Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Drug detectives yesterday arrested two individuals – following a two-month long investigation – at their Centralia home, next door to a child daycare facility.

Officers served a search warrant at the 700 block of Yew Street and also arrested three others with outstanding warrants, according to police.

Methamphetamine and other drug related items were located in the residence, according to a news release distributed by the Centralia Police Department.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team which conducted the investigation is made up of officers from the Centralia Police Department, the Chehalis Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Arrested for delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance were Steve Williams, 57, and Beth Williams, 52, according to Sgt. Brian Warren.

While detectives were searching, a 26-year-old who arrived at the home was taken into custody for a warrant, and allegedly became combative, trying to kick and bite officers, according to police. The woman, Alisha A. Holmes, was arrested for third-degree assault and booked into the Lewis County Jail, police report.

The news release indicates an un-named individual woking with police has made multiple purchases of methamphetamine from the couple during the investigation.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The local multi-jurisdictional team of drug detectives seized more than 60 pounds of drugs in its first year of operation, not including marijuana or illegal pills, according to its just released year-end report.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is made up of officers from the Centralia Police Department, the Chehalis Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Chehalis Police Chief Glenn Schaffer this morning shared the 2015 statistics, showing the group served more than 60 search warrants and made 139 felony drug arrests last year.

“Sheriff Rob Snaza, Chief Carl Nielsen, and Chief Glenn Schaffer all agree that what JNET has been able to accomplish has been truly impressive, and we look forward to continuing to pool our resources and work together to combat drugs and drug related crimes that negatively affect our communities,” he stated in news release.

Other numbers from the report include:

• 27 other drug-related arrests
• 74 outstanding arrest warrants cleared
• 117 guns confiscated
• 141 pounds of marijuana confiscated
• 1,022 marijuana plants seized
• Almost 9,000 illegal narcotic pills seized

The 61 pounds of drugs scooped up by JNET were comprised of more than 42 pounds of methamphetamine, over five pounds of cocaine and 14 pounds of heroin, according to Schaffer.

The three agency leaders vow to continue to investigate cases that range from low level dealers, to upper level suppliers and couriers county-wide.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A sheriff’s deputy was treated at the emergency room for facial lacerations and bruising after getting punched in the eye when attempting to take a rural Chehalis man into custody yesterday.

It happened after a short standoff at the 62-year-old subject’s home in which after deputies knocked and the door swung open on its own, the man remained laying on his couch with his eyes open, ignoring them, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office says he wouldn’t respond to deputy’s commands so they fired a bean bag round, which hit him in the stomach and drew no reaction.

They then deployed a Taser, which missed, but prompted the resident to charge the deputies, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

Edward K. Baker allegedly punched the one deputy, giving him a black eye and continued to fight, trying to bite another deputy until he was finally restrained.

The events took place on the 400 block of Leudinghaus Road yesterday morning.

Brown said it began when a deputy traveling on state Route 6 observed Baker driving a high rate of speed, but then lost him at about 8:45 a.m.

Baker was wanted on a warrant from the state Department of Corrections and had run from deputies a few days earlier, the sheriff’s office said. Brown said he is someone they’ve dealt with in the past, and they have “officer safety concerns” about him.

Baker was arrested for two counts of third-degree assault, resisting arrest and related offenses, according to Brown. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

Brown said the deputy with the black eye also dislocated a finger during the incident.

Investigators from outside agencies will gather information on the fatal shooting south of Tumwater. / Courtesy photo by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Detectives, including from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, are investigating a fatal shooting by a deputy in Thurston County yesterday.

It happened shortly after 4 p.m. south of Tumwater on 93rd Avenue S.E.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office reports the deputy was standing on the running board of his backwards-moving patrol vehicle, trying to pull the suspect out from behind the wheel.

The deputy tazed him which had no effect and after colliding with a vehicle on 93rd Avenue, the deputy shot the suspect, fearing for the safety of the public and himself, according to the sheriff’s office.

