Archive for August, 2010

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, August 16th, 2010

CAREGIVER ATTACKED WITH KNIFE

• A 58-year-old Chehalis woman whose apparent dementia drew police and aid last week to her apartment with a 911 call when she imagined that her daughter had been shot in the head was detained by authorities after holding a knife to her caregiver’s neck the following morning, Chehalis police said today. The husband of the 44-year-old female caregiver called 911 about 9:40 on Friday morning and said his wife called and said she was being attacked at the woman’s home at the retirement complex on North National Avenue, according to police. Chehalis police detective Sgt. Rick McNamara said the victim suffered just a very small puncture wound. Police took away the knife, and took the woman to Providence Centralia Hospital to be evaluated. The woman, whose name was not released, actually prompted two scary and unfounded calls to police last Thursday. When responders arrived after the morning call, they found she was alone; her daughter was not even at the apartment. At 8:45 p.m. that night, she said there was somebody bleeding in a car in the parking lot. There wasn’t, according to police. “It’s sad,” McNamara said. “She’s clearly suffering from dementia.” The woman was turned over to professionals from Cascade Mental Health who were going to put a hold on her, meaning they would take responsibility for keeping her in the custody of authorities who would take care of her, according to McNamara. The case has been referred to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, who will make a decision on criminal charges, he said.

SPEEDING IN MOMMY’S CAR

• A police pursuit in Rochester last night reached speeds of more than 120 mph, at least by the fleeing vehicle, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. At about 10:20 p.m., a deputy was northbound on Old Highway 99 when he observed a car speeding the other way near Gibson Road. Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Mealy said the deputy could see numerous vehicles pulling to the side of the road and the patrol car got up to 100 mph but could not catch up with the 2002 Audi A6. However, the car, its driver and the man’s 19-year-old girlfriend were found trying to hide behind buildings on Ivan Street, Mealy said. When Richard D. Woolverton, 20, of Rochester, was asked “why”, he told the deputy he was test driving his mother’s car, Mealy said. He was booked into jail for eluding.

CATHOLIC CHURCH HIT BY BURGLAR

• A third church was burglarized in Centralia in less than two weeks, according to a report made to police yesterday morning. Somebody forced open a door to get inside the Catholic Church on Washington Avenue at Park Way, according to the Centralia Police Department. Computers were stolen from the office. Sgt. Kurt Reichert said churches are sometimes easy targets because the pastor may often be out and about and they are often staffed by volunteers. Cash and computer equipment were taken from a church early the week before last and a microphone stolen from another on Washington Avenue a couple days later. Both those houses of worship were unlocked, according to police.

OTHER STUFF STOLEN IN CENTRALIA

• A red 1990 Honda Accord was reported stolen about 10:20 p.m. on Sunday from the 1700 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia. its license plate reads: 488 ZMO.

• A pistol in a suitcase was stolen from the back of a truck at the 100 block of High Street in Centralia, according to a report made to Centralia police on Sunday afternoon.

CIGARETTE FIRES AT NURSING HOME

• Centralia firefighters were called twice on Sunday for small fires at Riverside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on the 1300 block of Alexander. Neither was threatening to the building as both were outside, according to Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Greg Schwartz. A free-standing cigarette disposal container caught fire, apparently because it also had some paper in it, the captain said. They believe a discarded cigarette butt in a trash can out front ignited the other, Schwartz said.

NO MORE WORK RELEASE FOR 21-YEAR-OLD

• Deputies on Sunday arrested a 21-year-old Olympia woman in Rochester on Sunday evening for second-degree escape as she had walked away from work release at the Thurston County Jail more than a week earlier. Racheal R. Pfaff was picked up at the 18,700 block of Deerfield Lane Southwest about 7 p.m., according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Pfaff was also booked for possession of drugs without a prescription as she had with her antibiotics and an antidepressant, without a prescription, according to sheriff’s Lt. Chris Mealy.

