Archive for September, 2016

Lewis County Clerk Brack stepping down

Wednesday, September 14th, 2016
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Kathy Brack speaks briefly at a gathering in her honor today as she prepares to retire, backed up by her Chief Deputy Clerk Lisa Conzatti.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – As many as eight individuals have expressed interest in being appointed Lewis County clerk, as the elected official holding the position is retiring before her four-year term ends.

Kathy Brack’s last day is tomorrow. Her chief deputy clerk Lisa Conzatti will take over as interim county clerk.

Brack spoke at a farewell gathering held in her honor today, at the Historic Lewis County Courthouse.

The 65-year-old Toledo resident has been under treatment for cancer, and made good on a promise to her spouse.

“I told my husband if my last doctor’s appointment came clean, then I would retire,” Brack said.

The Lewis County clerk serves as the official record keeper for the Lewis County Superior Court. The office on the second floor of the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis has 15 employees.

Brack’s retirement brings to an end 44 years of public service. She was the Lewis County District Court administrator beginning in 1972 and then in 1986 took over the same position in Cowlitz County District Court.

In 2002, the Republican ran against the incumbent Lewis County clerk, and won, running unopposed three times since then.

Because her term hasn’t ended, the Lewis County Board of Commissioners will select a replacement, who will have to run for the office in a November 2017 special election if they want to continue. And then run again in November 2018 for a normal four-year term.

The commissioners will have a slate of three candidates to choose from, names given to them by the Lewis County Republican party, since the outgoing clerk is a Republican.

Local party Chairman Mark Anders said today he’s got six people on his list who have expressed interest and he’s happy to share information about the steps to being considered to anyone who is interested.

“This is a political process, it’s a partisan position,” Anders said. “One thing the precinct committee officers will be looking at, is we want to elect someone, get someone appointed, that could win that seat and hold that seat as a Republican.

“It’s not just this is the best, most qualified person for the job, though we want that too.”

Anders said there are 45 to 50 precinct committee officers who will come together on a Saturday not yet selected in October to make nominations, hear from the nominees and choose three potential appointees.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, September 14th, 2016
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•••

AUTO THEFT

• Police were called about 10:30 a.m. yesterday about the theft of a blue 2002 Ford Escort from the 900 block of South Gold Street in Centralia. The car had no license plates, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police responded to an approximately 5:15 a.m. call today of a vehicle prowl at the 1100 block of South Pearl Street. A window was broken and a vacuum cleaner and clothes were taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called at about 12:30 a.m. today to the 900 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia where an individual reported someone got inside their unlocked vehicle and stole change, cigarettes and medication.

• An officer was called just after 9 p.m. yesterday about a vehicle prowl at the 1700 block of South Market Boulevard in Chehalis. Among the missing items were a bottle of cologne and a Ruger pistol, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 4:30 p.m. yesterday to the 100 block of Southwest McFadden Avenue where a vehicle had been prowled. Thirty dollars in change was missing, according to the Chehalis Police Department. It occurred sometime since Sunday morning, according to police.

BREAK-IN

• Police were notified just after 8 o’clock yesterday morning that a door was found kicked in at the baseball field area of Stan Hedwall Park on the 1500 block of Rice Road. Nothing appeared to be missing, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, probation violation, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, civil issue, hit and run, trespassing, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, disorderly person, collision on city street … and more among 181 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Lewis County: Looking to replace another sheriff’s office chief

Tuesday, September 13th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County County Sheriff’s Office is hoping to name a new jail chief in the not too distant future, following the resignation of Chief Kevin Hanson.

Hanson left after more than 25 years with the agency at the end of August, to take a job as head of the jail in Mason County.

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Kevin Hanson

“We’re still searching, we’ve met with some people,” Sheriff Rob Snaza said this morning. “We should have something out in a couple of weeks.”

Lt. Chris Tawes has been promoted to acting captain and is currently overseeing the facility.

Undersheriff Wes Rethwill said Hanson went to Mason County to help them with the kinds of issues he’s already dealt with at the Lewis County Jail. He was chief here for six years.

They for example are looking to build a new jail, something Hanson has experience with, he said.

