Archive for November, 2016

News brief: Still no word from missing hiker

Monday, November 7th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Yakima County authorities are reaching out to the public in their search for a missing Pacific Crest Trail hiker, in case he has left the trail and doesn’t know people are looking for him.

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Kris Fowler

Kris Fowler’s family began to get worried when they hadn’t heard from him and contacted sheriff’s office’s about a week and half ago. Deputies learned the Dayton, Ohio area man had last been seen at the Cracker Barrel store on U.S. Highway 12 near White Pass on Oct. 12 and was believed to have been continuing north.

Ground searches have been conducted with no luck.

“If someone saw him, gave him a ride, or knows someone who knows something, we need to hear about it,” Yakima County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Randy Briscoe said today.

The sheriff’s office has chased a few tips that are coming in and asked the Civil Air Patrol to fly from White Pass to the trail’s end, according to Briscoe. That should happen after the weather breaks a little, he said.

Briscoe indicated they are trying to get the word out far and wide, in case Fowler is in some other location and hasn’t heard about the search.

“The feeling is he is not on the trail, maybe,” Briscoe said today.

Fowler, who goes by the trail name Sherpa, began his trek in May. He is 6-foot 2-inches tall and 150 pounds, with blond hair and a modest beard.

Anyone who has seen him is asked to phone Yakima County Sheriff’s Office at 509-574-2535.

A Facebook page has been set up to share information about Fowler. It is called “Bring Kris Fowler/Sherpa Home
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For background, read “Pacific Crest Trail: Hiker from Ohio last seen near White Pass” from Tuesday November 1, 2016, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, November 7th, 2016
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BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 3:30 p.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of North Washington Avenue to take a report of a break-in at a house under renovation. It is unknown if anything was taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THEFT CENTRALIA

• Police were called to a wedding reception on the 200 block of South Tower Avenue twice last night following the discovery that an individual’s checkbook, cash and car key were stolen and another person’s watch was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VEHICLE THEFT

• A stolen U-Haul truck was discovered in the 2600 block of Cooks Hill Road in Centralia at about 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FRAUD

• Chehalis police were called about 5:20 p.m. yesterday by a victim whose debit card was stolen from their vehicle in Tumwater and then someone attempted multiple times to use it at a business on the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis.

• Police were called on Friday by a Winlock woman whose checkbook was stolen from her purse at one of two businesses in Chehalis and someone subsequently wrote $1,137.64 worth of checks locally and out of state. The case is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about a vehicle prowl at the 1400 block of Lum Road about 10:15 a.m. on Saturday. The window was broken and two backpacks stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called just before 8 a.m. on Saturday about a vehicle prowl at the 2100 block of Southwest Olympic Drive. A laptop computer was removed from an unlocked vehicle, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 35-year-old Chehalis resident was arrested for possession of methamphetamine yesterday following a traffic stop about 1:35 p.m. at the 400 block of Bunker Creek Road in which a deputy discovered an outstanding warrant and then a small plastic baggie with a crystalized substance in a pocket. Edmond M. Ferry II was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police were called to an apartment complex at 5 p.m. yesterday where a 4-year-old boy ran into the parking lot and was struck by a slow moving vehicle. It happened a the 2800 block of Russell Road, according to the Centralia Police Department. Neither the child nor the driver saw the other, according to police. The little boy was conscious and alert and didn’t appear to be seriously injured, but was taken to the hospital to be examined, according to police.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrant, misdemeanor assault, shoplifting, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, failure to transfer title, third-degree domestic malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, third-degree theft, civil issue, suspicious circumstances … and more among 274 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Centralia apartment manager hospitalized with life threatening lacerations

Monday, November 7th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Police recovered a box cutter knife after a woman was found yesterday with severe lacerations to her wrists and throat at the apartment complex that saw two suspicious fires last week in Centralia.

Officers were called at 11:36 a.m. yesterday to the 1000 block of Scammon Creek Road.

The 44-year-old apartment manager was found in the bathroom of a common area of the complex with life-threatening injuries, according to the Centralia Police Department.

The box cutter was located in the bathroom as well, according to police.

She was transported to the hospital and then transferred to a more advanced trauma center for further treatment, Tacoma General Hospital, Sgt. Jim Shannon said.

Shannon said they processed the scene as though it was a serious assault or potential homicide, but are still investigating. They are following up today on leads to determine what occurred, he said.

Its the same complex where last Wednesday and Thursday mornings, authorities were called for possible arson attempts. The first morning, some paper was found burning next to the building. The following day, a fire broke out in a corridor of the same building, damaging an approximately 15 square foot area of exterior siding.

Shannon said this morning he can’t say if yesterday’s incident is related, but he expects police will have more information at the end of today.

