Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A male driving a $50,000 stolen truck ended a police pursuit early yesterday morning in Chehalis by parking at Wal-Mart and slipping into the store.

Deputies and police searched the area without success, but security video suggests the suspect left the building and caught a ride with someone, according to police.

It began about 4:40 a.m. when a deputy attempted to pull over a speeding vehicle near North National Avenue and Exhibitor Road, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It turned out the 2012 Chevrolet truck was taken from the Titus Will automobile dealer there, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office said the subject is described as about 5-feet 7-inches tall with a shaved head and was wearing light blue jeans, black and white tennis shoes and a hoodie that was white with blue stripes.

Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown asks anyone with information about the suspect to call Lewis County Crime Stoppers.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Chehalis police are asking for the public’s help in finding a Centralia car salesman wanted for allegedly intimidating a witness against him in his upcoming assault trial.

John I. Burkett

Police began investigating suspected witness intimidation by 40-year-old John Burkett after interviewing several witnesses in the case, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

Sgt. Brian Hickey said this morning police contacted Burkett on Friday who said he would turn himself in, but did not.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Burkett, a Winlock resident who owns Burkett’s Auto Sales on South Gold Street, was arrested last December for second-degree assault after a patron at a local bar ended up with a head injury, according to police.

His trial is scheduled to begin next week in Lewis County Superior Court.

Police are asking anyone with information about Burkett’s whereabouts to contact detective Rick Silva at 360-748-8605

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A flood watch issued this morning cautions the Chehalis and Skookumchuck Rivers could overflow their banks today through Wednesday.

The National Weather Service says the accumulation of rain over the past few days with more expected tonight means folks should monitor the latest forecasts and be ready to act if a flood warning is issued.

The areas of most focus are near Grand Mound and Bucoda, according to the weather service.

Wind is forecast in much of Western Washington later tonight and tomorrow as well.

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Links to the official and current information on local weather and rivers can always be found on the right hand sidebar of Lewis County Sirens.com
Here they are below as well:

• National Weather Service – NWS Seattle, here

• National Weather Service: River levels (Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service) here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Finally Weston G. Miller will be arraigned next week, following his March arrest and filing of charges in the shooting death of a house guest in his Centralia home on B Street.

David Wayne Carson

Miller, 30, has been held in the Lewis County Jail on $1 million bail, unable to make his pleas to first-degree murder because of a question whether he was competent.

Prosecutors say it was unprovoked attack when he shot 43-year-old David Wayne Carson twice in the chest area. Miller told police he acted in self-defense.

One expert said previously Miller was competent but another said he was not. However, today, lawyers on both sides signed an order agreeing Miller is now competent to stand trial.

The former welder is also charged with several counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, as when police searched the home they found five guns, a silencer, a laser site for a gun and a bullet-proof vest.

Miller is scheduled to return to Lewis County Superior Court next Thursday to make his pleas and get a trial date scheduled.

His attorney J.P. Enbody said the issue of insanity – at the time of the incident – could still come up.

Carson, a Centralia resident, died on March 13.
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For background, read “B Street homicide: Defendant says self defense” from Wednesday March 14, 2012, here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – James M. Reeder, 26, appeared briefly in court today for a review of the progress of the case in the death of 2-year-old Koralynn Fister.

Koralynn Fister

The Centralia man is charged with homicide by abuse and other related offenses regarding the May death of his live-in girlfriend’s toddler. Prosecutors allege Reeder tortured and raped the child.

Attorneys in the case told a judge they were postponing the review until Dec. 13. The trial in Lewis County Superior Court is still on the schedule for the end of January.

Reeder remains held in the Lewis County Jail on $5 million bail.
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For background, read “Defendant in Centralia toddler death by abuse case pleads not guilty” from Thursday July 12, 2012, here

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Centralia man arrested two weeks ago for allegedly giving his 6-month-old baby a cut lip when he struck him in the head for crying pleaded not guilty today.

Jon M. Parker, 28, is charged with second-degree assault of a child and remains held in the Lewis County Jail.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office says Parker was upset and hit the child three times while holding him.

When he went before a judge today in Lewis County Superior Court, a trial was scheduled for the week of Jan. 14, according to his attorney David Arcuri.
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For background, read “News brief: Sheriff’s Office: Centralia father gives baby boy cut lip, nose” from  Thursday November 15, 2012 at 10:03 a.m., here