Elijah M. Garibay, 25, of Elma, consults with defense attorney Bob Schroeter in Lewis County Superior Court during his bail hearing.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The victim of a beating that led to a nighttime police search through a Centralia neighborhood for suspects was a key witness in a trial that ended earlier this week in the conviction of a fellow heroin user.
Thomas Pennypacker, 32, of Chehalis, testified against Lonzo Lawson who was sentenced to more than eight years for breaking into a Napavine bar and stealing almost $15,000.
But that’s not what prosecutors think necessarily specifically led to the events on Tuesday night in the parking lot of the Peppertree Motel on Alder Street.
“I’m inclined to believe this is related to other individuals,” Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Shane O’Rourke told a judge.
The suspects allegedly called Pennypacker a snitch and said they were going to kill him as he was choked, repeatedly shocked with a stun gun and punched in the face. He escaped the car he had arrived in with the men and ran to the motel office for help, according to charging documents. The car sped away and two of the three men from it were captured in the area within the next hour and a half, according to police.
The Centralia Police Department initially said the victim was with the subjects because he was trying to buy heroin.
O’Rourke said it looked like a beating under the guise of a drug deal. “A pick ’em up payback kind of thing,” he said.
He wouldn’t confirm if Pennypacker was one of law enforcement’s so-called confidential informants, drug case defendants that can get certain plea deals if they cooperate with police in setting up drug dealers.
“All I can say is he is involved in cases with the state,” O’Rourke said yesterday afternoon, noting the recent trial.
Yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court, two of the three suspects were charged with multiple offenses including intimidating a witness. Judge Richard Brosey ordered them held on $250,000 bail pending their trials.
Joseph M. Hanks, 30, is from Rochester. He was described by Pennypacker as “somewhat of a friend” who picked him up Tuesday night because they were going to buy some heroin.
Elijah M. Garibay, 25, has an Elma address listed as his residence in court documents.
Pennypacker indicated in the documents he didn’t know Garibay, that he was just one of two men Hanks unexpectedly picked up as they were driving to get drugs.
Charging documents give the following account:
A Centralia officer interviewed Pennypacker at the hospital where he was being treated for his injuries, which included Taser injuries along his face and shoulder.
Pennypacker told the officer he hadn’t known anyone else was coming with him and Hanks, and it concerned him when the two men were picked up.
He said after they arrived at the Alder Street motel, he handed $60 to Hanks, who gave it to one of the passengers. That man got out and almost immediately Garibay who was in the backseat put his arm around Pennypacker’s throat and began strangling him. Then Garibay began Tasing him in the face and side.
Hanks got out and began punching Pennypacker in the face full force, he said.
That’s when they called him a snitch and said they would kill him. Then he fled to the motel office and they sped away in Hanks’ Honda.
Motel manager Kaitlin Mendonca, in her vehicle, chased the car to the nearby dead end of Long Road, where they got out and left on foot.
The 25-year-old said today she wasn’t really sure what she was doing, but wasn’t going to let them just drive away.
Court documents indicate Hanks was spotted in a field and turned himself over to officers.
Later in the night, law enforcement was advised a resident few blocks to the north was holding at gunpoint a suspicious male discovered in a yard.
Dan Henderson, 44, and a Centralia city council member, turned the man – who was Garibay – over to arriving officers. Some of his clothing he had allegedly shed was found nearby.
Police said yesterday no heroin was found when the car was searched. Police did find a stun gun, drug paraphernalia and small plastic bags, among other things, according to charging documents.
It’s not clear who the third suspect is, but charging documents for Garibay and Hanks which describe the evening’s events don’t mention the third man assaulting the victim.
Garibay and Hanks are each charged with intimidating a witness, second-degree assault, second-degree robbery and harassment.
Garibay’s prior convictions include one felony and 11 misdemeanors. Hanks’ include five felonies and 20 misdemeanors.
Their arraignments are scheduled for June 27.
•••
For background read:
• “Attempted drug deal turns violent in Centralia” from Wednesday June 19, 2013, here
• “Lawyers: Who broke into the safe at Frosty’s tavern?” from Wednesday June 12, 2013, here
Joseph M. Hanks, 30, of Rochester, listens to defense attorney Bob Schroeter in Lewis County Superior Court during his bail hearing.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Eli did what he did and is being punished for it, but yes we do love him and support him. If people would do their OWN TIME instead of TELLING on others this wouldnt have happen. Abbotts right.
“I thought that Johnson & Company were not allowed to fight on here?”
Look, all I’m trying to do is point out the blatant hypocrisy involved in condemning addicts and users while ignoring drug makers and sellers.
That’s it.
If you want to consider that a “fight” then by all means go for it. But the lame attempts at dismissing people outright is getting old.
I thought that Johnson & Company were not allowed to fight on here?
Admin, I don’t know your schedule, but it is your option to not to post their bickering…..
