Archive for October, 2016

Southwest William Avenue shooting incident suspect apprehended

Friday, October 14th, 2016
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Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies assemble outside a home across from Chehalis Middle School’s football field to make an arrest. / Courtesy photo by Janis Koplin

Updated

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The 36-year-old man Chehalis police have been trying to catch for a week was booked into the Lewis County Jail this afternoon for first-degree assault.

Andrew C. Skyberg is the suspect in an early morning incident in which shots were fired outside and into the front porch railing of a house on the 600 block of Southwest William Avenue.

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Andrew C. Skyberg

Authorities have said the events of Oct. 7 followed a days-long dispute between Skyberg and residents there.

Today at about 12:45 p.m., police got a tip Skyberg was at a home on the 800 block of Southwest 20th Street, and his presence there was confirmed, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

He was taken into custody with assistance from the Lewis County Regional SWAT Team, the Centralia Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, according to department spokesperson Linda Bailey.

Bailey indicated in a news release that “gas” was deployed into the residence.

Nearby Chehalis Middle School and Olympic Elementary School were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure, according to Bailey.

Two other occupants of the house exited at the request of police, and one of them was booked for a warrant on an unrelated matter, Bailey stated.

On Monday morning, three Chehalis schools were placed on lockdown for a period of time when police acted on a report Skyberg was spotted in the area of the 100 block of Southwest Sixth Street.

Two people were arrested last Friday, one for for allegedly helping hide Skyberg’s handgun and the other for allegedly giving him a ride out of the area.

Charging documents in their cases include information about the approximately 3 a.m. shooting incident.

Police were told by witnesses Skyberg was on the sidewalk outside the house when he pointed his handgun in the air and fired off two to three shots then shot twice toward Jerry Peterson, who was standing on the front porch, according to court documents.

Nobody was injured.

Neither police nor prosecutors have offered any insight as to the nature of the dispute.
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For background, read “Details emerge about Southwest William Avenue shooting incident” from Tuesday October 11, 2016, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, October 14th, 2016
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•••

BREAK-INS AND OTHER THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 10:25 a.m. yesterday about a burglary at the 1500 block of North National Avenue. Sometime during the night, someone removed a silver hand dolly and a red plastic gas can from an unlocked building, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Police were called to the 1500 block of View Avenue in Centralia at about 10:25 a.m. yesterday to take a report of the theft of an electric chainsaw from a detached garden shed.

• An individual at the 1400 block of Lewis Street in Centralia reported to police yesterday evening a theft of property from the residence by a roommate who moved out. This case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

UNRULY INMATE

• A 27-year-old inmate at the Lewis County Jail was booked for a fresh offense after allegedly striking a corrections deputy who entered his cell to check on why the cell window was covered early this morning. Wellington M. Waggener, of Centralia, is being held on an unrelated matter and was arrested after the approximately 3:25 a.m. incident for third-degree assault, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy needed no medical attention as the injury was minor, according to the sheriff’s office.

UNCOOPERATIVE PERSON

• A Chehalis officer who spotted a possibly wanted person just before 5 p.m. yesterday at the 1200 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue ended up booking the individual into jail to figure out their identity, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Initially he said he was the person the officer was looking for, but then said he was not, according to police. Jordan R. Allen, 28, of Chehalis, was subsequently issued a citation for making a false statement, department spokesperson Linda Bailey said.

CAR PROWL

• A shop vac and small hand tools were stolen in a vehicle prowl at the 1200 block of Lincoln Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 7:45 a.m. yesterday.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police were called just after 6 p.m. yesterday to Gold and Locust streets about a hit and run collision involving a Twin Transit bus. The suspect vehicle was described as an older vehicle, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 65-year-old Chehalis man was injured when his car crossed the centerline and hit an oncoming pickup truck on the 2600 block of Airport Road in Chehalis yesterday. Deputies responding about 4:45 p.m. found his 1996 Ford Victoria was totaled after he may have suffered a medical event, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. He is believed to have broken some bones, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. The 39-year-old Chehalis woman driving the Toyota Tundra seemed to be unhurt but was taken to the hospital as a precaution, according to Breen.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, civil issue, suspicious circumstances … and more among 136 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Second Portland man gets prison for Centralia home invasion

Thursday, October 13th, 2016

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The second of three suspects in a Centralia home invasion in which a dog was fatally shot early last year was sentenced yesterday, and given a 10-year term.

Deandre J. Perry, of Portland, went before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court yesterday afternoon following a plea deal regarding his role in the incident at the 1200 block of Marion Street on Feb. 19, 2015.

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Friends help repair front door. / File photo

He previously pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted robbery, first-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree assault.

The victim had a small number of medical marijuana plants growing inside his house and was preparing to watch a movie  with his girlfriend when strangers barged through the door, demanding money and weed and fired numerous shots.

Perry’s companion from Portland, Hennessy R. Turner-White, admitted to shooting the pit bull and was sentenced on Monday for the same offenses plus first-degree animal cruelty and got 12 years.

Centralia resident Brian A. Carreon is scheduled to be in court on Oct. 19, expected to plead guilty to his role and be sentenced.

Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said he’s confident a plea deal is in place as well for Carreon’s sister, Taina Duncan, from Portland, who allegedly drove the three males to the house.
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For background, read “Centralia home invasion case in which pit bull was shot coming to a close” from Monday October 10, 2016, here

News brief: Empty log trucks rolls at construction zone in Salkum

Thursday, October 13th, 2016

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Three people were hurt when an unloaded log truck struck the rear-end of a Toyota 4runner and then rolled striking another vehicle and nearly hitting a flagger on U.S. Highway 12 near Salkum today.

