Archive for May, 2015

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, May 14th, 2015

Updated at 7:20 p.m.

ANOTHER CENTRALIA BUSINESS BREAK-IN

• Police were called about 9:40 a.m. yesterday to a burglary at a hair salon on the 1000 block of Kresky Avenue in Centralia. Someone broke a window to get inside and left with scissors and hair gel, according to the Centralia Police Department. It happened sometime after 6 p.m. the night before, according to police.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES

• A deputy responded about 9 a.m. yesterday to a home on the 200 block of Chehalis Valley Drive outside Chehalis where someone had kicked open a door and stolen more than $5,000 worth of valuables. Among the missing property were two big screen televisions, two small safes, diamond earrings, cash and legal documents, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It happened sometime before 7:30 a.m. and after 9:30 p.m. the night before, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Someone burglarized a home on the 1800 block of state Route 505 outside Toledo yesterday between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., making off with various items including a 65-inch Sansui television, a small safe and subwoofers, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. There was some evidence left at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Centralia police were called at 5:30 p.m. yesterday to an apartment on the 2000 block of Borst Avenue in which a laptop computer was taken in a burglary.

CASH MISSING

• Centralia police were called about 4 p.m. yesterday to the 500 block of Hillkress Street regarding the theft of an unspecified amount of money.

ANOTHER HONDA CAR STOLEN

• Chehalis police were called just after 5 a.m. today about a red 1993 Honda Prelude missing from where it was parked last night in front of a residence on the 400 block of Northeast Washington Avenue. The stolen car has tinted windows, after market black wheels, after market stainless exhaust and “low profile” tires, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Someone broke out the driver’s side window of a vehicle parked on the 1500 block of Delaware Avenue in Centralia and took an LED flashlight, according to a report made to police about 5 o’clock this morning.

• Centralia police at 9:10 a.m. yesterday about a vehicle prowl on the 200 block of East Cherry Street.  A case of soda pop had been removed from the open trunk, according to the Centralia Police Department.

HEROIN OVERDOSE

• Chehalis firefighters were called about 7:45 p.m. yesterday for an unresponsive man due to a heroin overdose at a home on Southwest McFadden Avenue. He was revived and transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to Capt. Rob Gebhart. “It’s a pretty common occurrence these days,” Gebhart said. “We’re probably going to a couple of them a month, at least; it seems to go in spurts.” Gebhart said typically his crew starts rescue breathing or CPR if the patient needs it and arriving medics administer Narcan, a drug that binds with the opiate receptors and can almost instantly take the depressive heroin effect away and wake them up.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, suspicious circumstances, collisions on city streets, stolen goods turning up at a pawn shop, a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and trying to obtain personal information … and more.

Police: Chehalis resident jailed for shooting cousin on neighborhood street

Thursday, May 14th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Police are investigating a shooting last night involving two men who are relatives that occurred on a residential street in Chehalis.

One man is in custody and the other was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

Both are 36-year-old Chehalis residents.

It happened on Southwest William Avenue near Fourth Street about 8:30 p.m., about three blocks from the suspect’s home, according to police.

Police say the victim was driving a car and the suspect was walking the same direction on the sidewalk when the suspect fired a round that struck the rear quarter panel.

“The victim then pulled over to the side of the road and started to get out of the car when the suspect approached him and fired another round,” police stated in a news release.

Police department spokesperson Linda Bailey said the victim put his hand up by his head to block, and the bullet went through his hand. He also had an injury to the side of his head, but detectives aren’t certain yet what caused it, she said.

Bailey said the two are cousins.

“We still are investigating the reason for the shooting,” she said this morning. “That has not become clear yet.”

The suspect, Chan H. Oscar, then ran off and law enforcement officers from Chehalis, Centralia, the state patrol and the sheriff’s office scoured the area for the next three and a half hours, according to police.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was conscious and sitting on the bumper of a car when firefighters arrived. He was quickly transported away from the scene to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the Chehalis Fire Department.

A street was blocked off and a search of the area was conducted using a police dog, according to Bailey.

