Archive for September, 2016

Second suspect charged in rape of girl at 2012 Centralia party

Saturday, September 17th, 2016
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Geffrey A. Duncan talks with temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A second young man has been arrested from a 2012 case in which a 13-year-old girl told police she was taken advantage of by three males at a Centralia party when she was so drunk she could not walk.

Geffrey A. Duncan, 22, went before a judge yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court, where he is charged with second-degree rape of a child.

The Chehalis resident came to court with his father, having bailed out of jail following his arrest on a $25,000 warrant.

The judge signed a protection order, prohibiting Duncan from contacting the alleged victim.

Temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke indicated to Judge Nelson Hunt her client could have trouble abiding by the order.

“He says he doesn’t know the victim, has no idea who she is,” O’Rourke said. “He’s not sure how to avoid (her).”

Judge Hunt told Duncan he needed to stay at least 1,000 feet from Centralia College, avoiding giving the girl’s address.

Earlier this summer, Centralia police arrested 19-year-old Tyler M. McKee, who was living in Las Vegas. He was charged with the same offense and remains in the Lewis County Jail with bail set at $100,000.

The allegations were investigated in May of 2012, and forensic evidence collected, but the girl only knew the first names of two of the individuals, according to court documents.

Last year, a detective at the Centralia Police Department interviewed a new witness and was given Duncan’s name, and Duncan subsequently recalled being at the party and said he may have kissed her once, according to court documents. He accused two of his friends of having sex with the girl after being told she was only 13, court documents relate.

Duncan’s DNA was excluded from the sample found on her pants.

Court documents in the case relate the girl said she’d never been intoxicated before, but played beer pong and “shot gunned” approximately 10 beers. She told police she remembered both “Tyler” and “Jeff” being on top of her, one after the other. She recalled a third man who came into the room and put his penis in her mouth, according to the court documents.

The new witness reportedly told a detective he tried to get Duncan out of the room but Duncan refused to leave, according to court documents.

O’Rourke told the judge yesterday that Duncan was asking for a court-appointed lawyer, as he didn’t think he could afford to hire someone.

“He makes about $4,000 a month, but he has about $3,000 a month coming out of his pocket,” O’Rourke said, citing bills such as $600 a month truck payment, a $200 a month phone bill, $600 a month obligation for his show dog and payments on haying equipment loans.

Hunt didn’t appoint him a lawyer, but told him to return in two weeks after talking with attorneys about their costs, and tell him again why he can’t afford to hire someone.

His next court hearing is Sept. 29.
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For background, read “Suspect in rape of girl at 2012 Centralia party arrested in Vegas” from Monday August 1, 2016, here

News brief: Cigarette started fire in Randle man’s home

Saturday, September 17th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The 68-year-old man who escaped when his Randle home caught fire yesterday suffered first-, -second, and third-degree burns, according to Fire Investigator Derrick Paul.

“The doctors said it was about 10 percent of his body,” Paul said.

Firefighters were called about 1 p.m. yesterday to the trailer home on the 300 block of Cline Road and the resident was transported to Morton General Hospital.

Paul said he learned the man, who uses a motorized chair to get around, is a smoker.

“He dropped the cigarette, he told me, in the blanket on the bed and couldn’t find it,” Paul said. “Several minutes later, the place was on fire.”

The man managed to get himself out, but suffered burns to his legs, side of his face, shoulder, arm and hands, he said.

The trailer is a total loss, according to Paul.

“He had a dog, the sheriff’s department took into custody and took somewhere,” Paul said.

News brief: Pedestrian injured on I-5 at Maytown

Friday, September 16th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Tenino man is hospitalized with two broken arms after for unknown reasons he bolted from an approaching trooper making it partway across the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 at Maytown before running into the side of a Jeep Wrangler this evening.

Troopers began getting multiple 911 calls about a pedestrian in the roadway, on the southbound side near milepost 95, according to the Washington State Patrol.

An arriving trooper made contact with the man, noticing he had a knife in his hand and blood on his shirt, according to the state patrol.

The trooper told him to drop it and he did, but as the trooper walked toward him, the man turned and ran, Trooper Todd Bartolac said.

Jeffery D. Lantrip, 50, from Tenino, was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital and may have some internal injuries as well, according to the state patrol.

The roadway was blocked for more than three hours as the incident was investigated.

