Archive for October, 2016

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, October 12th, 2016
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•••

VIOLENCE

• Police are looking for a 40-year-old Centralia man who allegedly caused extensive damage to his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle last night at the 400 block of Prairie Rose Street in Centralia. Officers called about 6:40 p.m. were told that Steven G. Ward threatened her and prevented her from leaving, according to the Centralia Police Department. The case is being referred to prosecutors for charges of unlawful imprisonment, felony harassment and first-degree malicious mischief, according to police.

• Centralia police were called just before 9:30 p.m. yesterday about an assault at the 600 block of H Street in which a young woman said she met up with an acquaintance to work out some differences and was hit in the head with a stick. The person had brought a friend along to meet the victim, according to the Centralia Police Department. The injuries were minor but officer are looking for the suspect for second-degree assault, according to police.

• Chehalis police were called about 5:35 p.m. yesterday to a business on North Market Boulevard about a customer who allegedly took a swing at an employee after he was asked to leave. Police were told he wouldn’t speak when employees at Les Schwab tried to talk him and they finally had asked him to go, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Employees held him down until officers arrive, according to Deputy Chief Randy Kaut. Booked into the Lewis County Jail for disorderly conduct was Samuel P. Kaye-Rau, 22, from Morton, according to Kaut.

• An individual at the 400 block of Southwest 15th Street in Chehalis called police at 12:40 p.m. yesterday that one of their chickens was killed and another injured. “They think it was a dog, but they didn’t see it happen,” Chehalis Police Department Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said.

THEFT OF MONEY

• Chehalis police called about a ruckus in a motel lobby on the 100 block of Southwest Interstate Avenue about 6:10 p.m. yesterday arrested a 27-year-old man from Federal Way who allegedly had gotten into the cash drawer behind the counter before leaving in a motor home now suspected to have been stolen. Officers stopped the vehicle and took Frisco A. Falcon into custody, according to the Chehalis Police Department. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail. They are seeking a search warrant to get inside the motor home to look through what appears to be stolen property, Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said this morning.

BABY BY ITSELF

• Chehalis police were called about 2:10 p.m. yesterday by an individual who said a baby had been left alone in a parked vehicle on Northwest Louisiana Avenue. The officer could not locate the suspect vehicle, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called to the 1000 block of Northwest State Avenue about 8:30 a.m. yesterday following the discovery someone had broken the glass on the front door of a business. Nothing appeared to be missing, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Both vehicles appeared seriously damaged but both drivers said they were unhurt after a car crossed the centerline and struck an oncoming vehicle yesterday morning at the 300 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia yesterday morning, according to authorities. Firefighters and police called about 7:45 a.m. One driver was a 16-year-old girl and the other an 18-year-old man, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, disorderly person, civil issue, suspicious circumstances, third-degree theft, collision on city street … 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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Harrison Avenue in Centralia on Tuesday morning. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

News brief: Chehalis high school on alert

Wednesday, October 12th, 2016

Updated at 1:37 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Officers are increasing their presence in the area of W.F. West High School in Chehalis this morning following the discovery of a troubling comment made on social media.

The App called “After School” is a W.F. West High School site only accessible to their own students, who may post anonymously, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

A screens shot shown to police reads ““You all will be sorry tomorrow, every single person.”

Police department spokesperson Linda Bailey said after police learned of the posting via a 911 call about 7:50 p.m. yesterday, they contacted the school’s principal, who was already aware of it.

Investigators weren’t able to locate any posting referencing a shooting, according to Bailey.

The school is attended by ninth through 12th graders and is located at 342 S.W. 16th Street.

Police early this afternoon said another posting was made indicating the person only meant they were contemplating harming themselves, but officers couldn’t confirm the two posts were made by the same individual, according to Deputy Chief Randy Kaut.

Details emerge about Southwest William Avenue shooting incident

Tuesday, October 11th, 2016
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Felicia D. Lane, left, and Bryan K. Butts, right, appear in Lewis County Superior Court on charges of rendering criminal assistance.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A days-long dispute between residents at a south Chehalis home and 36-year-old Andrew C. Skyberg preceded the early morning incident in which he allegedly fired two shots towards one of them while she was standing on the front porch, according to court papers.

The events just before 3 o’clock in the morning on Friday led to the arrests of two people who reportedly assisted Skyberg afterward and a manhunt that was still ongoing as of this afternoon.

Documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court state that police were told by witnesses Skyberg was on the sidewalk outside the house on the 600 block of Southwest William Avenue when he pointed his handgun in the air and fired off two to three shots then shot twice toward the female victim.

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Andrew C. Skyberg, wanted

Callers to 911 reported hearing arguing outside and the sound of gun fire.