Shortly after midnight, officers saw a sport utility vehicle leave a residence where Oscar is known to stay, according to police. Officers conducted a “high risk traffic stop” a few blocks south of the shooting, at Southwest Pacific Avenue and 10th Street.

Oscar, the passenger, was taken into custody without further incident. A 9 mm semi-automatic handgun was recovered at the same time, Bailey said.

Another occupant of the vehicle, Lenard A. Carlile, 50, also from Chehalis, was arrested for rendering criminal assistance, according to police.

Oscar was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree assault, police said.

News brief: Stockpile of suspected stolen jewelry uncovered in Glenoma

Wednesday, May 13th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Hundreds of pieces of jewelry believed to have been stolen in various burglaries during the past year in the east end of Lewis County have been recovered at a residence in Glenoma, and the sheriff’s office is looking to reunite the pieces with their rightful owners.

The cache of goods was found by detectives on Friday following a complex investigation conducted over several weeks, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

“It is believed many victims may not have reported the theft of their jewelry and/or may be unaware any is missing,” the sheriff’s office states in a news release today.

Much of the find is costume jewelry dating from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, according to Chief Deputy Stacy Brown.

Among the pieces are earrings, broaches, bracelets, necklaces, tie clasps, specialized pins, watches, belly dancing chains, tourist collection coins, rings, and cuff links. They are being held in the custody of the sheriff’s office.

Brown indicates an investigation is ongoing, so authorities are not releasing further details about the recovery of the items.

Members of the public are asked to call detective Gene Seiber at 360-740-1324 if they believe they are missing any of the aforementioned described jewelry. They will need to provide specific description of the jewelry prior to it being released, Brown states.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, May 13th, 2015

CENTRALIA STRUCK WITH MULTIPLE BURGLARIES

• Police were called about 6:10 a.m. today to a burglary at a business on the 1600 block of Kresky Avenue in Centralia. Someone smashed the glass door, got inside and left with a laptop computer and money, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Just before 10:30 a.m. yesterday, police were called to the Alder Street Baptist Church in Centralia where someone had broken through a door. The only thing that appeared to be missing from the building on the 1000 block of Alder Street was a drill, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called to the Shell station on the 1000 block of Ellsbury Street just before 9 a.m. yesterday following a burglary. Several cartons of cigarettes and chewing tobacco were among the items missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BEAR HUG ASSAULT

• A 30-year-old homeless woman getting booked into the jail for a protection order violation yesterday was further arrested for third-degree assault after she allegedly walked into the arresting officer and grabbed him in a bear hug, according to the Centralia Police Department. The incident involving Kendra J. Chancy occurred around 10:45 a.m., according to police.

VEHICLE THEFT

• A shopper at Home Depot finished his business inside the Chehalis store and found his truck and trailer missing from its parking spot yesterday evening. Police called at 6:30 p.m. to Northwest Louisiana Avenue soon learned the victim’s family member discovered the vehicle abandoned on Northwest Florida Street, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Some tools were missing, according to police.

• Someone stole a 28-foot travel trailer from where it was parked at Kiona and Savio roads in Randle. A deputy dispatched yesterday to talk with its owner learned the Prowler trailer was last seen a week earlier, and was for sale. The loss is estimated at $500, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

STOLEN JEWELRY

• Police took a report yesterday from a downtown Centralia business on the 200 block of North Tower Avenue of a diamond ring missing from a display case.

CAR PROWL

• Someone stole money and GPS unit from a vehicle parked at the 400 block of South Oak Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 9:30 a.m. yesterday.

• Centralia police were called just before noon yesterday about a vehicle prowl on the 700 block of South Gold Street. Tools and medications were missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 30-year-old Centralia woman was arrested for possession of heroin and a a warrant last night after contact with an officer at the 400 block of West Plum Street in Centralia. Courtney S. Smith was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, driving with suspended license; responses for dispute, runaway teen, misdemeanor assault, protection order violation, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, a gas line cut on a vehicle, someone walking out of a store with a cart full of unpaid for groceries … and more.

News brief: Local election results finalized

Wednesday, May 13th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The final results of the special election certified yesterday show voters in the Mossyrock area failed to approve a bond to build a new fire station.