“The unfortunate thing is, we lost a lot of institutional knowledge,” Rethwill said.

The sheriff said they will be meeting tomorrow with the Civil Service Commission to talk about filling the captain position, which has been vacant since Capt. Jim Pea retired last year.

The Lewis County Jail, which has an average daily population of around 200 inmates, continues to struggle with vacant corrections officer positions. The facility brings in over $1 million a year in revenue from law enforcement agencies both inside and outside the county who use its accommodations for their arrestees.

The sheriff’s office administration has been talking with county commissioners for months about the desire to contract with a new entity for medical services at the jail, and the intricacies surrounding one of its most cost intensive responsibilities.

During his time at the Lewis County Jail, Hanson was part of the team which helped design and oversee the construction of the new jail, completed in 2003. He has served on the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs jail accreditation team.

Chief Hanson partnered with others to create the Mental Health Alternative, a post-sentence treatment program designed to address mentally ill persons with a high rate of recidivism in the criminal justice system. He currently serves as a board member of Cascade Mental Health Services.

Hanson’s departure came just two weeks before the resignation of another chief at the sheriff’s office. Chief Deputy Stacy Brown who headed the special services bureau, took a job as chief of police services at Evergreen State College in Olympia.

Sheriff Snaza promoted Cmdr. Dusty Breen to chief of the bureau, an appointed position, last week.

Today Rethwill said the detective division has been moved from the operations bureau to the special services bureau. The head of the evidence division, previously part of the special services bureau, will now report directly to the undersheriff.
•••

For background, read “Top ranking deputy to lead Evergreen college’s police force” from Tuesday August 30, 2016, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, September 13th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 3:33 p.m.

THEFT, THEFT, THEFT

• Two people were arrested yesterday afternoon after a victim of a vehicle prowl saw Michael E. Caton 32, of Winlock, walking in Centralia with his backpack and called police. Caton was contacted by an officer and implicated 39-year-old Kyle W Elliot, according to the Centralia Police Department. Police contacted Elliott in his pickup truck and allegedly found him to be in possession of property from other thefts and burglaries, according to police. The case associated with a location of Tower Avenue and Walnut Street is still under investigation. Caton and Elliott were both booked into the Lewis County Jail. Caton was released today with no criminal charges filed.

• A deputy was called yesterday to the 1900 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia about a break-in to a storage building. A door had been left unsecured and among the approximately $950 worth of items missing was a 55-inch JVC television, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The burglary occurred sometime between 4 p.m. on Thursday and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A deputy was called yesterday about a burglary at the 700 block of Lincoln Creek Road west of Centralia in which forced entry was made and numerous items stolen including two large bags with duck decoys, a fishing pole, miscellaneous tools and a portable duck blind, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It appears based on surveillance the break-in occurred about 4:20 a.m., according to the sheriff’s office.

• Police were called to the 200 block of Railroad Avenue in Centralia about 1:10 p.m. yesterday to take a report of the theft of medication.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were contacted about 2:35 p.m. yesterday after an individual attempted to withdraw $8,000 from someone else’s account, in a case associated with the 100 block of South Pearl Street.

‘REDNECK UBER’

• Police were called about 1:15 p.m. yesterday by an individual at the 900 block of K Street in Centralia who reported an abandoned red Honda car parked in front of the residence. It turned out to have been stolen in Tumwater, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 1993 Honda Civic reported stolen during the night from the 200 block of East Oakview Avenue in Centralia turned up abandoned in a field along the 1300 block of Winterwood Drive in Centralia just before 2 p.m. yesterday. It was all in one piece and the owner was given a ride by an officer to pick it up and take it home, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Morton police are still investigating a case involving a vehicle stolen from the 200 block of Mossyrock Road West, which was reported about 8:45 p.m. on Friday, according to the Morton Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 3:40 p.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 800 block of North Pearl Street. Missing were backpacks and fishing gear, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• An officer was called about 10:40 a.m. yesterday to the 70 block of Southwest Saunders Way in Chehalis for a vehicle prowl. Someone rifled through a glove box and stole prescription medication, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 10:10 a.m. yesterday by an individual at the 50 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue who said sometime during the night, someone got into their pickup truck again.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called about 8:30 a.m. yesterday following the discovery someone had kicked in a door at Stan Hedwall Park on Rice Road. Nothing appeared to be missing from what was described by police as a batting cage.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, trespassing, probation violation, fourth-degree assault, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute civil issue, hit and run, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, disorderly person, misdemeanor domestic assault, 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.