The woman was not hurt, but officers recovered one bullet lodged in the wooden front railing and two .380 caliber shell casings on the sidewalk, according to authorities.

Skyberg had reportedly been to the house over the previous few days.

Chehalis police have not disclosed any details related to motive.

Arrested on Friday and charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree rendering criminal assistance were Bryan K. Butts, 32, and Felicia D. Lane, 28.

Charging documents in their cases suggest that police came to learn Skyberg had been at Lane’s nearby home, became upset, left and then a short time later she heard gun shots.

Lane resides on the 100 block of Southwest Sixth Street. Court documents give the same address for her boyfriend, Butts, although Chehalis police initially described him as  Cinebar resident.

Police were told Skyberg then came running back into her home, said he needed a ride out of there and handed Lane a cloth-wrapped object containing a firearm that she hid in her room, according to court documents. Officers recovered a Ruger .380 pistol.

The gun had recently been stolen in a vehicle prowl, according to police.

A detective was told Butts gave Skyberg a ride to McFadden Park.

Yesterday morning, police were told Skyberg was seen around 100 block of Southwest Sixth Street and three schools in the area were locked down while officers from multiple agencies scoured the area.

When Butts and Lane were brought before a judge yesterday afternoon, he set bail for each of them at $100,000. Their arraignments are scheduled for Thursday.
•••

For background, read “Manhunt underway near Chehalis schools” from Monday October 10, 2016, here

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Chehalis police use a saw to collect evidence from in front of the targeted house on Southwest William Avenue on Friday morning.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, October 11th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 12 p.m.

AUTO THEFT

• Police were called just after 7 p.m. yesterday to the 1400 block of South Gold Street in Centralia to take a report of a stolen vehicle. The 1972 Ford pickup truck is flat black, with a “rattle-can” paint job and bears collector plates, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police recovered a stolen vehicle just after 2 a.m. today at the 1500 block of Lum Road. The Ford Focus had been stolen from Chehalis and the registered owner was summoned to take possession of it, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BURGLARY AND THEFT

• An officer was called about 10:30 a.m. yesterday regarding a burglary to a shed at the 2600 block of Mount Vista Road in Centralia. A radio and a variety of small garden tools were taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police took a report yesterday of a U-Haul car dolly missing from the 10 block of Northeast Median Street. The value is $1,500, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Police were called about 8:30 a.m. yesterday to the 1200 block of North Tower Avenue in Centralia to take a report of a missing garden bench.

• An officer was called to the 100 block of Isabell Road in Mossyrock about 9 p.m. on Saturday where an individual reported someone was trying to break in to a home. There was evidence an attempt had been made and have been several previous attempts there in the past, according to the Morton Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called just before 10 p.m. yesterday about a vehicle prowl at the 1200 block of Borthwick Street in Centralia. It had been locked but someone broke its window to steal bags of unspecified items, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FORGERY

• Police were called about 8 p.m. yesterday to the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia where they were told a forged prescription had been dropped off to be filled. The suspect has not returned to pick it up yet, police reported this morning.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called to the 600 block of Southeast Dobson Court just after noon yesterday where an individual said that sometime during the night, someone broke the driver’s side window of her parked vehicle.

OTHER

• Morton police were called about 1:20 p.m. last Thursday regarding darts being thrown at a front porch on the 100 block of Eighth Street. The case is still under investigation, police indicated yesterday.

FROM THE CLOWN CASE ARCHIVES

• From Morton Police Department at 5:20 p.m. on Oct. 4: “Officers received a phone call referencing a clown running around town scaring people. The female caller requested that the clown be arrested for spitting in the street. She was advised that the clown could not be arrested for spitting in the street and she hung up.”

• Same day, same town, at 5:50 p.m. “Officers responded to the 200 block of VanCleve Way to a report of a suspicious person dressed like a clown hiding in the woods. The officer responded to the area with a deputy and searched a large portion of the wooded area. The officer witnessed a green Ford pickup truck leave the wooded area but was unable to confirm that it picked the person dressed as a clown up. Information was passed onto dispatch and other law enforcement agencies.”

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office over a three-day period in the middle of last week received a handful of calls related to clowns, half of them about Instagram posts (Two from Onalaska and one possibly related to Centralia High School), but the two most substantive 911 calls came on Thursday:

• A caller from the area of Union Street in Centralia stated there was a clown 15 minutes earlier walking in the area with a baseball bat. Deputies were unable to locate anyone matching the description.