GROWN SON ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING FATHER, POLICE SAY

• A 31-year-old Centralia man arrested for for fourth-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment Saturday evening after he allegedly grabbed his father by the neck and wouldn’t let him leave during a dispute at a Centralia home won’t be charged with the felony, pending further investigation, according to authorities.

FIGHT OUTSIDE CHEHALIS BAR

• Police were called just before 2 a.m. on Sunday to a drinking establishment on North Market Boulevard in Chehalis where somebody had elbowed an individual in the head. A suspect was not found, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

TWO GUNS STOLEN, TEENAGER NABBED NEARBY

• A 15-year-old Rochester boy was arrested after a Rochester resident interrupted a burglary in which a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38 caliber handgun were stolen, among other items, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies called about 2:25 p.m. on Friday to the 5800 block of 193rd Avenue Southwest were told by the 54-year-old resident he saw two males leaving his home. A police dog was called for tracking and a neighbor on Guava Street called to say somebody in a yellow T-shirt was hiding in the bushes, sheriff’s Lt. Chris Mealy said. A 15-year-old detained near Ivan Street said the jewelry in his pocket was given to him by his grandmother and the 49er’s watch and lighter found in his pocket were a gift from his grandfather. The theft victim said the 49er’s set was valued at $1,000, Mealy said. Entry in to the home was made through a window, according to Mealy. The Maverick shotgun was found near a fence and the Smith and Wesson recovered near Ivan Street, he said. The teenager, whose name was not disclosed because he is a juvenile was booked for burglary and theft of a firearm and two warrants, according to Mealy.

MOTORCYCLE CRASHES TO MISS DEER

• Lewis County Fire District 3 was called Friday night to a motorcycle accident on the 800 block of state Route 122. The rider apparently swerved to miss a deer and was taken to Morton General Hospital with broken bones, according to Mossyrock area Fire Chief Matt Hadaller.

INDECENT PROPOSAL DRAWS POLICE

• An argument over a property line in Centralia escalated to a 49-year-old man with an ownership interest in one of the properties to make a rude suggestion he emphasized by presenting a certain body part to the other man, and got the 49-year-old arrested, according to police. Harwinder S. Mattu, of Centralia, was cited for indecent exposure after the 7 p.m. call on Friday to the 700 block of Harrison Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department.

News brief: Mossyrock home destroyed by blaze

Monday, August 16th, 2010
2010.0815.cp.fire.mossy

Firefighters in Mossyrock put water on what's left of a mobile home that caught fire Sunday morning. Left to right: Quentin Rhodes, Shannon Simon and Marty Majors. / Photo by Shelly Rhodes

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Mossyrock-area man lost his home to a fire yesterday morning but luckily he had taken his little dog with him when he left to go get breakfast and buy cigarettes, according to responders.

Patrick Sipp returned to his residence on the 300 block of Birley Road to find firefighters extinguishing the blaze that destroyed his mobile home.

Lewis County Fire District 3 Chief Matt Hadaller said neighbors saw light smoke but thought someone was burning brush or something so it went on for as much as 20 minutes before the fire department got there. The home was fully involved in flames when Hadaller arrived after the approximately 9:40 a.m. call.

Almost 30 firefighters from Mossyrock, Morton and Salkum put the fire out and managed to save a garage housing a Harley Davidson, according to Hadaller.

The cause is being investigated but it doesn’t seem suspicious, fire investigator Adam Myer said this morning.

District 3 called upon the Red Cross to assist the resident. He had insurance, Hadaller said.

News brief: House, garage burn in separate Adna incidents yesterday

Monday, August 16th, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Members of three other fire departments joined Lewis County Fire District 6 yesterday to battle a blaze that destroyed an Adna home.

The two-story, wood frame house was vacant but being used for storage by its owners, according to fire investigator Adam Myer. It had no electricity to it, he said.

The rural Chehalis fire department called just before 5:25 p.m. to the 300 block of Brockway Road was joined by firefighters from Chehalis, Napavine and Boistfort.

Myer said it appeared to have started from a nearby shed. The house was a complete loss, he said, and the fire not suspicious.

