Archive for May, 2011

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

MARIJUANA PIPE AT SCHOOL

• The case of a 15-year-old Onalaska High School student being allegedly found with a marijuana pipe at school is being referred for a possible charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. A deputy was contacted yesterday by the school principal, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said the girl was expelled for the remainder of the school year.

ASSAULT

• Chehalis police called to the 2200 block of Jackson Highway yesterday evening arrested a 20-year-old man for second-degree assault. Police detective Sgt. Rick McNamara said the victim, the suspect’s girlfriend, was choked. Thomas H. Soeby, of Chehalis, was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

THEFT

• A deputy was called yesterday morning to the Packwood Senior Center about a burglary believed to have occurred between Friday and yesterday. An employee discovered the coffee donation box had been moved and most of its cash was missing. The loss is estimated at as much as $80.

• Centralia police took a report yesterday from the 1600 block of North Pearl Street that a brown 1977 Chevrolet Nova was stolen over the Mother’s Day weekend. The car’s license plate reads IVW 182.

• Police were called about 4:30 p.m. yesterday about a car prowl on the 400 block of Lakeshore Avenue in Centralia.

• Chehalis police were called yesterday about a vehicle prowl on Northwest Airport Road.

News brief: Kitchen fire damages Country Cousin restaurant

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A kitchen fire early this morning has Country Cousin restaurant in Centralia shut down.

Fire investigators are on the scene trying to determine the cause. Nobody was reported injured.

Firefighters were called about 4:45 a.m. to the eatery on the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue just west of Interstate 5.

An employee called for help and got himself out; the restaurant was not otherwise occupied, said Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Casey McCarthy.

It originated in the cooking appliances.

“The sprinklers held the fire to under the hood system, and we were able to get in there and finish putting the fire out,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy described the damage as moderate and confined to the appliances.

Boistfort volunteer fire chief retires from his day job

Monday, May 16th, 2011
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Lewis County Fire District 13 Chief Gregg Peterson

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

BOISTFORT VALLEY – “He’s been teaching generations of firefighters how to do their jobs better,” he said. “He’s always been that anchor guy. I just want to say, we will miss you.”

– Dan Bosch, battalion chief with Valley Regional Fire Authority, speaking Sunday at the Baw Faw Grange where well over 100 individuals gathered to celebrate Lewis County Fire District 13 Chief Gregg Peterson’s retirement after 32 years as a professional firefighter in South King County.

Centralia kidnapping victim found alive and well; details sparse

Monday, May 16th, 2011

This news story was updated at 9 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 22-year-old man abducted from Centralia on Friday was located this afternoon at a hotel in Olympia.

Max Cross was uninjured, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

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Max Cross

Cross told sheriff’s detectives he was taken at knife-point by 24-year-old Seth T. Lloyd and two other unidentified males very early Friday morning from a residence on the 300 block of Big Hanaford Road, according to the sheriff’s office.

Lloyd, who was booked into jail on Friday night, was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of second-degree kidnapping.

The sheriff’s office says deputies believe the abduction occurred over a debt.

Both men are described as transient and living in Centralia.

The investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriff’s office.

A second man was also arrested Friday and initially suspected to be involved but new information today indicated he was not present during the kidnapping, Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead said this afternoon.

However, that man, Calvin C. Reece Jr., 38, of Centralia, was charged this afternoon with first-degree robbery, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred later Friday morning in Vader.

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Seth T. Lloyd

Charging documents give the following account of what deputies learned when they responded to a disturbance about 1:30 a.m. on Friday:

Cross and his girlfriend were staying a few days with Matthew Odle on Big Hanaford Road. The girlfriend overheard a phone conversation Cross had with two males, and she could hear them yelling through the phone.

At about 1 a.m. as they were watching television, a mini van came into the trailer park and stopped at Odle’s home.

Cross yelled at his girlfriend to hide and she did.

She said she heard a voice she believed to be Lloyd state, “What no money?” and “Empty your pockets.”

Odle told deputies the two males grabbed both of Cross’s arms, pushed him into the van and sped away.

Odle identified Lloyd and Reece through photographs as the two men involved.

Deputies found Lloyd about 7:25 p.m. the same day at Hill Krees Avenue  (sp) in Centralia where he ran, but was eventually apprehended. Lloyd denied kidnapping Cross, but admitted being with him earlier that morning.