It happened in a construction zone where the westbound Toyota 4Runner and a Toyota RAV4 were stopped by a flagger for a lane closure, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The 2004 Kenworth truck and trailer was also westbound and was unable to stop in time, according to the state patrol. Troopers called just after noon today to milepost 79 report the log truck came to rest blocking the roadway in both directions.

Its driver, Kelly G. Moerke, 47, from Chehalis, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital.

Also taken to the hospital were the other two drivers, Josee M. Naillon, 25, of Onalaska, and Cristen L. Boling, 37, of Silver Creek, according to the patrol. A 5-year-old girl riding in Boling’s RAV4 was reportedly uninjured.

The log truck and the Toyota RAV4 were both described as totaled.

The wreck is blamed on speeds too fast, following too closely and inattention, according to the investigating trooper.

The state patrol listed charges for Moerke of second-degree negligent driving and reckless endangerment of a highway worker.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, October 13th, 2016
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•••

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 5:30 a.m. today about the theft of a truck from the 400 block of South Cedar Street. Missing is a maroon 1992 Mazda pickup truck, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A tow company which did a private impound from a parking lot on the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis called police yesterday morning to report it was a stolen vehicle. The 2002 Dodge Durango was missing from Auburn and law enforcement there was asked to contact the registered owner, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

COURT ORDER VIOLATION

• A 44-year-old Chehalis man who reportedly was at a residence he was not allowed to be at on Southeast Spring Street in Chehalis was arrested yesterday after an approximately 2:40 p.m. 911 call. Jerry L. Bostwick was contacted in the area by an officer and booked into the Lewis County Jail for burglary and violation of a restraining order, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called yesterday by an individual who said someone stole a pair of earrings from his vehicle the night before at the 600 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue.

DRUGS

• A 23-year-old woman from Cinebar was arrested yesterday for possession of a controlled substance after someone reported seeing a female in a car in a parking lot who appeared to be smoking something from tin foil. An officer responding to Northwest Louisiana Avenue after the approximately 7:20 p.m. call subsequently located her vehicle at a freeway offramp, conducted a traffic stop and found suspected heroin, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Teanna M. Simmonds was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, probation violation, driving with no license, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, civil issue, suspicious circumstances, third-degree theft, report that someone is living under a business’s stairwell, people believed to be “transients” going through trash, people believed to be “transients” in an area … and more among 136 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Suspected thief summons law enforcement with pocket dial

Thursday, October 13th, 2016

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Police say they arrested a burglar they found inside a Centralia home after she accidentally alerted authorities with a pocket dial.

The woman had placed the resident’s cordless phone into her pocket, and inadvertently dialed 911, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Officers responded to the 9:57 a.m. 911 hangup call from the 500 block of South King Street and found Ann M. Velazquez in the midst of committing a burglary, according to police.

The 36-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for second-degree burglary and booked into the Lewis County Jail.

She was also booked for possession of meth, according to police.

 

Packwood: Local drug detectives and feds interrupt drug trafficking

Wednesday, October 12th, 2016

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Shelton woman and a Packwood woman were arrested outside a pizza restaurant in Packwood yesterday as one was allegedly about to exchange cash for two half-pound packages of methamphetamine from the other.

Torina M. Lorenzano, 46, from Yakima, and Dawn M. Cooper, 43, from Shelton, were arrested by members of the local drug detective team and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

They were booked into the Lewis County Jail and brought before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer told the judge Lorenzano admitted to supplying three to four pounds of meth and more than a half pound of heroin each week to people in Lewis and Thurston counties.

Cooper acknowledged buying two of those pounds of meth each week from Lorenzano, Meyer said.

Both were charged today with numerous felonies. Judge James Lawler set bail at $100,000 for Lorenzano, and $150,000 for Cooper.

Law enforcement found more than $4,800 cash in Cooper’s truck, most of which she said was to purchase the meth, and the rest for a past debt, according to charging documents.

According to charging documents, detectives with the local Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team began to follow Cooper as she drove throughout county yesterday, based in part on monitored phone calls from the Lewis County Jail in which she and an inmate discussed drugs and money in veiled language.

JNET announced this afternoon their three-county investigation began in July, in coordination with the DEA, U.S. Marshals and the fugitive apprehension team with the state Department of Corrections.

The trafficking organization they began looking into deals in both heroin and meth, according to JNET.

According to JNET, they identified Cooper as the person they believed was continuing business for her significant other, a 41-year-old Centralia man who was arrested Sept. 29 for allegedly possessing and delivering meth.

Five ounces of meth were seized in connection with the arrest of William “Aaron” Barge, according to authorities. Charging documents state over $12,000 cash was confiscated as well.

“While investigating Cooper, numerous ‘workers’ and customers were identified as well as her main supplier,” JNET wrote in its news release. “This investigation is ongoing and several more suspects are being sought by JNET.”

On Monday, JNET learned Cooper was staying in a motel in Tumwater, and although she fled, law enforcement subsequently allegedly found under the mattress in her room approximately 68 grams of meth and 28 grams of heroin, according to court papers.

Yesterday in Packwood, law enforcement watched as Lorenzano carried a bag from her truck and got into Cooper’s vehicle, which contained the pound of meth in two burrito-sized packages as well as a white smaller package that contained five ounces of heroin, according to court papers.

When  Lorenzano’s truck was searched, another half pound of meth plus three gram of cocaine were found, the documents state.

Inside Cooper’s vehicle, officers located six to 10 grams of meth, a digital scale and numerous “clean” baggies, the documents relate.

The street value of the seized drugs is estimated at $150,000.

Their arraignments are set for Oct. 20.

The overall investigation is being reviewed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Assistant United States Attorney’s Office for charging considerations, according to JNET.