Earlier Sunday morning, members of the same four fire departments responded to another fire in Adna not long after midnight.

A detached garage at the 500 block of Twin Oaks Road was destroyed, according to District 6 Chief Bud Goodwillie.

Three WSP employees believed dead in Zillah house fire

Monday, August 16th, 2010

The Washington State Patrol is reporting three agency employees died in an early morning house fire in Yakima County.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is joining the sheriff’s office, local fire officials and the state patrol investigating the blaze near Zillah.

The state patrol identifies the three as:
• Trooper Gary Miller, 55, assigned to the Sunnyside detachment since his commission in 1990.
• His wife, Anna Miller-Hewitt who led the 911 center in Wenatchee and was hired by the WSP in 1987.
• Trooper Kristopher Sperry, 30, who graduated with the June 2010 Trooper Basic Class, receiving the top fitness award. Originally from Eureka, Montana.

You can read the newspaper’s most recent story at www.yakima-herald.com

Primary election: Challenger Meyer outspending Golden in race for Lewis County prosecutor

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

With the primary election just two days away, already almost $40,000 has been spent in the race for Lewis County prosecutor; about half of what’s been spent on all local campaigns in Lewis County.

The challenger, Centralia defense attorney Jonathan Meyer, has raised about $28,000, compared with sitting Lewis County Prosecutor Michael Golden who has secured $19,000 plus some.

2010.0712.mug.jonathan.meyer.copying.cut_2

Jonathan Meyer

Golden expects his opponent to spend a lot more, he said.

“Partly, it’s easier for a challenger to stand outside and throw stones,” Golden said in an interview last month. “Anyone who’s unhappy can get behind a challenger.”

With the top two candidates advancing to the Nov. 2 general election, there’s still plenty of time for the cost of the campaigning for prosecutor to reach or surpass the more than $78,000 spent when it was also contested four years ago.

In 2006, attorney Don Blair spent almost twice as much as Golden.

2010.0714.mug.michael.golden.copy.cut_2

Michael Golden

Yesterday’s numbers from the state Public Disclosure Commission include reports filed by both candidates last week.

Created in the early 1970s, the commission collects and distributes information about the financing of political activities in the state of Washington among its other responsibilities related to the Open Government Act.

According to the PDC reports available yesterday, Meyer has a balance of about $5,000 while the rural Chehalis incumbent had less than $16.

Both men, both Republicans, have spent some of their own money, although Golden has spent more, adding about $3,000 to $4,000 to his own coffers.

“I put in quite a bit of my own money and I’ll probably put in more, because I believe in what I do,” Golden said.

Meyer, who announced his intention to run late last year and kicked off his campaign in late April, last month said he was pleasantly surprised by the generosity of people.

“It’s a humbling experience,” Meyer said. “It’s the only way to describe it; people willing to put their money on the line for me.”

Against the advice of campaign professionals, the 38-year-old is sending handwritten thank you notes to every donor.

His biggest contributor is $5,000 from his partner Don McConnell at McConnell, Meyer and Associates. The PDC shows a hand full of $1,000 donations and another handful of $500 contributors.

Golden’s reports show $1,000 from Gail Wallace of Toledo and $1,000 from Don Wallace. The largest number of Golden contributors have given between $50 and $100.

Golden, 45, began his campaign later, and he said he was very appreciative of those who supported his kickoff.

A lot of businesses donated items and services, he said. “I know it’s hard for them, and that means a lot to me.”

In the past two weeks or so, supporters of both men have offered their thoughts on their preferred candidate.

Attorney David Brown is one of Meyer’s supporters.

He represents criminal defendants in his private practice in Centralia, a place where he has worked as a lawyer for almost 20 years.

Brown sees Meyer as a friend, a good attorney who understands the law and someone who capably handles a number different types of cases. He feels Meyer’s leadership style and delegation skills would be a welcome change from his current dealings with the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office.

“I’m finding chaos,” Brown said. “It’s been the worst three and a half years.”

