanor theft … and more.

SUSPECTED SLASHER DETAINED

• Officers responding to the Centralia Outlets on the 100 block of West High Street to a report of someone seen slashing car tires yesterday afternoon spoke with a suspect and arrested him for an outstanding warrant. However, the three victims left before police could contact them, Sgt. Brian Warren said. Brett T. Watkins, 36, from Hoodsport, was booked into the Lewis County Jail. Police are asking anyone who found their tires cut around 3 p.m. yesterday in that area to contact the police department.

SLAPPER IN TROUBLE

• A 16-year-old student-inmate at Green Hill School for boys is facing a possible charge of custodial assault for allegedly slapping the bottom of a corrections officer, according to the Chehalis Police Department. An officer was called on Friday to the juvenile incarceration facility on the 300 block of Southwest 11th Street to investigate the incident, according to police.

BURGLARY

• Chehalis police were called on Sunday to the 700 block of Northwest Ohio Avenue regarding the theft of a mini bike, a motorcycle frame and an air compressor.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Centralia police responded about 10 a.m. yesterday to a car prowl at the 300 block of West Summa Street where someone rifled through an unlocked vehicle, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A pink purse was stolen and a car window broken during a vehicle prowl in the parking lot at Wal-Mart reported to Chehalis police about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called to Garbe’s Tavern about 2 o’clock Sunday morning after someone threw a rock through the window,  according to the Chehalis Police Department. The loss is estimated at $700, according to police.

WHAT’S THAT NOISE?

• Chehalis police were called about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday to the area of Southwest Fifth Street regarding two explosions heard. An officer was unable to locate the source of the sound, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license, violation of protection order; responses for alarms, shoplifting and other misdemeanor theft, disorderliness, child biting a sibling, rear end collisions, parking lot hit and runs, car lost in the parking lot at Twin City Town Center in Chehalis; complaints of boys tearing down Christmas lights, congestion at the traffic signal at Northwest Chamber of Commerce Way and Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis … and more.

GOAT SHOT WITH ARROW

• A 22-year-old Toledo man is jailed after he allegedly shot a family member’s goat with a bow and arrow and then cut its throat on Saturday. Deputies called about 1:30 p.m. to the 100 block of Middle Crest Drive near Toledo were told Kameron D. Williams came over and said he wanted to “make a sacrifice to his Gods” and subsequently was discovered pulling an arrow from the animal, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Williams was contacted awhile later walking down the road and denied killing the goat, but was arrested for first-degree animal cruelty and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

FRUSTRATED AT THE ER

• A 22-year-old patient was arrested at Providence Centralia Hospital on Friday night after he allegedly threatened he would kill employees once he got out. Officers called about 8:30 p.m. to the 900 block of South Schueber Road booked Jacob M. Goble into the Lewis County Jail for harassment, according to the Centralia Police Department. Goble, described by police as transient, had taken himself to the hospital and felt he wasn’t getting the treatment he sought, police said.

TWO CHASED OFF ROOF

• Centralia police were called about 8:15 p.m. on Friday to the 400 block of West Magnolia Street where a resident discovered two males on a roof on the two-story residence and chased them away. Police said they might have been looking in a bedroom window and they may or may not have known the occupant of the bedroom.

METAL THEFT

• A 25-year-old Centralia man was arrested for trafficking stolen property in connection with a report taken on Friday of a theft from a vacant home on the 2500 block of Seminary Hill Road outside Centralia. Taken was about 1,000 feet of service wire and 2,000 pounds of chain link fence, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chad C. Bass was booked yesterday into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office. The loss is estimated at $1,000.

• A metal sign stolen from the 100 block of West First Street in Centralia turned up at a scrap yard on Saturday, according to the Centralia Police Department. Police have a suspect in mind.

BURGLARY MOSSYROCK

• Sometime between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Friday, someone forced their way into a residence on the 400 block of Salmon Creek Road near Mossyrock and made off with more than $4,000 worth of valuables including two 40-inch flat screen televisions made by Panasonic, a Blu-ray player, a Hewlett-Packard laptop computer, a Nabi 2 tablet, jewelry and DVDs, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called to the 1500 block of Eshom Road on Friday regarding various fishing tackle and equipment which was stolen in the night.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Centralia police responded about 9 a.m. yesterday to a car prowl at the 1300 block of Lakeshore Drive. A window was broken out, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Someone broke a window of a vehicle parked at the 200 block of West Reynolds Avenue on Centralia, according to a report made to police on Friday afternoon.

WRECKS

• A 27-year-old Olympia man was ejected and then partially pinned by his car when he lost control of it slamming into a power pole on Saturday night outside Centralia. A deputy responding about 9 p.m. to the 1900 block of Salzer Valley Road reports the driver suffered lacerations and possible internal injuries and was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Alcohol is suspected to be involved and potential charges await the results of blood analysis, according to Cmdr. Steve Aust.

• The 24-year-old Chehalis man injured in a single-vehicle wreck near Pe Ell on Friday night is listed in serious condition this morning at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Tyler V. Clark was traveling eastbound on state Route 6 when he attempted to pass another vehicle, lost control and rolled his pickup truck, according to the Washington State Patrol. Responders had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate him.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, shoplifting, drug arrests for which information is not readily available from law enforcement; responses for alarms, disputes, protection order violation, someone putting trash in someone else’s dumpster, vehicles colliding with parked cars; complaints of noisy neighbor truck, loud neighbor music, barking neighbor dogs … and more.

Updated at 1:12 p.m.

DRUGS

• Centralia police arrested an individual for possession of methamphetamine when he was observed without a seatbelt in a vehicle stopped because one of its occupants was wanted on a warrant. It happened about 7:30 p.m. yesterday at Harrison Avenue and Alexander Street, according to the Centralia Police Department. Sgt. Kurt Reichert said there were four people inside and because of the “furtive movements” in the backseat and being unrestrained, Matthew M. Morris, 21, was patted down and the substance turned up. When Morris was booked into the Lewis County Jail, a baggie with suspected heroin was discovered as well, according to Reichert.

PROWLING

• Centralia police responded about 2:15 a.m. today to car prowls in the 3000 block of Galvin Road in which windows were broken. A lunchbox, CDs and the rearview mirror were stolen in one case and in another nothing appeared initially to be missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A backpack was stolen and a window broken out from a vehicle at the 500 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 10:15 p.m. yesterday.

• An officer took a report yesterday of medication stolen from an unlocked car overnight at the 400 block of Ash Street in Centralia.

FROM THE COURTHOUSE

• The Onalaska man serving a five-year sentence for fatally shooting a suspected burglar outside an uninhabited house he owns is scheduled to go before a judge this afternoon as prosecutors seek payment of their costs for the appeal he lost. Ronald A. Brady claimed self-defense in the 2010 death of 56-year-old Thomas McKenzie of Morton but the 60-year-old was convicted the following summer of second-degree manslaughter. He appealed on several grounds, including contending the trial court erred when it refused to allow testimony to prove McKenzie and his wife were at his property to steal and didn’t allow the jury to consider a right to resist the commission of a felony. The appeals court said the only crime being committed at the time he opened fire with a .22 rifle was criminal trespass. Brady is set to appear in Lewis County Superior Court at 4 p.m. today.

WRECK

• Police and aid responded about midnight when a Volvo slammed into a parked sport utility vehicle at the 300 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue in Chehalis. The 24-year-old driver from Chehalis was not injured but a trooper took over because of the possible involvement of alcohol, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, violation of protection order, drug arrests for which information is not readily available from law enforcement; responses for alarms, disputes, apparent computer scammer on the phone … and more.