Archive for October, 2010

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

STOLEN VEHICLE

• Centralia police took a report last night of a car stolen from North Tower Avenue and East Main Street. The victim said he left it in a parking lot with a “for sale” sign on it overnight, according to the Centralia Police Department. The victim learned from Olympia police the car’s license plate was left at the scene of a hit and run accident, Centralia police reported.

BREAK-IN AT CHEHALIS CHURCH

• Chehalis police were called to a church on the 100 block of Prindle Street on Tuesday morning about a theft that had occurred overnight. The door was discovered open and a computer was missing, according to detective Sgt. Rick McNamara.

PARTS LIFTED FROM VEHICLE AT CAR LOT

• Somebody stole a radiator right out of a truck at a car lot in Rochester, a loss of $450, not counting the $850 damage to the vehicle, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office reported today. It happened at JMJ Auto on the 10,100 block of U.S. Highway 12 sometime between 9 p.m. on Tuesday and the next day, according to the sheriff’s office. It was a 1990 Chevrolet truck.

BEER RUN HALTED

• Centralia police were called after a pair of females attempted to roll a shopping art full of beer out the door at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue about 8 p.m. yesterday. They were stopped by an employee but subsequently fled in a car, according to  the Centralia Police Department. One of the females was identified on a video and will be receiving a summons to court, police reported.

JAILED FOR SHOPLIFTING

• A man who had previously been “trespassed” from a business on the 600 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia was arrested early yesterday morning for second-degree burglary after he went there and was reportedly caught trying to steal something, according to the Centralia Police Department. Ronald R. Meeks, 56, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

RETIREMENT HOME WORKER ARRESTED FOR THEFT

• An employee of Chehalis West Assisted Living was arrested on Tuesday for third-degree theft, for allegedly taking $20 from a resident. Drasilla M. Ocamb, 34, of Chehalis, was arrested and released, according to detective Sgt. Rick McNamara. Police were called again yesterday to the retirement center on Northwest Quincy Place about a a resident who was missing numerous rings.

NO LEADS IN RABBIT’S DEATH

• Chehalis police were called to Southwest 11th Street Monday after a resident discovered their pet rabbit dead. Its cage was unlatched and other than an apparent  broken toe, the animal had no visible injuries, according to police. Detective Sgt. Rick McNamara said the individual suspected someone killed the animal but police have no leads and no suspects.

THEFT AND VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called to a car prowl on Northwest St. Helens Avenue about 5 p.m. on Monday.

• Centralia police took a report of the theft of a flag from a building on the 1000 block of West First Street on Monday afternoon.

• Centralia police were called about someone tearing down a sign to a business on the 700 block of North Tower Avenue on Monday morning.

DRUG ARREST

• Centralia police arrested a Rochester man yesterday for delivery of a controlled substance. Joseph E. Beck, 43, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for that offense and a warrant after contact with an officer about noontime on the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue.

BROKEN BONES LEAD TO ASSAULT ARREST

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday they arrested a 21-year-old Toledo man for second-degree assault following an investigation into a previous incident in which a 23-year-old man suffered a broken pelvis after he was thrown off the deck of of a Fluckinger Road home about seven feet onto concrete. Cody L. Salzer, 21, was booked into the Lewis County Jail last Thursday, according to the sheriff’s office. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said Salzer told a deputy he didn’t recall assaulting anyone as he had been too intoxicated but friends told him about it the next day.

NO ROBBERY AT MALL

• Chehalis police said on Tuesday they concluded a reported armed robbery at the Lewis County Mall over the weekend did not happen in Chehalis. The case was handed over to the Lewis County Sheriff’s office as it apparently occurred in the county, according to detective Sgt. Rick McNamara.

CAR LANDS 50 FEET OFF ROAD

• One person was hospitalized after a single-vehicle wreck at Highway 603 and Kaul Road northwest of Napavine on Tuesday night. Responders to he 7:30 p.m. call found the vehicle about 50 feet off the road, according to Lewis County Fire District 5.

