Archive for August, 2016

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Lacey teen gets adult court in theft of police chief’s car case

Wednesday, August 31st, 2016
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Dashaud D. Cummings, 17, consults with temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The 17-year-old boy arrested for allegedly stealing a police car as he tried to get away from troopers chasing him for speeding in Chehalis has been charged as an adult in Lewis County Superior Court.

Dashaud D. Cummings was arrested on August 10, captured by a police dog in the woods off Interstate 5 a couple of miles from where Chehalis Police Department Chief Glenn Schaffer’s car was taken at Riverside Golf Course.

Cummings was brought before a judge this afternoon, who asked if this was the case where the individual was up on a roof while law enforcement officers were searching for him, and then took the police car.

A decline hearing was held in juvenile court, allowing the case to be moved in adult court, according to Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Joel DeFazio.

The Lacey resident is charged with second-degree assault, attempting to elude and theft of a motor vehicle as well as hit and run.

Charging documents indicate he told a police officer he was running because he didn’t want to get arrested for a warrant. He told the officer he got into one of the patrol cars, was tased,  and fled, later running on foot, according to the documents.

A Chehalis Police Department spokesperson previously related that as officers approached the police car, the suspect put it in reverse, striking a trooper with the open door, knocking the trooper down.

When Officer Matt McKnight informed him he had injured a trooper, Cummings responded, “I told him to move,” the documents state.

The 15-year-old girl who with him told police she told him to stop and that he didn’t have a license.

Defazio asked that the defendant be held on $100,000 bail.

Temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke told the judge Cummings has a stable address with his aunt, his legal guardian who is a nurse and asked for lower bail.

Judge Richard Brosey set bail at $35,000.

Centralia attorney David Brown represented Cummings in juvenile court and was appointed to continue representing him.  The arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 8.
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For background, read “Theft of police chief’s car could mean adult court for teen” from Thursday August 11, 2016, here

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Judge hands down slightly lighter term in Winlock child porn case

Wednesday, August 31st, 2016
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Donald L. Schnacker takes a seat beside his defense attorney Jacob Clark in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Winlock man with an an intellectual ability his lawyer described as less than that of a 7-year-old was given a shorter than standard sentence for sharing child pornography on the Internet today in Lewis County Superior Court.

Donald L. Schnacker, 30, was arrested by the FBI in December and has been held since then in the Lewis County Jail.

Investigators found evidence Schnacker used his phone and the Kik messenger app to access wireless internet from the library.

“Unfortunately he got into a situation where someone at the library had introduced him to child pornography and he began sharing it,” attorney Jacob Clark told the judge.

Clark told the judge his client at a young age suffered brain damage and also has mental health problems.

“I think initially, he didn’t realize it was a crime,” Clark told the judge. “His family explained to him it was not appropriate.”

Clark apologized in advance as he didn’t want to insult Schnacker, but said he believed his client’s intelligence is below his 7-year-old’s. He can learn, but his retention is problematic, Clark said.

Prosecutors and his lawyer had worked out a plea deal and asked the judge to give Schnacker 12 months in jail, instead of 15 to 20 months in prison. He had pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of dealing in depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Bohm asked for the 12 months but didn’t offer any details for her request.

Judge Richard Brosey agreed, for the reasons given by Clark, and imposed 36 months of community custody after release. He also ordered Schnacker not to use a computer which is connected to the Internet.

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Prison for two more participants in Centralia drug-related robbery

Wednesday, August 31st, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The third of four suspects was sentenced today for a July incident which authorities alleged involved a ruse to obtain heroin that resulted in a struggle inside a car with bear spray and a box cutter in Centralia.

Jon Parker, 32, pleaded guilty this morning in Lewis County Superior Court to conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery. Judge Richard Brosey followed the agreed recommendation that came out of a plea agreement and gave him one year and one day in prison.

Parker chose not to make a statement on his own behalf.

He, Andrea Parker, 34, of Chehalis; Robert Plasencia, 29, of Napavine; and Kiana J. DeLaRosa, 18, of Chehalis, were all arrested after the early morning July 30 events at the 1600 block of North Scheuber Road.

Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello said essentially the plan was already in place when the Parkers arrived. DeLaRosa had asked her friend to get her some heroin, saying she was drug sick, he said.

Court documents describe that when the two victims arrived, DeLaRosa began saying they’d stolen $100 from her, and then a purse and a backpack were taken from them.

DeLaRosa pleaded guilty on Friday to second-degree robbery but her sentencing has not yet taken place.