They were better when you scolded them last time, but are back at it. I am 100% freedom of speech, yet this is a private blog and you’ve set the ground rules before.
Interesting to find out if they fight like this on the Facebook page, or if they chose to fight behind screen names? Wouldn’t it be hoot to find out that they know each other????
And this little gem explains ALL of your posts:
“You forgot I eat dolphins and travel to Mars.”
You’re not here for sharing ideas, you’re here to start fights and drama. Not cool.
Dear Free Air,
It’s all about context.
You say: Where the heck did that one come from? EGAD!! Somehow my post on each of us taking on personal responsibility has been twisted by you to say I support “Big Pharma” (whatever that is) and toxic garbage.
When you are able to see the united states for what it is: THE LARGEST CONSUMER OF LEGAL AND ILLEGAL DRUGS IN THE WORLD!!!, then we can have an adult conversation.
But, when you sit there arguing that drug users are ‘scumbags’ or deserve to go to jail for ‘selling drugs’, you constantly overlook the fact that the pharmaceutical companies are the ones MAKING THE DOPE and THE MONEY!!!
You seem to be completely BLIND to any of that and you prefer to bash on the little guy who ends up getting addicted to it.
Free Air, you seem to think that flooding the market with toxic garbage is perfectly okay as long as people don’t get addicted to it. How are people supposed to NOT become addicts when the drugs are DESIGNED TO BE ADDICTIVE??
You forgot I eat dolphins and travel to Mars.
“You are loved Elijah, you did what you did for what most of us believe in…”
So you believe in setting a guy up in order to strangle and taze him (or worse) before running away and ending up in someone’s back yard with his gun trained on you as police arrive to arrest you? Nice.
You are loved Elijah, you did what you did for what most of us believe in. and you know what its done now, cant be changed, lets move on and move up. ill write you another letter soon. love you ELI!
AND YET AGAIN:
“FINE!!!! YOU WIN!!!
Can you just put it to rest already????
You support Big Pharma and their profiting from super-addictive and toxic garbage. And you feel that meth addiciton is not the fault of the DEA who fail to stop it from entering the U.S. from Mexico.
I get that!!!”
And yet again you post something out of thin air as if it’s a fact. I support “super-addictive and toxic garbage”. Where the heck did that one come from? EGAD!! Somehow my post on each of us taking on personal responsibility has been twisted by you to say I support “Big Pharma” (whatever that is) and toxic garbage. You forgot I eat dolphins and travel to Mars.
Now on to Amazed:
“That’s exactly what we have here in LC. It’s been going on for years. Some cops are users/addicts. Their preference is now ‘pills’, though some do Heroin.”
What a load of BS.
Tell you what. I’ve a couple of numbers for you.
360-352-3307 (Olympia Office)
360-695-5661 (Vancouver Office)
206-622-0460 (Seattle Office 24/7 Number)
Here’s your chance to make a quick $250.00. Call any of these FBI phone numbers and let them know our own Lewis County Deputies are corrupt, drug using addicts and get them off the street ASAP. If your evidence turns into something real besides just this BS random anti cop postings, and a LC Deputy is arrested I’ll PayPal you $250 for doing the right thing that you should have already done on your own.
Don’t trust the FBI? Then take your proof and go to the press. Name the names. Take a stand. Do what’s right! Unless of course there is nothing to it besides your own hate of cops.
This whole cop bashing/personal responsibility bashing posting you two got going is more fun than quilting!
FreeAir says:” What is your definition of a corrupt cop? For me, it would be a cop who makes money off doing illegal activity in connection to their jobs. What comes to mind would be a cop who pockets any drugs confiscated in a raid for any reason besides turning it into evidence for prosecution. Clearly an illegal act while violating his or her oath of office to uphold the laws of the State.”
WELL, That’s exactly what we have here in LC. It’s been going on for years. Some cops are users/addicts. Their preference is now ‘pills’, though some do Heroin. As someone stated earlier, addicts can function in daily life and they do. The problem is what person in their right mind is going to go to court & say to the judge & jury..Hey, when I got busted I had 5 ounces of Heroin and the cops only recorded 1 ounce or I had 400 pills but only 250 made it to evidence. What happened to the rest of my stuff? NO, That’s not ever going to happen here. The “snitches” such as Pennypacker and a whole LONG list of others in this county are allowed to continue to Deal & use drugs, as long as they supply the cops with drugs, money & a few names to bust here & there. It’s Disgusting to me how this operation goes on daily. I’m not a drug user, past, present or future. But I do know people in that world. I’ve lived in this county my whole life. Something needs to be done. The corruption has gotten out of control. It’ used to be just Pot for those cops, then it moved up to Cocaine…when is the last time you heard of a Cocaine bust? It’s still on the streets, but the cops don’t like it anymore. Heroin has been here since late 70’s but it wasn’t the drug of choice for the corrupts. People of LC need to start paying attention to what really goes on around here. And take back our county. Enough is Enough get rid of the corrupts & our streets will be safer.