They needed at least 60 percent yes votes, but just shy of 56 percent of voters were in favor of the proposal for up to $1.2 million in bonds.

The Centralia area’s Riverside Fire Authority passed a measure to continue its EMS levy, with 70 percent of voters checking the yes box on their ballots.

The results of the April 28 special election can be found here.
•••

For background, read “News brief: Election day for three local measures” from Tuesday April 28, 2015, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, May 12th, 2015

TEEN BOOKED FOR TAKING FOOD CARD BY FORCE FROM GRANDMA

• A 17-year-old Centralia boy was arrested after throwing a temper tantrum and allegedly assaulting his grandmother in trying to get an EBT card yesterday. Police were called about 1:20 p.m. to the home on the 1100 block of South Tower Avenue where they were told he threw a coffee table breaking it after his grandma told him he couldn’t have the card, and shoved her to the ground to get her purse, according to the Centralia Police Department. Officer John Panco said the teen took the large wooden table leg and swung it at her, and then slammed it to the floor next to head. He used the leg to hit the TV screen on his way out the door, taking a chunk out of it, Panco said. “The grandma did not know much more than he just wanted the food card,” Panco said. Officers found the 17-year-old near Burger King and booked him into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center for second-degree robbery and second-degree assault, according to police.

GREEN HILL ASSAULT

• Chehalis police yesterday took a report from an individual from Green Hill School about an inmate-student swinging a dust mop handle at a staff member several days earlier. The 38-year-old man was able to block the blows with a mattress, according to the Chehalis Police Department. It involved a different staff member but the same suspect as the incident in which an employee got urine thrown on him, according to a police department spokesperson.

BACKYARD BREAK-IN

• Someone went into a backyard on the 2000 block of Lynn Road in Centralia and left with a pressure washer, according to a report made to police yesterday afternoon.

BUSINESS BURGLARY

• Police were called about 8:10 a.m. yesterday about  break-in to a business on the 100 block of West Walnut Street in Centralia.

THEFT OF WIRING

• Centralia police were called just before 5 p.m. yesterday about the theft of wire from the 1500 block of South Gold Street. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THEFT OF FLAG

• An American flag was stolen from its pole at the cemetery on the 1800 block of Van Wormer Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police yesterday.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Chehalis police were called yesterday by a rural Chehalis resident after the discovery of the possible theft of items from her motorhome while it was being repaired at the 900 block of Northwest Maryland Avenue in Chehalis.

• Centralia police were called about 9:20 a.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 2000 block of Borst Avenue in Centralia. Taken was a purse, according to the Centralia Police Department.

WRECK

• A 23-year-old Chehalis woman was arrested for driving under the influence following a head-on collision last night at Reynolds Avenue and Johnson Road in Centralia. Officers responding after the approximately 8:50 p.m. call report that two individuals sustained minor injuries. Katie L. Wright was also booked for driving with a suspended license and reckless driving, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, violation of no contact order, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving with suspended license; responses for dispute, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, fake $20 bill passed at a convenience store, request for assistance with unruly teenagers … and more.

News brief: A time to say thank you to police

Tuesday, May 12th, 2015
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Red roses for remembrance share the pedestal with The Guardian statue in Chehalis.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A medal of valor and other commendations will be awarded tonight as Centralia police recognize courage, service and sacrifice among their ranks.

The annual ceremony will take place at Centralia City Hall during the city council meeting, according to Chief Bob Berg.

It’s National Police Week. Friday is National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, time set aside and established by Congress to pay tribute to those officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities, according to Berg.

The retiring police chief notes that 117 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty across the country last year, an increase of 10 from the year before.

Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza took the opportunity yesterday to issue a news release noting the week is a solemn reminder of how dangerous their jobs can be.

“My hat is off to all of the men and women in law enforcement who choose this honorable profession, are true guardians, and are willing to lay down their lives to protect their neighbors,” Snaza stated.

The Lewis County Law Enforcement Memorial, a bronze statue installed outside the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis last year, will be decorated with red roses each day this week, as a tribute to fallen local officers.