Andrea Parker on Monday pleaded guilty to the same offense as Jon Parker – conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery – but also to four other cases from this year, involving drug possession as well as forgery and second-degree identity theft. She was given 50 months in prison.

Plasencia got 22 months when he was sentenced early last week for second-degree robbery.

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For background, read “Bear spray, box cutter and heroin” from Friday August 12, 2016, here

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Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, August 31st, 2016
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•••

SHERIFF’S OFFICE SEEKING CHEHALIS MAN FOR ASSAULT, THEFT

• Deputies are looking for a 34-year-old Chehalis man who allegedly assaulted his former significant other at the 200 block of Roe Road in Winlock yesterday, and fled with her .22 rifle. Deputies responded about 3 p.m., searched and could not find him, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. They learned later he returned, broke a window and stole a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am, sheriff’s Cmdr. Dusty Breen said. The car was subsequently located at the 400 block of state Route 506 and a K-9 track was conducted but was unsuccessful, Breen said. A case for fourth-degree domestic assault, theft of a firearm, theft of a motor vehicle and first-degree burglary is being sent to prosecutors to review for charges against Adam C. Sullivan, according to the sheriff’ office.

AUTO THEFT

• A black 1997 Honda Civic was taken sometime during the night from the 1100 block of Scammon Creek Road in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 7:20 a.m. today. It has a license plate reading 174 ZSQ, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called just before 7 a.m. today about a beige 1988 Honda Accord stolen during the night from the 300 block of Southwest Third Street. It has a license plate reading ALL 4987, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 12:45 p.m. yesterday about a 2006 Pontiac stolen from the 600 block of H Street. The car was recovered later in the night by the Washington State Patrol, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A deputy responded just before 11 a.m. yesterday to the 300 block of Foster Creek Road in Toledo where a car had been stolen from a field sometime since 3 a.m. on Monday. The 2003 Hyundai Elantra has four doors and is valued at about $2,000, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

FORGERY

• A 29-year-old Centralia woman was contacted by police yesterday morning at the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue where she had allegedly used a stolen credit card to get a motel room. The victim was someone she knows, according to the Centralia Police Department. Regina D. Ashley, 29, of Centralia, was arrested for forgery and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

SUPER SHOPLIFTING

• Centralia police responding to an approximately 10:50 a.m. call yesterday to the 100 block of West High Street arrested two individuals for organized retail theft. Booked into the Lewis County Jail were Cleo R. Palmer, 44, of Seattle, and Juanquita A. Knox, 44, of Tacoma, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called about 2:25 a.m. for a car prowl at the 1700 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue. Missing is a Smith and Wesson pistol, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

HOSPITAL ISSUES

• Bryan J. Hill, 24, of Chehalis, was arrested about 7:45 p.m. yesterday for interfering with a health care facility and third-degree malicious mischief at the 900 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Officers were called about 8:30 p.m. yesterday to the 900 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia to take a report of a patient striking a health care provider.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, third-degree theft; responses for alarm, dispute, third-degree theft, misdemeanor assault, graffiti to a building, suicidal person, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, barking neighbor dog … and more among 148 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

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Top ranking deputy to lead Evergreen college’s police force

Tuesday, August 30th, 2016
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Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Stacy Brown is resigning to take a new job.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office’s chief civil deputy is moving up, taking a position as chief of police services at Evergreen State College.

Chief Deputy Stacy Brown came to the sheriff’s office just over 20 years ago, working as a patrol deputy, a detective for five years with a specialty in sex crimes and child abuse, a sergeant overseeing the detective division and more.

Since 2009, Brown has been responsible for the special services bureau, and is part of the sheriff’s command staff.

Next, Brown will lead a department with nine commissioned law enforcement officers at Evergreen, a 1,000-acre campus in Olympia with more than 4,000 students.

The announcement was made yesterday. Her last day is Sept. 12.

“It is bittersweet, I will miss everyone here so much,” Brown said. “Lewis County feels like a second home.”

Brown, who resides in Thurston County, said she’s looking forward to working with a great new team.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Evergreen in 2006, while working full time, so she already has an idea of what the culture is like, she said.

Police Services at Evergreen has its own dispatch center and Brown will also oversee campus parking services, with several employees.

Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza asked his employees yesterday to join him in congratulating Brown and thanking her for her dedicated service.

“Chief Brown has done an excellent job in a myriad of positions during her tenure with our office, and has led our special services bureau with pride, professionalism, and dedication,” Snaza stated in an email message.

The departure of the top-ranking female deputy leaves the sheriff’s office with no female deputies. Until Deputy Sue Shannon left last year after more than 20 years as a patrol deputy, the two women were the only commissioned law enforcement officers in the organization.

