Archive for September, 2015

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, September 7th, 2015
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TWO DEAD IN HIGHWAY 12 WRECK

• Two people are dead and one is critically injured following a multi-vehicle wreck this morning about seven miles east of Randle. Troopers and aid were called around 10 a.m. to the scene on U.S. Highway 12 near Cascade Peaks Campground, according to the Washington State Patrol. State Patrol Sgt. Mike Cournyer said it involved a semi truck, a passenger car and a pickup truck pulling a camp trailer. The highway has been closed in both directions all day, with a detour in place, but tow trucks are at the scene now and it could be cleared in the next 30 minutes, Cournyer said. Of the six people involved, two were not hurt and one was taken to Morton General Hospital with a minor injury, according to Cournyer. The critically injured person was taken to Tacoma General Hospital, he said. A dog died as well, he said. More information should be available later.

OTHER COLLISIONS

• Morton officers were called at 2 p.m. on Saturday to a two vehicle accident at the intersection of Second Street and Main Avenue. A motorcycle failed to yield to oncoming traffic, according to the Morton Police Department. No one was seriously injured, according to police.

• At 3:40 p.m. on Saturday, officers responded to a motorcycle versus pickup wreck in the 400 block of Second Street in Morton. The driver of a motorcycle was taken to Morton General Hospital for medical treatment, according to the Morton Police Department. The accident is under investigation.

THEFT

• Police were called to the wastewater treatment plant on the 3000 block of U.S. Highway 12 last Tuesday regarding “some things taken from the site.” Police are still waiting for the estimated dollar loss, according to the Morton Police Department.

CHILD EXPLOITATION

• KOMOnews.com reports a 66-year-old Centralia man was among nine people arrested during an undercover operation in Kitsap County in which subjects responding to online ads traveled to agreed locations for meetings, with an interest in sexual exploitation of children. The individuals, none of which had any prior felony convictions, were arrested and charged with either sexual abuse of a child, possession of child pornography or sexual exploitation of a child, according to KOMOnews.com. Authorities say the operation generated hundreds of responses. The sting was a collaborative effort involving  the WSP’s Criminal Investigative Division, Investigative Assistance Division, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations and Kitsap County Prosecutors.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, protection order violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, driving with no license; responses for alarm, dispute … and more.

Lewis County Sheriff’s Office arrests man in Dallas for long-distance sexploitation of local teen

Sunday, September 6th, 2015
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By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Texas man who allegedly engaged in an online sexual relationship with a 14-year-old Lewis County boy is jailed following his arrest on a $100,000 warrant.

The case was investigated last summer, charges were filed in June and law enforcement traveled to Dallas last week to pick up 31-year-old Lavon S. Sellers.

Sellers’ arraignment is scheduled for Thursday in Lewis County Superior Court.

The teen was interviewed in August 2014 after his parents discovered the long distance romantic relationship over the phone and the Internet.

According to charging documents, the boy told a deputy he’d met Sellers a few weeks prior on a site called “Hot or Not” and the two communicated using KiK Messenger and Skype.

The boy said he’d initially told Sellers he was 16 but later confided he was actually 14. Sellers allegedly had plans to come to Washington and take the boy to Seattle, with a plan in which the teen would tell his parents he was staying with a friend.

Charging documents say deputies responded to the family home for a prescription drug overdose emergency after the boy was caught once more Skyping with Sellers after being ordered by his father not to.

It wasn’t until February of this year that the sheriff’s office confirmed one of the phones taken into evidence had images substantiating child exploitation, according to the court documents.

Sellers is charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of communication with a minor for immoral purposes and one count of luring.

When he appeared before a judge on Thursday, Sellers’ temporary defense attorney said he worked at a foundry in Dallas – until his arrest – and had no criminal history.

The judge decided his bail should be $100,000, the same amount as the arrest warrant.

News brief: Fire destroys Onalaska garage

Sunday, September 6th, 2015
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The site of the former garage. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 6

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Members of three fire departments responding just before 11 o’clock this morning to a structure fire in Onalaska found a detached garage fully engulfed in flames.

“Quick action from arriving crews kept damage to the house at a minimum, with the majority of (that) damage affecting the exterior of the structure,” Lewis County Fire District 6 Firefighter DJ Hammer said in a news release.

It happened at the 100 block of Hoyt Road.

Hammer described the garage as a total loss, and noted he was unaware of any injuries.

A fire investigator is looking into the cause.

News brief: Fire near Mineral still smolders

Sunday, September 6th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

More than 150 firefighters continue to work at the Alder Lake fire which has remained at about 280 acres since the rainy weather kicked in a week ago.