Winlock resident charged in skull-faced mask robbery

Monday, September 12th, 2016
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Surveillance images from the Handi Store showed boots that looked familiar to business’s owner. / Courtesy image

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 45-year-old local man has been arrested and charged in last week’s holdup of the Handi store in Winlock.

When Tamrick A. Torres was brought before a judge this afternoon for a bail hearing, temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke told the judge her client has lived for eight years at the same address in Winlock.

Torres has his own business, a cat rescue, O’Rourke said. But it doesn’t bring in any income, she said indicating he would qualify for a court appointed lawyer.

“Robbery second is a violent offense,” Chief Deputy Criminal Prosecutor Brad Meagher said. “We’re asking the court to impose a $25,000 bond.”

Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler agreed.

Police responded to the report of robbery at about 10:30 p.m. last Tuesday, and learned from the clerk who was working alone the individual was wearing a black and white mask, like of a skull, and displayed a handgun. The clerk said he demanded she give him all her money and reached toward his waistband where she saw what looked like the black handle of a firearm, Meager wrote in charging documents.

The owner reported $1,589 in cash was missing, according to Maeagher.

The court documents show it was his footwear and yellow sport utility vehicle that led the Toledo Police Department to Torres.

After viewing surveillance footage, the store’s owner told an officer he thought the suspect was a person he’s seen driving a yellow sport utility vehicle and wears boots like those on the video, according to the court documents. Amarjit Rai said the way the suspect walked looked familiar too.

Toledo Police Officer Andrew Scrivner observed video that showed the yellow vehicle pass the convenience store on Kerron Avenue shortly before and after the robbery, and knew of just one person in town who drove such a vehicle, Meagher wrote.

On Friday when police conducted a search of Torres’s residence, they found boots that looked similar and also a dark jacket with the same type of white stitching worn by the person in the video, according to Meagher.

Torres reportedly told police he and the clerk had conspired to rob the store because she was unhappy with her wages there, according to Meagher.

When interviewed by police, the clerk said she had nothing to with planning the robbery, but the investigation is ongoing, according to court documents.

Torres was charged today with both second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary, which each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Centralia attorney Shane O’Rourke was appointed to represent him. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.

•••

For background, read “Robber with black and white Scream-type mask hits Winlock store” from Wednesday September 7, 2016, here

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Tamrick A. Torres is brought before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, September 12th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 12:08 p.m.

BOLD INTRUDER TAKES TOOLS

• A 52-year-old man reported yesterday that while he was using a weed eater around the outside of his shop building yesterday between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., at the 100 block of Kjesbu Road outside Silver Creek, someone went inside and stole a Stihl chainsaw and a cutting torch, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

BREAK-IN TO OUTBUILDING

• A deputy was called on Saturday morning to the 800 block of Ceres Hill Road west of Chehalis following the discovery someone had kicked open a pump house door and stole a Stihl chainsaw and a Honda BEU2000 generator. It happened sometime before 6:30 a.m. and after 5 p.m. the day before, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is estimated at $2,300.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY

• Chehalis police were called to the 200 block of Southwest 10th Street about 8:50 a.m. on Saturday following the discovery someone had pried the door lock on a shed during the night, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VEHICLE THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 5:40 a.m. today about a green 1996 Honda civic stolen from the 100 block of Halliday Road.