The now-46-year-old started her career in public safety as a dispatcher for the Washington State Patrol. She hired on at the sheriff’s office in May 1996 and has worked for three sheriffs.

In her current position, which she is leaving behind, she has
a wide range of duties, conducted along the 13 staff members she supervises.

The special services bureau includes the sheriff’s office’s records division, the property and evidence division and the civil division.

“We’re responsible for all the evictions in the county and all the civil processes,” Brown said. “Like writs of execution, when someone owes money and someone can go after real or personal property.”

Brown and her people do the work involved in satisfying court judgements, whether trying to obtain a child to return to the rightful parent, or seizing property and holding sheriff’s auctions. They also process gun permits and handle fingerprinting.

Perhaps her best-recognized role has been public information officer for the past nine years, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.

Brown said today she had thought she would retire from the sheriff’s office, but she’s very excited about the next step in her career.

“I just hope people understand how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to serve the community, from the bottom of my heart,” she said.

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Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, August 30th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 12:39 p.m.

CHURCH VICTIMIZED BY THEFT

• A 34-foot travel trailer donated for a church’s use vanished from its parking lot early yesterday at the 200 block of U.S. Highway 12 south of Chehalis. An unknown person or persons removed the 1994 Carli sometime between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. yesterday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The value is listed at approximately $8,000, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Someone kicked in a door to a garage-shop of a church on the 2500 block of South Market Boulevard and stole a Stihl gas operated weed eater, according to a report made to Chehalis police just before 11 a.m. yesterday.

AUTO THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 2:15 p.m. yesterday following the discovery a Honda Civic was missing from a parking lot on Hampe Way and then located the car around 6 p.m. at the 600 block of Southeast Dobson Court. Its stereo, speaker and amplifier had been removed, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

THEFT AT WORK SITE

• Chehalis police were called just before 8 a.m. yesterday to a job site at the 2500 block of North National Avenue where four pumps were stolen over the weekend. The loss is $4,000, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Two of them were silver and red Honda pumps and the other two were two-inch blue colored pumps, according to police.

FRAUD

• An Oregon resident called Chehalis police yesterday afternoon to report their bank card was used at Walgreens on Northwest Louisiana Avenue to purchase a gift card for more than $300. An officer learned a similar transaction also took place in Tumwater, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DISORDERLY

• Michael A. Kellogg, 45 of Centralia, was arrested about 12:10 a.m. today for interfering with a health care facility at the 900 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• Centralia police arrested a 30-year-old Chehalis resident for possession of methamphetamine after contact with him about 10:15 p.m. yesterday at the 200 block of Jackson Street. Christopher D. Buck was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 24-year-old Chehalis man was arrested just before 11 a.m. yesterday after contact with an officer at the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia. Matthew M Morris was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Two young people were injured when their car collided with the center barrier then rolled coming to rest on the right hand shoulder, on its top, last night along southbound Interstate 5 near the Winlock-Toledo interchange. Carlos Y. Batista and Martelli L. White, both 19 years old and from Lacey, were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers responding about 11:15 p.m. noted the 1997 Toyota Celica was totaled. Batista was allegedly traveling too fast and was arrested for second-degree negligent driving, according to the state patrol.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, probation violation, third-degree theft, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, third-degree malicious mischief, misdemeanor domestic assault; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more among 180 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

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News brief: Former Chehalis Tribal official sentenced for defrauding housing program

Tuesday, August 30th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The former head of the Chehalis Tribal Housing Authority was sentenced yesterday to 30 days in jail and two years of supervised release following his conviction for collecting downpayment assistance from the authority knowing he didn’t qualify because he already owned a home.

Hector Ray Canales, Sr., 55, had pleaded guilty to conversion of tribal funds in May, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

At Monday’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton in Tacoma said Canales had betrayed the trust of his tribe, according to office spokesperson Emily Langlie.

According to records filed in the case, Canales engaged in a “sham” transaction to transfer his existing ownership to a relative, so that he could collect $37,400 from the program which he used to pay for a second home in the Chehalis area.

Langlie stated that Canales used his position in the tribe and his knowledge of the internal fiscal controls to illegally collect the down payment funds. The fraud meant that other eligible Chehalis Tribal members did not get down payment assistance, Langlie stated.

Canales was the chairman of the board of the  Chehalis Tribal Housing Authority.

The case was investigated by the Chehalis Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The judge ordered him to pay $37,400 in restitution. Canales has since repaid just over $24,000 to the tribe.

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