Bartolac said they don’t know why he was carrying a knife or where the blood came from, but detectives are continuing their investigation.

“There were no threats or anything like that,” he said.

The Chehalis man driving the 2014 Jeep Wrangler, Scott D. White, and his passenger were uninjured but there was some damage to the vehicle, according to the patrol.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, September 16th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 8:58 p.m.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 30-year-old Chehalis man was arrested after a police chase in Centralia yesterday that ended with two occupants reportedly exited their moving car as it nearly hit a woman and child in a crosswalk, skidded into a parked vehicle and came to rest on the sidewalk in front of the post office. A deputy had begun pursuing the light blue car about 1 p.m. after getting a report two males in such a vehicle had just grabbed a Honda pressure washer from outside a home on the 2200 block of Graf Road, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Charging documents state the car ran numerous stops signs, drove through various streets including an alley and one yard before arriving to the 200 block of Centralia College Boulevard, where two males wearing ball caps took off running. Christopher D. Buck was captured a short distance away from the scene and arrested for numerous alleged offenses, as well as a warrant from the state Department of Corrections for escape from community custody, according to authorities. Suspected meth was found in his pocket. The second male wasn’t located, but there was a pressure washer in the car, sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. Buck’s bail was set at $25,000 today after he was charged with eluding, possession of methamphetamine, hit and run and third-degree theft in Lewis County Superior Court.

• Two passengers sustained minor injuries and were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital after a 1998 Chevrolet 1500 struck a street sign and sheered off a power pole at the 300 block of Logan Hill Road in Chehalis yesterday morning. A deputy responding just before 7 a.m. found the driver had no apparent injuries but arrested him for first-degree driving with a suspended license and driving without required interlock device, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle was totaled. Thomas J. Murphy, 35, from Ethel, said he thought maybe bald tires slipped on dirt along the white line and sucked them into the ditch, according to the sheriff’s office. Murphy was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

PET AND SUBARU VANISH

• A deputy was called about 9:25 p.m. yesterday by a 35-year-old Toledo area resident who reported when he returned home, he found both his car and his dog were stolen. Missing from the 300 block of Jackson Highway South is a Boston Terrier named Brady and a red 1997 Subaru Legacy, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The victim said the keys had been left in the vehicle, according to Breen.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY CHEHALIS

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported today someone broke into a home on the 100 block of Alderwood Drive in Chehalis through an unsecured door while the resident was on vacation and left with more than $3,000 worth of valuables. Among the items missing are two televisions, two Mac desktop computers and assorted liquor, according to the sheriff’s office. A deputy took the report on Wednesday and determined the break-in occurred on Sept. 4, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

SECOND-DEGREE THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 6:50 p.m. yesterday to a business on the 1200 block of Alder Street to take a report of the theft of a wallet.

• Chehalis police were called about 10:50 a.m. yesterday to the 2100 block of North National Avenue where an individual reported an EBT card was stolen from their trailer home.

MOTORHOME PROWLED

• A 52-year-old Castle Rock woman reported last night that her motorhome broke down on the 700 block of Toledo-Salmon Creek Road, she left and returned to find someone had stolen all kinds of her belongings. A deputy responding about 8:30 p.m. learned that missing was a Die Hard battery, an Onan generator 6500, binoculars, silverware, beaded jewelry and clothing, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

MORE VEHICLE PROWLS

• Police were called to the 1000 block of J Street in Centralia about 1:50 p.m. yesterday following the discovery someone stole change from a jar inside an unlocked car.

• Someone stole change from a car at the 100 block of L Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 10:20 a.m. yesterday.

ASSAULT REPORT

• Centralia police were contacted about 6:30 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a sexual assault occurring several days earlier in connection with a location on the 300 block of West Magnolia Street.

MED DIVERSION ALLEGATION

• The state Department of Health yesterday announced it suspended the registered nursing assistant credential of Jennifer K. Thayer for at least five years in connection with allegedly admitting diverting about 1,500 narcotic pills for her personal use from a resident of an adult family home she operated in Lewis County. Thayer was charged criminally with possession of a controlled substance.