• A caller from 100 block of Washington Street in Mineral called in about suspicious circumstances and the kids seeing a clown in their yard. Kids later stated they never saw a clown.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday a motorist was arrested for vehicular assault following the Sunday evening head-on collision at the 16800 block of Old Highway 99, about a half mile west of Tenino. Firefighters called about 6:30 p.m. found each of two passenger vehicles had only one occupant. An adult male said he had no injuries but the woman in the other vehicle had injuries severe enough she had to be airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to Thurston County Fire District 12.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, eluding, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, suspicious circumstances, suicidal person, third-degree theft, collision on city street … and more among 142 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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Old Highway 99 just outside Tenino / Courtesy photo by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

Centralia home invasion case in which pit bull was shot coming to a close

Monday, October 10th, 2016
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Hennessy R. Turner-White faces a judge today in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – One of three suspects in a Centralia home invasion in which a pet dog was shot and killed early last year apologized to one of the victims today, just before he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Hennessy R. Turner-White of Portland was 22 when he was arrested last summer as police began to piece together what led to incident at the 1200 block of Marion Street, at the north end of town.

Officers had arrested a 17-year-old Centralia boy, Brian A. Carreon, and subsequently arrested another Portland man, 26-year-old Deandre J. Perry.

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Marion Street, Feb. 19, 2015

Carreon’s sister from Portland, Taina Duncan, was arrested and charged with rendering criminal assistance for allegedly driving the others to the house.

On the night of Feb. 19, 2015, Dustin Palermo and his girlfriend had just settled into bed to watch a movie, when about three males barged through the door demanding money and weed, and fired numerous shots killing their pit bull Misty.

The former Navy corpsman had a small, and legal, amount of medical marijuana plants growing inside, for himself and another patient. It turned out, prosecutors alleged in court papers, the teenager had been there before and took a video of himself trimming the plants.

Turner-White in a plea deal pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted robbery, first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of first-degree animal cruelty.

His lawyer asked the judge to go along with the agreed recommendation of 144 months in prison.

“He made a horrible decision, that will affect his life forever,” Robert Quillian said. “Fortunately, he will be a relatively young man when he is released.”

Turner-White’s mother was the only person present in the courtroom to support him.

Palermo addressed the judge, saying the hardest part has been that his children’s friends can’t come around, because he was labeled a drug user.

Before he was sentenced, Turner-White turned to face Palermo and said he was sorry. He told him he didn’t shoot his dog to be mean, but only out of fear.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler agreed to the deal the lawyers had worked out.

The defendant had no criminal history.

Lawler told him his incredibly stupid and bad decision is why he was getting so much time.

“You’re a young man, if you want to have a life, you’ll have to do things differently,” Lawler said. “But first you’ll have to pay the penalty.”

Perry has already pleaded guilty and is going to be sentenced on Wednesday.

Carreon is scheduled to be in court on Oct. 19, expected to plead guilty and be sentenced.

Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said he’s still trying to get Duncan back up here from Portland. Her trial is still on the court’s calendar for the week of Nov. 14.
•••

For background, read “Law enforcement finds Centralia robbery suspect in Vancouver jail” from Thursday October 1, 2015, here

•••
Correction: This had been updated to reflect the correct date of Brian A. Carreon’s upcoming court hearing.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, October 10th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 6:11 p.m.

ASSAULT

• Centralia police called about 2:45 p.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of North Washington Avenue where a 32-year-old woman allegedly threatened two of her roommates with a kitchen knife arrested Amber G. Harper for first-degree assault. The Centralia woman was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department. She was charged today with two counts of second-degree assault, for allegedly raising the knife over her shoulder as she demanded to know where her bottle of whiskey was. She has no previous criminal history, according to prosecutors. Her bail was set at $15,000 when she went before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

• Centralia police said yesterday morning they were looking for an identified male suspect for second-degree domestic assault following a call just before 8 p.m. on Saturday to the 400 block of Prairie Rose Street where he allegedly struck a woman in the face causing significant injury.

• Centralia police took a report on Saturday afternoon of a sexual assault, allegedly by a person known to the victim. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THREAT

• A 30-year-old man was arrested for domestic harassment this morning after he allegedly threatened to assault an individual. Officers called about 7:15 a.m. today today to the 700 block of South Gold Street cited Mic J. Banks, of Centralia, and then released him pending a court date, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BURGLARY

• Almost $1,300 worth of valuables including a 9 mm handgun, ammunition for it and a samurai sword were stolen in a burglary witnessed by neighbors at the 100 block of Pier Road south of Chehalis just before 2 p.m. on Friday. Deputies were unable to locate a suspect, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning. Also missing are silver coins, two pocket watches and other jewelry, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Centralia police were called on Friday about a second-degree burglary which involved the theft of cash from a business on the 600 block of South Pearl Street.

AUTO THEFT

• Chehalis police were called just after 12 a.m. today about a silver 2006 Ford Focus that went missing from where it was parked at the 600 block of Southeast Adams Avenue.