• A red Nissan Pathfinder that vanished from where it was parked in front of a residence at the 500 block of Northwest St. Helens Avenue in Chehalis between 7:20 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. yesterday turned up just before 11 o’clock this morning abandoned at the 1500 block of Rice Road in Chehalis, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• An officer was called just before 6 p.m. on Saturday and told a red 2004 Kia Rio four-door, passenger car was stolen from the parking lot of a business on the 2500 block of Haviland Street in Centralia. It has a license plate reading AWD 1635, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning that someone stole a 25-foot long, yellow three-axeled flatbed trailer from the 300 block of Centralia-Alpha Road sometime between Thursday and Friday. The victim reported it belonged to his deceased brother and had been advertised for sale, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is estimated at $3,500, according to the sheriff’s office.

VEHICLE PROWL

• A Chehalis officer was called about 2:20 p.m. on Saturday regarding a vehicle prowl at a motel on the 500 block of Southwest Parkland Drive in which more than $5,000 worth of valuables were stolen during the night. A backpack was taken that contained numerous hearing aids along with a black Apple iPad II with keyboard, other electronics and a pilots license, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 1000 block of F Street. A stereo was taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

LICENSE PLATES LIFTED

• Centralia police were called to the 900 block of South Scheuber Road about 10:45 p.m. on Saturday to take a report that sometime during the day both the front and rear license plates were stolen off a vehicle there. They are Washington plates reading ATL 2381, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FRAUD

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning they learned from a 59-year-old Rochester area man that sometime since July, someone stole his checks and spent about $600 at Home Depot in Chehalis.

• An officer responded to an approximately 6:20 a.m. call today to the 600 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia where someone has passed a counterfeit $5 bill at the business.

• Police were called to the 1300 block of Lum Road at about 7:45 p.m. on Saturday after a woman attempted to purchase merchandise with what turned out to be two counterfeit $20 bills. She said she acquired the bills during a garage sale at her home in Tumwater, according to the Centralia Police Department.

GREEN HILL ASSAULT

• Chehalis police were called to Green Hill School about 1:35 p.m. on Saturday to take a report of an incident in which a 17-year-old student-inmate allegedly punched a staff member after he was “escorted to the ground.” A case for custodial assault is being referred to prosecutors, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

PEEING OUTDOORS

• A 32-year-old Centralia man was arrested after allegedly exposing himself to two females when he urinated on a tree in the park at the 100 block of South Silver Street yesterday evening. Matthew E. Eastman was booked into the Lewis County Jail for indecent exposure, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BRUSH FIRE

• Riverside Fire Authority reported yesterday evening they were assisted by the Chehalis Fire Department and personnel from the state Department of Natural Resources in extinguishing a one-acre fire at the 500 block of Proffit Road in Centralia. They tweeted it was an illegal burn.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, trespassing, probation violation, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence, falsification of insurance card; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, third-degree theft, collision on city street … and more among 277 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Prisoner accused of forging Lewis County Prosecutor Meyer’s name

Saturday, September 10th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A former Lewis County man doing 12 years in prison for dealing Oxycodone is now in trouble with the law here again, even though he’s been locked up since mid-2014.

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Forrest E. Amos

Forrest E. Amos tried to file documents related to his 2013 case which authorities say he forged with the names of elected Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead, and police officers Chad Withrow and Adam Haggerty.

The new case is being handled by Pacific County Prosecutor Mark McClain.

McClain indicates the Lewis County Clerk’s Office received a letter from Amos in which he stated the clerk was required to take action, along with  four documents entitled “Forced commercial contract” which were purporting to be notice of subrogation bond and claim for $1 million.

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Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer

The documents appeared to be signed by Meyer, Halstead, Withrow and Haggerty, according to McClain.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office investigated and confirmed Amos signed the documents but Amos contended he merely put the names of others there to reflect who he was bringing the suit against, according to McClain.

Amos, now 33, is incarcerated at Clallam Bay Corrections Center on the Olympic Peninsula.

He was brought before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court last week and pleaded not guilty to four charges of forgery and four charges of first-degree criminal impersonation. A trial has been scheduled for the week of Nov. 28.

Asked what “forced commercial contract” and “notice of subrogation bond” meant, McClain said:

“I have absolutely no idea what he thinks that means,” he said. “Every elected official has a bond they are required to post; I suppose he thinks he can go after them.”
•••

For background, read, “News brief: Local oxycodone dealer goes back to prison” Thursday Aug. 21, 2014, here