He said it’s hard for him to be critical of Golden, because he doesn’t know him, but the office isn’t working, in Brown’s view.

“And it’s too bad, because I think he’s got some pretty good deputies,” he added.

Meyer counts among his supporters some former Lewis County deputy prosecutors, other lawyers and he is endorsed by the sheriff’s deputies and corrections officers who work for Lewis County. But he also has a variety of others such as elected Lewis County treasurer Rose Bowman and Chehalis city council member Chad Taylor.

Longtime former Centralia city council member Dan Keahey is one of them. He’s known Meyer about three years.

The realtor for Coldwell Banker Kline and Associates appreciates Meyer as a person of integrity, a hard worker and someone who is active in his church, the Centralia Christian School and the community.

“It’s important to have good role models and he is that,” Keahey said. “Jonathan is just an amazing guy.”

Keahey was once also president of the private school, and sits on boards for Lewis County Economic Council and the Port of Centralia. He’s not so involved in the legal community but he and Meyer are lately racquetball partners. He praises what he knows of Meyer’s record as a lawyer.

“He’s doing a great job for his clients, if he’s winning,” Keahey said.

Golden has the support of individuals such as state Representative Gary Alexander, Napavine Mayor Nick Bozarth and Chehalis dentist Dr. John Henricksen. Two attorneys from the Chehalis firm of Vander Stoep, Remund, Blinks and Jones spoke about Golden on Friday.

“I’m definitely a supporter,” J. Vander Stoep said of Golden.

Vander Stoep has been active in the past in Republican campaigns, in particular he was the general consultant for Dino Rossi’s two runs for governor.

“As a father of three daughters living here, I want a prosecutor aggressively working to put bad people behind bars, and he does that,” Vander Stoep said.

While the Chehalis attorney doesn’t do criminal law, he has worked with the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office on what he calls the vital issues of land use and flood control. He said he’s never seen in his 17 years as a civil matters lawyer, an elected prosecutor in Lewis County so focused on that side of the job.

“His office has been working every day on the side of property owners, flood victims and tax payers and doing an outstanding job,” Vander Stoep said.

One of his partners Rene Remund speaks of the importance of the civil issues the county government faces even more vividly.

The west end of the county, its heart, is facing economic destruction if the flooding issue isn’t solved, Remund said. No matter how well intentioned Meyer may be, these are complex issues Golden has been been dealing with the past three years, Remund said.

“I suspect he’d have to start from scratch and time is what we don’t have,” Remund said.

Remund said he has watched prosecutors come and go during his 26 years of practicing law in Lewis County. He’s not keen on someone leading the criminal side of the office who leans too heavily towards defense or towards law enforcement. The prosecutor holds enormous power, he said.

“The prosecuting attorney is the gatekeeper of justice in Lewis County,” he said. “The gatekeeper needs to be fair and independent.”

Ballots for the primary election must be postmarked by Tuesday or may be dropped off at the Lewis County Auditors Office before 8 p.m. that night.

The primary will determine two Court of Appeals positions, one of which represents Lewis and surrounding counties. For information about judicial races, check Voting for Judges.org.

Lewis County Fire District 5 is asking for a levy lid lift to support the department which protects the greater Napavine area.

Preliminary election results should be available online shortly after 8 p.m. at the Auditors Office website.

Quick details on the prosecutor candidates

Who: Jonathan Meyer
Political party: Republican
How old: 38
Home: Born Granite City, Ill. and raised in New Lennox, Ill. until eighth grade then family moved to Aberdeen. Moved to Olympia during college and then to Centralia where he bought a home in 1999.
Profession: Lawyer
Education: A.A. Grays Harbor Community College; B.A. St. Martin’s University 1995, major of political science; law school, Seattle University (Tacoma campus) 1998, juris doctorate
Previous political experience: none unless you count student body representative in eighth grade and then selected by secret ballot to become president of Lewis County Bar, until the end of this year
Campaign manager: Brittany Voie, of Voie Media Development
Campaign treasurer: wife Michelle Meyer
Money raised for campaign: $28,544
Family: Married wife Michelle in 1991, two daughters; Payton, 10, and Emily, 8. Has several older half and step siblings, but raised like an only child
Websites: on Facebook at “jonathan meyer for lewis county prosecutor” and www.meyerforprosecutor.com/

