Archive for July, 2016

Hit and run charged after man ‘launched’ into the air by truck

Tuesday, July 12th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – While police arrested a 19-year-old Rochester resident for second-degree assault after he reportedly struck a pedestrian early yesterday morning at Taco Bell in Centralia, prosecutors today filed a charge instead of hit and run.

Hit and run is a class C felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

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Chase A. Deguise

Officers were called just before 2 a.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of Belmont Avenue and stated later in the morning their investigation showed Chase A. Deguise intentionally struck a male with his truck. The Centralia Police Department continued to investigate.

Deguise was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

Lewis County prosecutors wrote in court documents today that numerous witnesses were questioned and it appeared there was a dispute between Deguise and Kyle R. E. Morrison.

“During the dispute, Deguise drove his truck through the parking lot and struck Mr. Morrison, launching him in the air,” Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead wrote.

Morrison was found laying on the ground and was transported to the hospital with a laceration and bruising and may have a severe back injury, according to Halstead.

Deguise had driven home and didn’t contact law enforcement, charging documents state.

When he was contacted and questioned, he reportedly admitted knowing he’d hit the victim, according to Halstead.

Neither charging documents nor police gave any detail about the disagreement between the two.

Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Sara Beigh told a judge this afternoon when bail was addressed the defendant has no criminal convictions in his past, but does have two cases currently in municipal court.

Defense attorney Joely O’Rourke indicated Deguise grew up in Chehalis, lives with his grandparents in Rochester, is going to school and in the process of getting a job.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge Nelson Hunt set his bail at $5,000. An arraignment was scheduled for Thursday.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, July 12th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 1:28 p.m.

WALKING WOUNDED

• A 25-year-old man admitted he’d had too much to drink when responders answered a call from a clerk at Gee Cees Truck Stop that an individual was walking around with a scalp laceration so deep his skull was showing. The man told a sheriff’s deputy he’d been in a wreck and described where his vehicle could be found, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. He was rushed to the hospital and then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said this morning. His 1994 Ford Ranger was found along the 800 block of Jackson Highway South near Toledo, about 50 feet off the road and upside down, Brown said. The 911 call came about 3 a.m. on Sunday and the man is from Woodland, according to Brown. She said his injury was non-life threatening. Deputies don’t know for sure, but assume he walked from the scene of the collision to the truck stop, according to the sheriff’s office. Brown said he was not initially arrested for driving under the influence, as they are waiting for the results of a blood test to come back.

DRUGS

• Centralia police contacted a 27-year-old woman who crashed her bicycle on Harrison Avenue at Denny Way about 5:45 p.m. yesterday, learned she had an outstanding warrant, and subsequently found she was in possession of methamphetamine. Brittany R. Ross booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 2:50 p.m. yesterday regarding someone possibly smoking drugs in a parking lot at the 300 block of Southwest Third Street. Two individuals were contacted and both were issued citations for possession of marijuana under age 21, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Both are Chehalis residents and one is 20-year-old Isaac R. Kennedy and the other is a 17-year-old boy, according to police. A white substance located in a backpack associated with the teen will be tested and a possible charge could result after testing a department spokesperson said.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about a vehicle prowl about 8:35 a.m. yesterday at the 1100 block of Scammon Creek Road. Taken were three large tool boxes full of tools, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, probation violation, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances  … and more, among 143 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, July 11th, 2016
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•••

Updated

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.

News brief: Centralia house catches fire

Monday, July 11th, 2016
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House fire this morning in Centralia. / Courtesy photo

Updated at 10:17 a.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Nobody was hurt but an early morning fire in Centralia did substantial damage to a house in the 100 block of Clearview Heights.

Firefighters called about 3:30 a.m. were assisted by crews from Rochester, Chehalis and Lewis County Fire District 6.

Fire investigator Derrick Paul was among them. Paul said it started in the garage area, got into the attic and “basically burned the roof off.”

The first arriving crew found one side of the single-story home well-involved with flames, including an adjacent shed, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

All of the occupants were able to get outside safely, according to Fire Capt. Scott Weinert.

The cause is being investigated.

Paul investigated a house fire yesterday right across the street.

He said in that case it appeared a wire shorted out in the garage, igniting paper from the insulation on the ceiling.

“The owner caught it early on but it burned all the insulation in the garage,” he said. The damage was minimal.

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Crew puts water on roof of home. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority.