THEFT

• Centralia police were called yesterday about 11:45 a.m. to the 1400 block of Lum Road in Centralia where they took a report of the theft of numerous pieces of merchandise. Suspects have not yet been identified, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called to the 10 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue about a suspected internal theft at a business the week before. They are awaiting for further information, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Police were called just before 1 p.m. on Friday to the 600 block of South Tower Avenue to take a report of a female suspected of forging and cashing stolen checks.

VEHICLE PROWL

• An officer was called about 9:45 a.m. on Saturday to the 700 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia regarding tools stolen from a truck.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were summoned at noon on Friday to the 1200 block of Alder Street to take a report of intentional damage to a motel room.

OTHER

• An officer called about 3 p.m. Friday about a male and a female who appeared to be engaging in intimate relations inside a car parked off North National Avenue in Chehalis found that indeed was what was occurring and arrested one of them because of an outstanding warrant, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Someone called 911 just after 6 p.m. on Friday, asking for a phone call from an officer about a Facebook post from a clown advising to watch out for a visit the next day in Adna.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 32-year-old driver said he fell asleep after working a graveyard shift before wrecking along the 700 block of West Reynolds Avenue in Centralia yesterday. A deputy called about 1:20 p.m. noted the vehicle traveled about 50 yards along a ditch and struck a utility pole. The driver said that awakened him and he panicked and stomped on the gas, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle then hit a culvert, a ditch and a second culvert before coming to rest in a parking lot, according to the sheriff’s office. Joshua D. Johnson appeared to have minor injuries and declined medical treatment, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. He was issued a citation for second-degree negligent driving, Breen said. The road was shut down while the pole and wires were replaced, Breen said.

• A 15-year-old driver, who along with his 39-year-old passenger was allegedly intoxicated, was arrested after reportedly speeding away following an attempted traffic stop in Chehalis on Saturday. Deputies called about 4 p.m. were told a pickup truck hauling a trailer struck the median on northbound Interstate 5 and exited at LaBree Road, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy found the vehicle on Bishop Road and pulled up behind, when the vehicle took off but the driver then lost control, coming to a stop, according to the sheriff’s office. The Chehalis boy was arrested for attempting to elude, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. A case was referred to prosecutors against the adult for allegedly being complicit in the intoxication, Breen said.

• A 45-year-old man from Winlock was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after he was hit by a motor home when he stepped out of his vehicle to inspect damage from striking a small deer in Mossyrock. Deputies responding after the approximately 7:35 p.m. accident on Friday at the 500 block of Mossyrock Road East spoke to the driver of the 29-foot motor home who said he didn’t not see that the vehicle was stopped partially in his lane, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The victim sustained possible internal injuries as well as broken bones in his “extremities,” according to the sheriff’s office.

• Centralia police were called about 4:23 p.m. on Friday for a hit and run accident in which a light pole was struck at the 700 block of North Tower Avenue. The suspect is described as an older man and alcohol is believed to have been involved, according to the Centralia Police Department. The suspect vehicle is a mid 2000s white Ford F 150, which would have a bent front end axle, according to police.

• Centralia police were called about 9:23 a.m. on Friday to Pearl and Cherry streets for a hit and run incident involving a pedestrian. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, no-contact order violation, protection order violation, possession of liquor by a minor; responses for alarm, dispute, trespassing, civil issue, suspicious circumstances, suicidal person, friendly stray dog, third-degree theft, collision on city street … and more among 394 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Manhunt underway near Chehalis schools

Monday, October 10th, 2016
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Wanted: Andrew C. Skyberg

Updated at 2:24 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Three Chehalis schools are in lockdown this morning while police search for a suspect from an incident last week.

Chehalis Police Department spokesperson Linda Bailey said that around 8:36 a.m. today, officers got a report that 36-year-old Andrew C. Skyberg was seen in the area of the 100 block of Southwest Sixth Street.

They, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies are in the area trying to locate him, Bailey said.

St. Joseph School, R.E. Bennett Elementary School and Cascade Elementary School went into lockdown as a precaution, she said.

Skyberg is wanted as the primary suspect in an early morning incident on Friday in which multiple gunshots were fired outside a home following an argument at the 600 block of Southwest William Avenue.

Nobody was injured and police said on Friday afternoon they recovered what they believed to be the handgun used.

Chehalis police at about 12:40 p.m. today said officers were unable to locate Skyberg this morning, but asked for help from the public.

Officers were told this morning he was wearing a brown hoody and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about Skyberg’s location or information about Friday’s incident is asked to call 911 or, to remain anonymous, call the Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

•••

For background, read “Chehalis: Two arrested, primary suspect outstanding from early morning shooting” from Friday October 7, 2016 at 5:04 p.m., here