Who: L. Michael Golden
Political party: Republican
How old: 45
Home: Born in Mississippi and grew up in Pullman. As an adult moved to Tacoma. Moved to Lewis County in 2003, briefly back to Tacoma, and then to rural Chehalis in 2005.
Profession:
Lawyer
Education:
B.A. Washington State University 1993, major of political science, graduated summa cum laude; law school Seattle University (Tacoma campus) 1996, juris doctorate
Previous political experience: won a contested race in 2006 to become Lewis County prosecutor
Campaign manager: wife Lisa Golden
Campaign treasurer: wife Lisa Golden
Money raised for campaign: $19,182
Family: Married wife Lisa in 1990, divorced and remarried Lisa in May 2008; two sons, Conor, 11, and Ryan, 9.
Websites: on Facebook at “re-elect Michael Golden” and www.goldenforprosecutor.com

•••
Full disclosure: Jonathan Meyer’s campaign manager Brittany Voie is signed up as the individual who handles advertising for Lewis County Sirens.
•••
Coming on another day: More about the two men running for Lewis County prosecutor; what they say makes them best qualified for the office.

Also coming later: Who are those two men who want to be Lewis County coroner?

To read about Sheriff Steve Mansfield’s seat as Lewis County sheriff being challenged by deputy Sgt. Ken Cheeseman, click here

News brief: Part of small motorcycle caravan involved in collision on Interstate 5 near Napavine

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Four people were hospitalized after two motorcycles wrecked on Interstate 5 yesterday near Napavine and shut down the northbound lanes for a period of time.

The driver of a 2007 Harley Davidson was airlifted to Tacoma General Hospital with head injuries and his wife who was his passenger taken by ambulance to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to Lewis County Fire District 5.

Troopers were called about 12:05 p.m. to just south of the Napavine and state Route 508 interchange. The investigating trooper reported Timothy J. Martwick, 50, of Arlington, braked for slowing traffic and his motorcycle went onto its side coming to rest in the middle lanes. He is listed in critical condition this morning, according to a hospital spokesperson.

The state patrol only noted one motorcycle’s involvement in its collision memo yesterday evening about the incident.

District 5 Chief Eric Linn said a pair on a second motorcycle were also taken to Providence. They were part of a group of three motorcycles returning home from a trip to Las Vegas, Linn said.

The fire department was assisted by paramedics from Lewis County Fire District 6 and an ambulance from District 15. A Salkum firefighter in the backup and a physician also offered help, Linn said.

The state patrol reported yesterday the cause remains under investigation.

News brief: 2010 Camaro wrecks off state Route 505 near Toledo killing one man

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A single-vehicle crash about a mile east of Toledo yesterday left one man dead at the scene.

The Washington State Patrol was called about 12:20 p.m. to the collision near Salmon Creek Road. The southbound car had failed to negotiate a curve to the left, went off the highway to the right, struck several trees and came to rest at the bottom of a steep embankment on its side, according to authorities.

The occupant was described by the state patrol as a male whose identity wasn’t known last night. The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro was totaled.

The investigating trooper blamed the wreck on excessive speed.

The Lewis County Coroner’s Office on Monday said the driver is a Toledo resident, Lloyd Riedl.

The new Chief Deputy Coroner Dawn Harris – promoted on Aug. 4 to the position previously held for many years by Carmen Brunton, said she didn’t yet have Riedl’s age, but understood him to be in his 40s.
•••
This news story was updated at 1:45 p.m. on Monday Aug. 16, 2010.

•••
This news story was corrected at 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday Aug. 18, 2010. The coroner’s office initially reported an incorrect spelling for Mr. Riedl’s last name.