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HUNGRY BULLY BOOKED FOR ROBBERY
• Chehalis police were called about 2:35 p.m. yesterday after a stranger stole a 36-year-old Chehalis man’s lunchbox from his truck at a worksite, allegedly armed with a screwdriver and refused to give it back, saying, “If you touch me, I will kill you.” An officer responding to the area at Arkansas and Louisiana avenues found the suspect sitting near an RV eating the lunch, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The suspect initially refused to give his name and was arrested for first-degree robbery, felony harassment, third-degree theft, vehicle prowl and obstruction, according to police, He was subsequently identified as 34-year-old Robert Pickering, police said.
BULLY WITH TRUCK
• A 19-year-old Rochester resident who allegedly intentionally struck a pedestrian with his truck at the 1100 block of Belmont Avenue in Centralia just before 2 o’clock this morning was arrested for second-degree assault. The victim was injured, according to police. Chase A. Deguise was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.
POLICE TASE SUSPECT
• A 43-year-old homeless person was arrested for a warrant and for possession of methamphetamine yesterday afternoon near the 700 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia. Peter D. Harris reportedly tried to flee from officers and a taser was used to subdue him, according to the Centralia Police Department. He was booked into jail without further incident, according to police.
JEWELRY MISSING FROM ELDERLY WOMAN’S HAND
• Chehahlis police were called on Saturday when an individual reported someone took the wedding ring off their 78-year-old mother’s finger at the 1700 block of Southwest Armstrong Court. The victim has been diagnosed with memory issues and police are investigating, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The combined wedding and engagement ring has a one-third carat center stone with two square stones on each side, with the band portion holding six matching square stones, according to police.
BURGLARY CHEHALIS
• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning that a shed was burglarized at the 1900 block of Oakview Drive in Chehalis. Missing is a drill press, a band saw, a Sears generator and two antique planers, according to the sheriff’s office. The break-in occurred sometime during the past three weeks, Cmdr. Dusty Breen said.
BURGLARY CENTRALIA
• A deputy was called about 6:50 p.m. on Sunday about a break-in to a former residence at the 1400 block of West Reynolds Avenue in Centralia. Someone cut wires on a surveillance system at the house being renovated into a business space, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators have a person of interest based on a vehicle seen, according to the sheriff’s office.
VEHICLE THEFT
• Centralia police took a report of a red Toyota Celica stolen about 5:30 a.m. today from the 400 block of East Pine Street.
• Chehalis police were called to the 200 block of West Main Street on Friday to take a theft report related to a U-Haul moving van rented on May 22 and not yet returned.
FAKE MONEY
• Chehalis police were called to the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue on Friday for a case related to counterfeit bills received during various transactions.
CAR PROWL
• Centralia police took two reports yesterday just after noon time of car prowls in which a window was broken out. At the 1100 block of West First Street, a purse was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department. At Rock and Pine street, a canvas tot bag was taken, police indicated.
DRUGS
• A 27-year-old Chehalis man was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm and drugs after being contacted and found to have a warrant yesterday evening at the 500 block of South Market Street in Chehalis. Jeremy D. Barnes was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department. In a backpack, an officer found a Glock pistol, pills and something with a brown residue, according to police.
• Police were called to Green Hill School on Southwest 11th Street on Saturday afternoon after a student-inmate was found in possession of marijuana.
VANDALISM
• Centralia police were informed just after 11 p.m. yesterday that two females were seen spray painting graffiti on street signs at West Cherry and Rock streets. No arrests had been made as of this morning.
VERY ROUGH NIGHT
• Chehalis police were called just after 7:15 a.m. on Saturday after firefighters discovered a broken window and a man sleeping on the floor in one of the next door offices in their building on the 400 block of Northwest Park Street. The 25-year-old man from Sammamish said he’d been out the previous evening with some friends and didn’t recall how he got in there or anything else that occurred, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Nichols P. Evanson was arrested for second-degree malicious mischief and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police. Other charges such as trespassing will be forwarded to prosecutors, a department spokesperson said.
ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD
• A 38-year-old Winlock woman was arrested overnight after she allegedly struck a building with her vehicle at the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia and drove off. Police were called just after 2 a.m. When Amanda J. Gerrits was subsequently contacted at Love’s Truck Stop in the Napavine area, a deputy noted the odor of intoxicants and that she had been driving on three tires and one rim, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. She said she knew she had wrecked, but had to get home, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said. Gerrits was arrested for hit and run, for driving under the influence and then booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• A 28-year-old Chehalis woman was arrested after a single-vehicle accident just before 2 a.m. on Saturday at the 600 block of Shorey Road outside Chehalis. The 1991 Ford Escort was totaled, but the driver Liberty A. Duncan declined treatment by responding medics, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Duncan was booked into the Lewis County Jail for driving under the influence, according to the sheriff’s office.
AND MORE
• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, third-degree theft, disorderly person, misdemeanor assault, slashed tires, suspicious circumstances … and more, among 141 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.
Guest column: Mourning deaths of fellow officers with mixed emotions and a pledge
Friday, July 8th, 2016By Rob Snaza
Lewis County Sheriff
As your sheriff, I can’t help but express my sadness for those who were injured and courageously lost their lives in the line of duty last night in Dallas.
What we do know is that these officers were killed and injured simply for the badges they pin over their hearts, doing what they swore to uphold, law and order and keeping their community safe.
Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza
We mourn the loss of our fellow officers and I am praying for their families, friends, and loved ones, and all the people of Dallas affected by this horrifically tragic event as they struggle to cope and understand.
Reflecting, I am truly overcome with mixed emotions, feelings of anger, bewilderment and disgust, to tears of sadness and helplessness, but most of all, emotions of what is next for us in public service.
It’s so very important for everyone to know just how proud I am of the men and women who work for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the phenomenally important work they do, day in and day out, protecting and serving our community. I am also proud of all those who put on the badge and commit themselves to serve their communities across this great nation, may we never forget who and why we serve.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office motto is, “Public Safety through Professional Service,” and our folks live that motto day in and day out, remaining committed to it without pause or fail.
These tragic events happening across the country cause me to think of where we are at in today’s society, what we can do better, and what needs to be collaboratively addressed.
I know that together we can and will continue to make a difference.
I believe in the freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest, but I refuse to condone any sort of violence associated with these rights we enjoy.
The First Amendment gives the freedom of speech, but nowhere does it say to cause violence, destruction of property, mayhem, or worse.
What I do believe in is, “All Lives Matter,” regardless of ethnicity, religion, or beliefs. We are sworn to protect and serve all citizens.
As a career law enforcement officer, some 25 years ago I took that oath and have never deviated from it.
As your sheriff, I pledge to you that the men and women of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office are and always will be committed to serving our communities and providing the very best we can in law enforcement as we strive to provide public safety through professional service.
Thank you for giving me the honor to serve as your sheriff, and I thank all the women and men of the sheriff’s office for choosing to serve our community.
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