FINE!!!! YOU WIN!!!
Can you just put it to rest already????
You support Big Pharma and their profiting from super-addictive and toxic garbage. And you feel that meth addiciton is not the fault of the DEA who fail to stop it from entering the U.S. from Mexico.
I get that!!!
And there you go again!
I don’t think I’m better than you, just see the world a lot differently.
I do not support the drug manufactures, cartels or even condone their actions, as you say I do. I’m against the end user who feeds on the crime in our community as well as the cartel leader and their super labs.
I also do not kiss any “corrupt cops” tushies, but, (no pun intended) I think we may be able to develop some common ground here.
What is your definition of a corrupt cop? For me, it would be a cop who makes money off doing illegal activity in connection to their jobs. What comes to mind would be a cop who pockets any drugs confiscated in a raid for any reason besides turning it into evidence for prosecution. Clearly an illegal act while violating his or her oath of office to uphold the laws of the State.
A “corrupt cop” is not someone who makes an honest mistake while on the job, like writing out a ticket the wrong way, or even being lazy wile on the job. A lax work ethic does not equal Corrupt.
Where we do differ, is if I ever found a corrupt cop I would report it to the Feds ASAP.
You should too.
P.S.S.
Free Air,
For you information, I would prefer to bash corrupt cops rather than kiss their asses like you do.
But thanks for pointing out my disgust for corrupt law enforcement. It’s too bad you can’t switch sides. Such is the life of a mental slave I suppose.
And don’t worry, I still love you. My internet love is PURE. And soon, I’m going to be a rich man once I become a professional at the interwebs.
Toodles smoochums.
Your friend,
Old Long Johnson
PS:
Free Air,
You are OBVIOUSLY better than me. Why do you lower yourself to my level by responding to my opinions?
Why not just ignore me? I’m beneath you. Don’t show your contempt by trying over and over and over to engage me in pointless banter.
Just IGNORE MY OPINIONS!!
Trust me, I will get the messaage.
Okay, Free Air. You got me! I obviously spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME doing things to give you an excuse to follow me from thread to thread to start the innuendos, insinuations, and typical dismissive attitude you show to anybody you don’t agree with.
You go on about conspiracy theories and how YOU don’t give them any thought or consideration because anything that doesn’t jibe with your world-view is a ‘conspiracy theory’. LOL
You obviuosly have a financial interest in continuing the backwardness that is Lewis County’s approach to law enforcement. It’s a JOKE JOKE JOKE JOKE JOKE.
Yeah, let’s blame Joe Shmo because he does DRUGS!!! yay yippe yee haw!!!
That’s exactly what you sound like.
Let’s all support people who make dope, but punish people who get addicted to it!
yeah, that’s really awesome.
Rawk on hotdog.
Also SMFL MAUER
I doubt you can afford the postage to mail me my crown. What would my title be behind the crown? Most improved drug addict? Does it come with a sash? LMFAO
This is getting stupid is what I can tell you. I’m done with this article and anyone who posted on it with pathetic excuses for personal attacks. It’s like 8 stories down the page now..you almost have to click on “older stories” to access it. LET IT GO.
Damn, I don’t even live there anymore and you people still can’t keep my name out of your mouths. They have a word for that: Obsession. It’s probably a worse disease than addiction.
Last thing I’ll say is GOOD JOB ELI AND JOE! Wish you had better planning, but impulsivity is a side effect of addiction. You had the right idea though. Hope you learn a lesson and clean up your lives now.
Fu*k Pennypacker and all the ratts like him. Hope they gets their a*ses beat every time they leaves their house. If you can’t man up and do your time, STOP BREAKING THE LAW. You can’t get around what society says is right and wrong, so learn to live by it, or learn to like prison.
And I’m done
@SMFL MAUER
Yea I don’t live in Lewis County. I don’t even live in WA. I live right and most likely, I live better than you do. Hate on, cowardly, no name, computer warrior.
BUT I did learn the hard way on some things. I took my lumps and did my time like a big girl, and didn’t try to drag anyone down with me. The difference between me, and people like you (who still live there going nowhere) is I learned from my mistakes and went back to living the life I started out with before I effed up. I can own my sh*t. Can you say the same? I doubt it.
If you could understand english you would know I’m not defending anyone. Just sick of pathetic ratts that do the crime but can’t do the time.
Isn’t it so easy to run your mouth, based off of rumors, and what you think you know about me and my life, because I have enough balls to use my own name unlike the rest of you pansies on here. There isn’t a thing you can say that would bother me, because I know who I am, and what I’m about, and I can own up to who I was, and the things I’ve done, and mistakes I’ve made. You can’t even use your real name…what does that say about you? Everything I (and anyone with a non fake bone in their body) need to know. You don’t have a man, one, in your family.
Also, that’s not my last name anymore and that was never how you spelled it.