The suspect had jumped into the driver’s seat and tried to drive off in reverse after punching the deputy in the face numerous times, according to the sheriff’s office.

The un-named deputy is a 19-year veteran of the sheriff’s office and has been placed on administrative leave, according to Lt. Cliff Ziesemer.

The man who died at the scene has not been identified, Ziesemer reported last night.

The investigation is being conducted by the Regional Critical Incident Team comprised of detectives from Lewis, Mason and Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Offices.

Ziesemer indicated the encounter occurred because the deputy stopped to investigate after a pedestrian saw him passing by and ran onto some private property. Ziesemer said the two spoke for a few minutes before the man attacked the deputy.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Prosecutors have asked a judge to postpone the sentencing for Brenda A. Wing, who pleaded guilty last year to first-degree manslaughter for her role in the death of a 3-year-old boy.

Wing and her husband both entered into plea agreements that required them to undergo polygraph tests.

Brenda A. Wing

It appears from court documents filed by Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer that a polygraph examination was given to Wing on Dec. 11, but while Meyer has received the report from her lawyer, he also wants a recording and charts from the polygrapher which he hadn’t yet received.

Meyer stated he needs them to prepare for the sentencing hearing, which is currently on the court calendar for Jan. 22.

Jasper Henderling-Warner died on Oct. 5, 2014 from what the coroner called chronic battered child syndrome. The couple was taking care of him and moved from Clark County to Vader not long before his death.

Meyer also asked the judge in his motions, filed Dec. 31, to set a deadline for defense attorney John Crowley to turn over the materials. He’s requesting the judge hold Crowley in contempt and pay monetary penalties if he misses the deadline.

The motion also makes mention of the need for an additional polygraph, given the “issue” with the one administered.

Meyer sought and secured a hearing on the matters, before Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Crowley today in a brief phone call indicated he has a court hearing in another county at that time.

Brenda Wing, 27, and Danny Wing, 26, were arrested Nov. 7, 2014 by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Jasper’s autopsy showed abrasions, bruises, facial trauma, healing fractures and listed skin infections, MRSA, as secondary to his cause of death.

Danny A. Wing was sent to prison in September for 34 years and eight months.
•••

For background, read “Vader toddler: Lawyers argue instead of proceeding with sentencing hearing” from Saturday November 21, 2015, here

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 41-year-old man who allegedly grabbed onto a deputy’s gun with both hands during an encounter in the Toledo-area was taken to the ground and then booked into the Lewis County Jail.

It happened after emergency medical responders asked for assistance with a combative patient at the 5300 block of Jackson Highway around 2:50 a.m. on Friday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

It’s not clear why medics had been called, but deputies were told Dale R. Smith had made statements to his family that made them very concerned for his welfare, according to the sheriff’s office.

Smith, who appeared heavily intoxicated, was persuaded to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance, but then he made a statement like, “Let me see that gun” and pushed the deputy in the stomach, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

When Smith put his hands on the gun, the deputy used defensive tactics to make him let go and then took him into custody, according to Brown.

The weapon was in the deputy’s holster, Brown indicated.

Brown said Smith also tried to strike the deputy. Smith, a Toledo resident, was arrested for third-degree assault.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The fireworks that severely injured a 30-year-old man in Silver Creek over the weekend appeared to be small legal mortars and rockets, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said this morning.

Deputies and firefighters responding to the approximately 12:20 a.m. call on Friday at the 2400 block of U.S. Highway 12 aren’t sure exactly what happened as no one saw it occur and the victim didn’t recall, according to the sheriff’s office.

An individual at the scene said he was intoxicated and left the residence to shoot off some fireworks, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

Brown said the Silver Creek man lost a lot of blood and would likely lose at least one finger as well as possibly his right eye. His hearing was damaged as well, she said.

He was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, with possible plans for a transfer to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.