Sirens : Daily police and fire roundup

Sunday, July 10th, 2016
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•••

DRUGS

• Centralia police called about 11:35 p.m. yesterday regarding a disturbance a the 500 block of West Pear Street contacted a 26-year-old woman who had an outstanding warrant and subsequently arrested her for possession of methamphetamine. Jennie B. Young, of Chehalis, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Someone broke a car’s window and stole a purse at the 1400 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 10 a.m. on Friday.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police responded about 11:20 p.m. yesterday for a hit and run collision with two vehicles in the area of Harrison Avenue and Fords Prairie Avenue. Herbert Carbajal Ortega, 33 of Rochester, was arrested for driving under the influence as well as hit and run and then booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, harassment, hit and run, misdemeanor assault, malicious mischief, protection order violation, driving without license, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, firefighters get unexpected and sleepy early-morning visitor … and more, among 307 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Target of Centralia drug-related search warrant relocated to Thurston County

Friday, July 8th, 2016
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Brandon M. Perrott faces a judge today charged with four counts of delivery of methamphetamine.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Bail was set at $25,000 for the suspect that drug detectives were looking for when they raided a south Centralia house yesterday.

Brandon M. Perrott, 33, however, had moved out the day before.

A search warrant was served at 7 a.m., at the 1000 block of South Tower Avenue by the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team with the assistance of the Lewis County Regional SWAT Team, the Sheriff’s Enforcement Team and personnel with the state Department of Corrections.

Several people were detained, but only three were arrested. Law enforcement officers made their fourth arrest when shortly afterward they found Perrott at his new home on Reeder Road outside Tenino near Maytown in Thurston County.

Perrott was wanted for allegedly four times since early May selling methamphetamine to a confidential informant from the Tower Avenue residence while he was living there with his girlfriend and her family.

Her mother Penny Martin was among those in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon when the arrestees were brought before a judge.

Martin said they’d suspected what Perrott was up to and told him to leave. She was distraught over the condition of her home, after law enforcement officers conducted their search.

“Every room the officers went through, they broke things,” she said. “They opened every dresser drawer, and threw them down the hallway.”

She still can’t find her car keys, Martin said, noting one pile left of her belongings was taller than her bed.

Authorities posted the house uninhabitable, attributing the move to numerous code violations found inside and outside. Martin said they were in the process of remodeling the house they are purchasing.

Martin’s husband was arrested as when asked, he told police he had a methamphetamine pipe in his bedroom and gave them consent to search, according to court documents. Police found two meth pipes with residue and baggies with meth.

They also found two guns – a Winchester Model 70 and a Savage Arms Model 111 – which he is prohibited from having because of prior felony convictions.

Patrick N. Martin, 50, was charged today with possession of methamphetamine and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $10,000.

Thirty-one-year-old Jennifer N. Morillon, who rents a room at the home told police she had drugs in her pocket and in her bedroom they found a digital scale and numerous plastic bags with residue. She was charged with possession of methamphetamine. Her bail was set with a $5,000 unsecured bond.

Penny Martin’s son, 28-year-old Spencer R. Barney, was also arrested as police found in his bedroom an Windham AR-15 rifle and a Springfield 22 rifle, according to court documents. He too has prior felonies, and was charged with first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $10,000.

Perrott was charged with four counts of delivery of methamphetamine.

All four of the defendants are unemployed and qualified for court appointed lawyers, according to temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey was initially visibly perturbed when told the confidential informant involved has in the past been represented by all but two of the county’s contract defense attorneys. It would mean finding outside lawyers for the defendants to avoid conflicts, he said, raising his voice.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello then said he’d charged Martin, Morillon and Barney as co-defendants with each other, but they were not involved in Perrott’s case.

Masiello acknowledged outside the courtroom the three arrests at the house were more or less byproducts of the investigation and search warrant meant for Perrott.

Penny Martin didn’t make excuses for her husband or her son, but couldn’t understand the necessity for police to break things.

“When they came, we didn’t fight,” she said. “If my family’s done something wrong, they’ll have their day in court.”

Arraignments for all four of the defendants are scheduled for next Thursday.
•••

For background, read “News brief: Drugs, guns seized at south Centralia residence” from Thursday July 7, 2016, here

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The aftermath of a search warrant on South Tower Avenue. / Courtesy photo Penny Martin

Guest column: Mourning deaths of fellow officers with mixed emotions and a pledge

Friday, July 8th, 2016

By 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.

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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.