Details about where Cross was taken were not included in the charging documents.

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Calvin C. Reece Jr.

The documents give the following account of deputies’ pursuit of Reece:

Deputies got information on Friday Reece was at Coma Road in Vader, and when they arrived, they saw Reece standing in the driveway with a large combat knife. He was taken into custody.

The resident of the home, Earl Sisk, told deputies Reece is a “shirt tail” relative and had been dropped off that morning by two males.

Sisk said Reece approached him with the six-inch-bladed knife and demanded he get him a firearm, and money and provide him transportation out of the area.

Sisk said Reece came inside and began demanding various items of value such as a battery charger, chainsaw chains and DVDs.

Sisk said he was able to get Reece outside in hopes a passerby would call 911. Then deputies arrived.

Reece was charged this afternoon with first-degree robbery. His bail was set at $100,000.

Odle was also in court, charged with unlawful possession of a firearm for allegedly having a gun in his hand and another on his hip during the events of Friday night.

Lloyd was represented in court this afternoon by defense attorney Bob Schroeter who told the court Lloyd had “only tangential involvement if anything.”

Judge James Lawler set his bail at $100,000.

Lloyd’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, May 16th, 2011

KIDNAPPING

• Two people were arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on Friday for kidnapping and robbery. Further details were not readily available. More later.

VEHICLE ROLLS OFF ROADWAY, THEN SPEEDS AWAY

• A man who barricaded himself in the attic of an rural Chehalis home was subsequently arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on Saturday. Just after 5 p.m., witnesses observed a vehicle traveling recklessly on Forest-Napavine Road East before it left the roadway, rolled over and got back on the road speeding away, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The  wrecked vehicle was subsequently found in a driveway on the 200 block of Rosebrook Road, where the man was hiding in the attic, according to the sheriff’s office. Officers eventually went into the attic and arrested Robert J. Lee, 47, of Winlock. He was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital with various scrapes and then booked for driving under the influence, resisting arrest and other offenses, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

ATV, TWO WOMEN ELUDE DEPUTIES TWICE

• A 41-year-old woman was arrested after a police pursuit of an ATV west of Randle on Friday. A deputy followed two females on an ATV on Kiona Road using lights and sirens but the vehicle turned up a long driveway and the passenger ran into the woods, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The driver, Tamara L. Hoffman, 41, of Randle, stayed with the vehicle and deputies tried to find the passenger, who they believed had a warrant for her arrest, according to the sheriff’s office. When deputies returned, Hoffman and the ATV were gone, the sheriff’s office reported. Hoffman was subsequently found dirty and wet from hiding in the woods, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. Hoffman was booked into the Lewis County Jail for a warrant and attempted eluding, Brown said.

THEFT

• Centralia police responding to a burglary in progress at the 200 block of Downing Road about 2 o’clock this morning subsequently arrested three juvenile males from a vehicle seen speeding away from the area, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police took a report about 4:45 p.m. yesterday of a burglary at the 2500 block of Fords Prairie Avenue in which a computer “tower” was stolen.

• A Chehalis man who parked his black 2002 Ford F250 pickup on the 1500 block of Bishop Road in Chehalis trying to sell it reported on Saturday somebody stole all its tires, custom rims and other parts, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is estimated at $4,800.

• Police were called on Friday afternoon to the 1100 block of South Pearl Street in Centralia about the theft of two fire extinguishers, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called about 11:30 p.m. last night to an apparent attempted vehicle prowl on the 1400 block of Johnson Road in Centralia.

• Centralia police took a report about 9:30 p.m. yesterday of a vehicle prowl on the 500 block of Harrison Avenue.

• Centralia police were called about 10 a.m. yesterday to the 1500 block of Windsor Avenue about a vehicle prowl that had occurred overnight.

• Chehalis police were called yesterday evening about charges showing up on an individual’s account following a vehicle prowl the night before in the Chehalis Home Depot parking lot in which a wallet was taken. Charges have been made in Chehalis and Rochester already, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

BB GUN VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called yesterday morning to two different locations where someone had shot out windows on vehicles with a suspected BB gun. One was at the 200 block of West Pear Street and the other at the 400 block of South Iron Street.

