Archive for April, 2011

News brief: Two injured in three-vehicle crash near Toledo

Friday, April 1st, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A three-car collision near Toledo today totaled all three vehicles and sent two people to the hospital.

Michael J. Freedman, 21, of Toledo, sustained a head injury and was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital after the approximately 12:40 p.m. wreck, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Freedman was eastbound on Plomondon Road, and ran the stop sign as he attempted to cross state Route 505, according to the state patrol. A northbound Honda Accord struck his 1970 Toyota Corona which spun around and ran into a Ford Escape waiting at the stop sign on Jackson Highway, the patrol reported.

Melanie D. Chastain, 51, of Chehalis, the driver of the Honda, was taken to Providence with strains and bruises, according to the investigating trooper. The 72-year-old driver of the Escape, John H. Ross, of Toledo, was reportedly uninjured.

News brief: 29-year-old Rochester mother missing

Friday, April 1st, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help finding a missing 29-year-old Rochester woman.

2011.0401.lisa.linzy

Lisa D. Linzy

Lisa D. Linzy left her home about 8 p.m. on Tuesday to go visit a friend in Olympia and never arrived there, according to the sheriff’s office. She was reported missing last night.

“We’re just at the point now where we don’t know where she is and we’re certainly concerned for her well-being,” sheriff’s Lt. Greg Elwin said. “It’s out of character for her to just take off.”

After separating from her husband in Kent, she is now living with her parents on Case Road Southwest, according to Elwin. She has a child she shares custody with.

Linzy was last known to be driving a maroon-colored 2000 Toyota Camry. It’s license plate is 396 UCU.

She is 5-feet 4-inches tall and weighs about 115 pounds.

Detectives are chasing down people who know her and have already checked hospitals and jails, Elwin said.

Her family is heavily involved in looking for her, he said.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 360-786-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222.

2011.0401.lisa.linzy.camry

Linzy's maroon-colored 2000 Toyota Camry is similar to this one.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, April 1st, 2011

STOLEN VEHICLES

• A couple returning from a short hike yesterday in the Packwood area found only glass on the ground where their pickup truck had been parked. They had left the 1986 Ford Ranger on Slalom Way near the Cowlitz River dike and when they returned after about two hours, it was gone, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Criminal Deputy Gene Seiber said since the key was not left in the vehicle, the thief presumably broke the window and hot wired the truck. The value is estimated at $1,600.

• A black 1994 Ford Explorer was reported stolen from the 1100 block of West Pear Street in Centralia yesterday. The vehicle went missing sometime between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m., according to the Centralia Police Department. Its license plates reads 100 VQY.

WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME

• Several individuals were arrested at a residence in Centralia yesterday, some with warrants and others for obstructing. Officers went to the rental home on the 200 block of Hemlock Street with information on the location of a person wanted by the state Department of Corrections, according to police. “We showed up and one thing led to another once we started checking people,” Officer John Panco said. At about 1:30 p.m., officers arrested for obstructing a police officer: Lacey K. Malone, 23; Darcie N. Negrete; 19, and Cory M. Hughes, 18, all from Centralia. Arrested for outstanding warrants were Kelly M. Davis, 35, Centralia; Max A. Cross, 22, of Olympia; and Cory R. Aldrich, 24, Centralia. A few hours earlier, Dominic L. Combs, 23, of Centralia, was arrested in the same vicinity on a warrant and later in the afternoon, Peter D. Harris, 37, of Centralia, was arrested in the same vicinity for possession of methamphetamine. All were booked into the Lewis County Jail.

THEFT

• Centralia police took a report yesterday of five horns stolen from atop trains parked near Reynolds Avenue and Lum Road over the previous two or so weeks. The loss to Union-Pacific is estimated at $7,500, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police arrested an individual for second-degree burglary  yesterday after a resident of the 600 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue lost power tools from a garage and found some of his possessions at a Centralia pawn shop. Elijah Haskins, 22, of Onalaska, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Chehalis police.

• Three chain saws and hand tools valued at about $1,000 were stolen from a shed on the 300 block of Forest-Napavine Road south of Chehalis sometime between March 17 and yesterday, according to a report made to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office yesterday morning.

THREAT AT MEDICAL CLINIC

• Chehalis police were called to Steck Medical Center on the 1200 block of Bishop Road about 12:30 p.m. yesterday after a patient reportedly unhappy with his treatment made a comment if he had a bomb, he’d blow the place up. The 77-year-old man was contacted but no arrest was immediately made.

DRUGS AT SCHOOL

• An officer arrested a juvenile male just before 11 a.m. yesterday for possession of narcotics at Centralia Middle School, according to the Centralia Police Department. He was booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center.

ASSAULTS

• Centralia police took a report about 9:20 p.m. last night an individual was assaulted at the 2000 block of Borst Avenue by a subject trying to sell drugs.

• Centralia police reported this morning the case of a male subject who tried to trip an officer in the 900 block of North Tower Avenue last night will be be referred to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office for a possible charge of third-degree assault.

News brief: Flood watch ends

Friday, April 1st, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The National Weather Service has cancelled the flood watch, according to Lewis County Emergency Management.

Heavy rains mid-week prompted the watch, in particular on waterways running off the Cascade Mountains. The Cowlitz River crested two feet below flood stage, according to Emergency Management.

March ended with the second highest rainfall in Lewis County since 1890 – recorded at 9.93 inches, according to a news release.

Forecasts are for modest showers through the weekend.

News brief: Rochester resident knocks down two men with his car, troopers say

Friday, April 1st, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A 24-year-old Rochester man was arrested for vehicular assault after he allegedly knocked two men down with the open door of his car when he fled a confrontation about his speeding on a private driveway in Olympia last night.

The men were taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital with serious injuries after the 6 p.m. incident, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Troopers tracked down Kody M. Chipman and booked him into the Thurston County Jail.

Trooper Guy Gill reported the men, Dee L. Cooper, 70, of Olympia, and Daniel I. Kitchings, 37, of Rainier, were attending a scout meeting off of South Bay Road and confronted Chipman about his driving, telling him to stay because they were going to call police. The men were standing on the driver’s side of the car, when Chipman put the car in reverse and drove off, according to Gill.

The 1990 Subaru Legacy sustained an estimated $1,500 damage and was impounded, according to the state patrol.

Read about move over, slow down or face $248 ticket …

Friday, April 1st, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Olympian writes state troopers will begin today ticketing driver’s who don’t slow down or move over when passing emergency vehicles parked on the side of state highways.

Read about how to avoid a $248 fine here