News brief: Not guilty plea entered in Onalaska fatal shooting case

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Onalaska man accused of manslaughter after shooting at two suspected burglars outside his home in April pleaded not guilty this morning.

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Ronald A. Brady

Ronald A. Brady, went before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court to answer to charges of first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault.

The 60-year-old is free on a $50,000 unsecured appearance bond.

The events of April 19 left 56-year-old Thomas McKenzie of Morton dead. McKenzie’s wife, Joanna McKenzie, 32, escaped uninjured.

A trial date was set for the week of Jan. 10. Brady is represented by Centralia defense attorney Don Blair.

•••

Read previous stories:

• “Onalaska man accused in fatal shooting of suspected burglar goes before a judge” from Wednesday Oct. 13, 2010 here

• “Onalaska man charged in April’s fatal shooting of suspected burglar” from Sept. 24, 2010 here

Read about feds accuse Centralia woman of child pornography …

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 33-year-old Centralia woman was arrested Tuesday after allegedly taping herself having sex with a teenage New Jersey boy she met playing “World of Warcraft” online, according to a news story in the Seattle PI.

Read the news story by SeattlePI.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen here

News brief: Salkum resident airlifted after crash on U.S. Highway 12

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 72-year-old Salkum man is in serious condition after his pickup truck collided with a semi truck on U.S. Highway 12 in Ethel last night.

John W. Jones was flown by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with a broken pelvis after the approximately 8:30 p.m. wreck, according to the Washington State Patrol. His 1986 Ford R10 pickup was described as totaled.

A hospital spokesperson said Jones is in the intensive care unit this morning.

Troopers reported a 2003 Peterbilt with two trailers pulled onto the highway near Leonard Road heading west and Jones’ eastbound pickup struck one of the trailers.

The trailer sustained an estimated $1,000 damage, but the semi driver was reportedly uninjured. The driver, David D. Belding, 37, of Silverlake, is blamed by the patrol for failing to yield the right of way.

Read about lost elderly mushroom picker found alive …

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A mushroom picker in her early 90s was found alive early this morning as she was spending her second night lost in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near Mount Adams.

It’s the second time in less than two months an elderly person has been found safe after getting separated from fellow mushroom hunters in the forest. In September, an 84-year-old Lakewood man was lost in the Gifford Pinchot south of Randle for two nights.

Read The (Vancouver) Columbian’s story this morning about the latest rescue here

News brief: Pe Ell log truck driver hurt in crash this afternoon

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
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The log truck driven by Charles M. Stine of Pe Ell lays on its side on state Route 6 on Wednesday afternoon. / Courtesy Photo by Bud Goodwillie

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A log truck accident on state Route 6 this afternoon sent its driver to the regional trauma hospital with a head injury.

Charles M. Stine, 26, of Pe Ell, was traveling westbound near Spooner Road when he entered a curve to the right causing his load of logs to shift and his truck to roll to the left, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The 1999 Peterbilt tractor and flatbed trailer came to rest in the eastbound lane, according to the state patrol. The vehicle was declared a total loss.

Troopers were called just after 3 p.m. to the wreck about seven miles west of Chehalis.

Stine was flown by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was listed in satisfactory condition on Thursday morning.

The investigating trooper reported the driver was wearing a seatbelt. The cause is under investigation.

•••

This news story was updated on Thursday Oct. 21, 2010 at 12:45 p.m.

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Responders examine the log truck that rolled over on state Route 6 near Spooner Road on Wednesday / Courtesy Photo by Bud Goodwillie

Read about new vacant Thurston County jail facility could be used after all …

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Olympian published a story yesterday about Thurston County officials looking at options to avoid allowing a brand new jail facility to sit empty because the county can’t afford to operate it.

Read news reporter Nate Hulings news story “High likelihood for use of Thurston’s satellite jail” here