RESIDENTIAL FIRE RANDLE

• One person was hospitalized with non-life threatening burns after firefighters were called to a small cabin fire on the 300 block of Cline Road in Randle today. The cabin was a total loss, according to Fire Chief Jeff Jaques. The lone occupant was taken to Morton General Hospital, according to the chief.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, trespass, reckless endangerment, misdemeanor domestic assault; responses for alarm, dispute, disorderly person, hit and run, third-degree theft, graffiti on a building, graffiti to a door, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more among 164 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Gasoline sparks fire inside repair shop

Friday, September 16th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Centralia firefighters were joined by crews from two neighboring departments when flames broke out in a mechanic’s shop off North Tower Avenue on East Hanson Street yesterday evening.

Damage is described as moderate, but a sport utility vehicle caught fire and it spread also causing damage to a portion of the building, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

It began when the business owner was transferring gasoline out of a GMC Yukon that was in for repairs and the fuel ignited, according to Fire Capt. Terry Ternan. Nobody was hurt.

Sixteen firefighters responded to the approximately 7 p.m. call and were on scene for about two hours, according to Ternan.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, September 15th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 12:36 p.m.

THREATS

• Deputies were called yesterday afternoon to the 21500 block of state Route 507 in south Thurston County after three firefighters responded to a “medical alert” call from a 68-year-old woman who brandished a shotgun. They had dealt with the same woman the day before, who was new to the area and had some type of mental issues, according to Thurston County Fire District 12. They were on the porch, she was at an open window,  Chief Tina Vanderhoof said. “She was frustrated, picked it up and pointed it at one of our firefighter’s heads,” Vanderhoof said. “They retreated, they thought they heard shots.” Deputies finally after an hour or so were able to resolve the situation at the mobile home park north of Centralia peacefully. Upon searching the home, detectives recovered only a “replica” shotgun, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office tweeted. The woman was to be booked into the Thurston County Jail for second-degree assault.

• A 23-year-old Chehalis man was arrested yesterday after allegedly threatening a family member with a knife, and advising he was going o stab her. Deputies called about 11:40 a.m. to a dispute at the 100 block of Lana Kila Lane booked Anthony L. Varga into the Lewis County Jail for felony harassment, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A 27-year-old Centralia man was arrested about 8:50 p.m. yesterday for felony harassment-threat to kill at the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department. Ryan G. Chapman was wanted for outstanding warrants and was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• A road rage incident involving a passenger car and two motorcyclists ended with a non-injury collision about 6:40 p.m. yesterday at the 100 block of West Maple Street in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department. Jason W. Shipman, 44 of Puyallup, was cited for harassment and then released pending a court date, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BURGLARY

• A person in the process of purchasing a bank-owned residence on the 1000 block of Logan Hill Road in Chehalis contacted the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office about 6:15 p.m. yesterday to report the discovery that someone had removed all the appliances and a pump from the well sometime since about 6 p.m. the day before. There were no signs of forced entry, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Chehalis police were called about 7:50 a.m. yesterday when an employee discovered a burglary at a business on the 1000 block of Northwest State Avenue. It appeared someone cut holes in a garage door to make entry and stole $200, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VEHICLE PROWL

• A laptop computer and a pair of prescription sunglasses were reported stolen from a vehicle parked at the 500 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 8:15 p.m. yesterday.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, trespass, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more among 153 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Early morning fire destroys house in Chehalis

Thursday, September 15th, 2016
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Courtesy photo by Kim Lannoye

Updated at 11:43 a.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Crews are extinguishing a two-alarm house fire in Chehalis.

Chehalis Fire Department Chief Ken Cardinale said everyone got out alright of the two-story home at South Market Boulevard and 11th Street.

He expects they will be on scene a couple more hours.

The call came just after 5 o’clock this morning. They were joined by crews from Lewis County Fire Districts 6 and 5 as well as Riverside Fire Authority, according to Firefighter Steve Emrich.

Just before 8 a.m., the blaze was mostly put out.

“They’re going in to what’s called overhaul,” Emrich said. “Had the fire knocked down, opening up void spots, putting out spot fires.”

Emrich said the residence is still standing, but he believed at the very least sustained heavy fire damage to the second floor. It seemed to have started at the garage area and spread from there, he said.

A fire investigator is looking into the cause today.

The man and woman, in their mid-20s, along with a toddler were helped out of a second-floor dormer window by a neighbor or friend before the fire department arrived, according to Cardinale.

The chief said the house has no interior stairwell to the second level and the exterior stairs weren’t an option because of the fire.

They had been sleeping and she said she woke up to use the bathroom, heard the sound of rushing wind, saw a glow and then the fire at the back of the house.

The Red Cross was summoned to assist the residents.