DRUGS

• A 21-year-old Tacoma woman is facing possible charges after a search during her booking into the Lewis County Jail yesterday turned up a small baggie of suspected methamphetamine and a pipe inside her person. Police took the woman to the jail after an approximately 4:15 p.m. call about shoplifting on the 100 block of High Street in Centralia. She was taken to the hospital for treatment and the case is being referred for possible charges of possession of methamphetamine and shoplifting, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 46-year-old man was arrested for suspected drugs and violating a protection order after an incident Sunday afternoon where he reportedly was banging on the door of his mother’s Ethel-area home, a place he was prohibited from going, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. When he was searched, deputies found six pills (of an unspecified nature) in his possession, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. Donald C. Johnson was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Brown.

• Police arrested a 28-year-old Auburn woman on Saturday evening at the 1600 block of South Gold Street for possession of heroin and stolen property. Tiffany King was arrested and then released, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police arrested a 58-year-old Centralia woman on Friday afternoon for possession of methamphetamine. Marcy A. Crites was booked into the Lewis County Jail after contact with an officer at the 1300 block of Crescent Avenue in Centralia.

• Chehalis police arrested a 22-year-old man on Friday when he showed up to a parking area near Penny Playground on Southwest 13th Street to allegedly sell some marijuana. Instead of the expected buyer, he was met by officers, according to police detective Sg. Rick McNamara. Richard S. Warren, of Chehalis, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for delivery of a small amount of suspected marijuana, McNamara said.

• A 23-year-old Centralia resident was arrested Friday morning at the 1200 block of West Main Street for possession of methamphetamine and a warrant. Dominic L. Combs was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

SCHOOL BUS COLLISION

• Centralia police took a report about 11:30 a.m. on Friday of what they described as a minor damage, non-injury collision involving a school bus at the 900 block of J Street.

ACCIDENTAL GUNSHOT

• Centralia police were called about 2 p.m. on Saturday to the emergency room at Providence Centralia Hospital where a 42-year-old Oakville man was being seen for a gunshot to his leg. Officers were told when he almost dropped a gun and tried to catch it, it fired into his leg. The accident occurred in the Oakville area, according to police.

News brief: Man missing from Centralia, possibly abducted

Monday, May 16th, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports this morning that deputies were called three days ago to a Centralia area residence and believe a 22-year-old man was kidnapped.

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Max Cross

Max Cross, 22, a Lewis County resident with no permanent address, is described as 5-feet 8-inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds, with black hair and blue eyes.

Deputies have not been able to confirm his welfare or his whereabouts and are concerned for his safety, the sheriff’s office stated in a news release this morning.

Deputies were called about 1:30 a.m. on Friday about a dispute at the 300 block of Big Hanaford Road, according to the news release. Information from witnesses led deputies to think Cross was taken against his will, the news release states.

Cross often frequents locations in Centralia, according to the sheriff’s office.

Further details were not readily available.

The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information on Cross or what occurred the night of the dispute to call 360-748-9286 or Lewis County crime Stoppers at 1-800-748-6422.

News brief: Pe Ell fire department’s stolen Jaws of Life returned

Saturday, May 14th, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Jaws of Life are back in the hands of the Pe Ell fire department.

The extrication equipment for automobile accidents – with an estimated replacement value of up to $10,000 – were among the tools and other items carried off during a burglary at the fire station last month.

Fire Chief Michael Krafczyk said sheriff’s deputies called him to identify it and other recovered property this morning.

“I’m not positive where they found it but we’ve got our Jaws of Life back, two SCBAs back – self-contained breathing apparatus – and a medical jump bag,” Krafczyk said today.

Sometime between April 23 and 27, someone broke into the station on state Route 6 and stole more than $18,000 worth of property belonging to the volunteer fire department.

The Jaws – consisting of a spreader, cutters and a power unit – are a necessity for responding to wrecks, according to Krafczyk.

“If somebody get trapped and we’re unable to use tools to get them out, it could be life or death,” he said.

An automatic mutual response was put into place with the Boistfort fire district in case they got any calls for vehicle collisions.

Then, the Rochester-area fire department loaned them a set of Jaws, Krafczyk said.

Last week, the sheriff’s office reported they found the fire department’s stolen tool box, axe and industrial light in the possession of a 24-year-old Centralia man.