The forest fire is 17 percent contained.

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Alder Lake Fire

Minimal fire behavior has been observed due to the cooler temperatures and precipitation, but smoldering continues in the heavy down and woody debris, according to a report from incident commanders this morning.

The lightning-caused fire was first reported August 11, burning about five miles from Mineral.

There is a chance of showers for the next couple of days but a warming and drying trend expected over the next week will allow fuels to be receptive to fire spread, according to report.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reiterated the total burn ban is still in effect throughout unincorporated Lewis County until further notice.

“Even though we have had some rainfall, the brush and ground remain dry enough that fire is a concern,” Community Development Director Lee Napier stated in a news release before the three-day weekend. “In addition, should a fire begin, obtaining water during times of a depleted water supply could make fighting a fire more difficult.”

However, the state Department of Natural Resources announced on Friday it would allow campfires in established fire rings in official campgrounds on western Washington lands protected by DNR.

The state agency  advised the public to check local restrictions and with campground hosts before considering campfires.

DNR also noted that those who negligently allow fire to spread or who knowingly place forestlands in danger of destruction or damage are subject to possible civil liabilities and criminal penalties under state law. DNR, as well as anyone harmed by such a fire, may pursue damages that include loss of property and fire suppression costs.
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For background, read “News brief: Rain slows forest fire burning near Mineral” from Monday August 31, 2015, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Sunday, September 6th, 2015
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ASSAULT NEAR BAR

• Centralia police responding about 2:15 a.m. today to a report of an assault near a tavern on the 100 block of South Tower Avenue found a man lying in the bushes; witnesses said he had been punched and was highly intoxicated. Aid was called and the victim was transported to the emergency room at Providence Centralia Hospital,  according to the Centralia Police Department. The incident is being investigated, according to police.

COMPUTER USE INVESTIGATION

• Centralia police say they were dispatched yesterday afternoon to a report of possible child pornography being viewed on a public computer at the 100 block of South Silver Street. Detectives will be following up,  according to the Centralia Police Department.

COLLISION

• Two people were injured when a car and pickup truck hauling a horse trailer collided yesterday on U.S. Highway 12 just west of Packwood. Troopers called about 9:20 a.m. found a Buick Lasabre driving by a Glenoma woman was traveling westbound and making a lefthand turn when it was hit by the eastbound Chevrolet pickup truck driven by a Curtis man. Randall L. Meyn, 56, was not hurt, but his 19-year-old passenger was, according to the Washington State Patrol. Transported to Morton General Hospital were Nicole J. Marsyla, 19, from Winlock, and Amber T. Cuff, 39, of Glenoma, according to the state patrol. The wreck was blamed on failure to yield. Cuff’s 1002 Buick was described as totaled.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, driving under the influence, protection order violation, driving with suspended license … and more.

News brief: Family’s hike from southern California ends in East Lewis County

Saturday, September 5th, 2015

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 13-year-old boy who injured his leg while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with his family was brought out on horseback today from south of Packwood by search and rescue volunteers.

The San Diego-area family of four had begun their journey at the Mexican border and authorities got word of their personal emergency beacon activation shortly before 8 o’clock this morning, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s Cmdr. Dusty Breen said he understood about six volunteers on horseback located the family in an area near Chamber Lake just after noon. The specific area was described as southeast of Snowgrass Flats, about seven miles from the lake.

“SAR personnel were able to get the boy out on horseback and the rest of the family walked out on foot,” Breen said.

The child was transported to the hospital for evaluation, according to Breen.

The sheriff’s office said the two adults and two children had departed on April 12 and hoped to reach the Canadian border late this month.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Saturday, September 5th, 2015
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THEFT

• Somebody stole two walkers from in front of a home on the 2500 block of Fords Prairie Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police yesterday afternoon.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police arrested a 26-year-old who allegedly tried to flee on a bicycle after a vehicle prowl around 3 o’clock this morning at the 200 block of East Summa Street. Robert L. Huey was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called yesterday to the 700 block of J Street in Centralia about a vehicle prowl in which the stereo was taken.

COLLISION

• Firefighters called at 9:15 p.m. yesterday to a rollover accident north of Napavine found a vehicle on its top with one male trapped inside. Both lanes at the scene at the 200 block of Hamilton Road were shut down for the rescue and the investigation, according to Newaukum Valley Fire and Rescue. Firefighter Maria Kennedy indicates the patient was transported priority to Providence Centralia Hospital where he was stabilized and then immediately airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He was in critical condition, according to Kennedy. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol are investigating, she said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, driving with no license; responses for protection order violation, misdemeanor theft … and more.