“We’re looking at all possible scenarios,” he said.

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For background, read “News brief: Centralia detective asking for tips on suspected arson attempts” from Friday November 4, 2016, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Saturday, November 5th, 2016
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ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Two young people were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital yesterday after a rollover accident caused by a tire blowing out on Interstate 5 in Chehalis. Troopers called just after 4 p.m. to the northbound lanes just beyond the West Street overpass found the driver, 18-year-old Rio P. Arriaga was traveling in the left lane but lost control of his Isuzu Rodeo, which came to rest in the right lane, according to the Washington State Patrol. The Chehalis teen was unhurt, according to the state patrol. Arriaga and his two passengers Crystian T. Bean, 14 and Madalyn N. Bean, 11, also of Chehalis, had all been wearing their seat belts, according to the state patrol.

FOOTWEAR LIFTED FROM PORCH

• Police were called about 10:30 a.m. yesterday to the 1300 block of Central Boulevard where someone had stolen a pair of shoes and a small carpet from a porch.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 12:50 p.m. yesterday to the 500 block of Woodland Avenue to take a report of a vehicle prowl. Missing was a cell phone from an unlocked vehicle, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrant, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, protection order violation, civil issue, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more among 133 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Read about Prosecutor Meyer charges candidate with felonies …

Friday, November 4th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Chinook Observer reports a summons was issued a week ahead of the general election for James “Jimi” O’Hagan, a candidate challenging the incumbent state representative to the 19th Legislative District, charging him with two felonies.

News reporter Natalie St. John writes the Grayland Republican is expected to appear in Pacific County Superior Court on Nov. 18 because he refused to return a borrowed Chevrolet Suburban and a stored boat belonging to a Raymond man.

St. John reports Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer filed the charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and first-degree possession of stolen property – after several months of gathering and reviewing case information – because Pacific County Prosecutor Mark McClain had a conflict.

O’Hagan’s statement in the Washington Voter’s Pamphlet describes himself as a small family farmer, self-educated in law who believes judicial branch members have infiltrated the legislative and executive branches to obtain nobility for themselves and their fellow attorneys, and that the state bar association is a subversive organization which should be abolished.

A portion of western Lewis County is part of the 19th Legislative District.

Lewis County voters in the primary supported O’Hagan with almost 65 percent of the votes compared with the sitting Democrat Brian Blake who garnered just under 32 percent of their votes.

Read more about it here: “19th Legislative District candidate charged with felonies” from The Chinook Observer on Wednesday Nov. 2, 2016, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, November 4th, 2016
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THEFT, THEFT, THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 7:20 p.m. yesterday about the theft of a pressure washer from a locked shed at the 200 block of West Oakview Avenue.

• Police were called to the 200 block of Centralia College Boulevard in Centralia just before 11 a.m. yesterday where a check was missing from a mailbox.

• Police were called about 12:30 p.m. yesterday when an individual reported someone tried to use his social security number to gain access to his credit and make purchases. The case is associated with an address on the 700 block of F Street, according to the Centralia Police Department.

TRESPASSING

• Chehalis police were called about 11 a.m. yesterday to a business on the 1000 block of Southwest Interstate Avenue where someone had gained entry into two trailers. It was not immediately apparent if anything was missing, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A person at the 600 block of Northwest Ohio Avenue in Chehalis called police about 1 p.m. yesterday about a pair of chickens wandering on the sidewalk and in the road at West Street, with “leashes” attached to their feet. The neighbor took them home and their owner was given a warning about roaming poultry, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• A 32-year-old man was arrested for driving under the influence after his truck collided with a utility pole at the 300 block of Mossyrock  Road East about 12:30 p.m. yesterday. Witnesses told a deputy the 2009 Ford F150 swerved off the road and hit the pole, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Ronald J. Allen Jr., of Mossyrock, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, protection order violation, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances … and more among 154 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Centralia detective asking for tips on suspected arson attempts

Friday, November 4th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Centralia police are asking the public for information to help solve suspicious fires two mornings in a row at an apartment complex at the 1000 block of Scammon Creek Road.

On Wednesday, responders were advised some paper had been lit on fire at the corner of a building, but it was out before they arrived, according to the Centralia Police Department.

The following day, a fire broke out within a corridor of the same building, damaging an approximately 15 square foot area of exterior siding; the manager put it out with a fire extinguisher, according to authorities.

Centralia police detective John Panco said this morning the damaged wall has been removed so it can be sent to the state crime lab for examination and checked for possible accelerants.

The cause is undetermined, but it’s being investigated as first-degree arson, according to police.

Panco asks that anyone who knows anything about either incident to phone him at 360-330-7680.
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For background, read “News brief: Arson attempts in Centralia under investigation” from Thursday November 3, 2016, here