Archive for March, 2017

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017
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•••

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were called just before 6:30 a.m. today to the 200 block of South Silver Street about the theft of a champagne-colored 1995 Toyota Camry, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUG SEARCH

• Centralia police impounded a car and got a search warrant for suspected drugs after two people were found sleeping in the vehicle yesterday morning at the 1100 block of Belmont Avenue. Officers could see suspected drug paraphernalia in the car, according to the Centralia Police Department. The suspected drugs are being sent for analysis and charges are pending, according to police.

FRAUD

• An individual called Chehalis police yesterday about someone else possibly getting into one of his accounts.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called at 8:20 a.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 500 block of North Tower Avenue in Centralia. Change was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, third-degree theft, misdemeanor domestic assault; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, trespassing, suicidal person, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances, suspected driving under the influence … and more among 156 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Rochester home catches fire

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Six fire departments converged on a house fire in Rochester yesterday on the 8500 block of James Road Southwest.

West Thurston Regional Fire Authority Chief Robert Scott said the single-story wood frame home was occupied at the time, but nobody was injured.

“The fire began in the basement area and extended into the overhead attic space,” Scott said.

Crews called at 10:46 a.m. were still on the scene after lunch.

“It has a metal roof and that’s part of the problem, that’s holding in the heat,” Scott said.

An adult male and his son live there, according to Scott.

Bail set at $250,000 for home invasion suspect

Tuesday, March 21st, 2017
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Franklin G. Cole Jr. appears before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 32-year-old man with 21 felony convictions in his past is being held in the Lewis County Jail in connection with a Chehalis home invasion robbery from a year ago.

Franklin G. Cole Jr. was brought before a judge yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Temporary defense attorney Rachael Tiller said Cole has lived in Thurston County his entire life, but court documents show a Tacoma address for his residence.

According to court documents, a defendant charged last year in the case agreed in January to identify the other two involved in the incident in exchange for consideration from the state.

Charges were filed last month and arrest warrants issued for Cole and for Joshua A. Little. Little has already posted bail in his case.

According to charging documents, it was just after 11:30 at night on March 26, 2016 when police were called to the victim’s home on Southwest 10th Street just off Market Boulevard.

The 40-year-old woman was living in a shed behind a residence and packing to move out when three males kicked in her door and came inside. They were dressed in black masks and wearing gloves, she told police. She said at least one of them was holding a handgun.

The victim said they took her Playstation 4, 20-inch monitor, a DVR, laptop computer and one of them threw a four-foot long fluorescent light fixture at her. She told police she thought she recognized the voice of one of them as someone who had traded watches with her boyfriend, and his watch turned out to be fake.

Jesse L. Harkcom, 34 at the time, was arrested and charged last June.

Cole’s bail is set at $250,000. His arraignment is Thursday.
•••

For background, read “Chehalis home invasion suspect facing third strike case” from Friday June 10, 2016, here

Sheriff’s Office: Deputy had to arrest woman who asked for help

Tuesday, March 21st, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office says they would not have arrested the woman who told a deputy she wanted to get clean and get into rehab if she had not reached into her purse and handed over a small baggie of heroin.

Forty-year-old Elizabeth A. Fiedler was booked into the Lewis County Jail and charged the next day with possession of a controlled substance following a 911 call to her home in Onalaska on Feb. 28.

Chief Deputy Dusty Breen initially reported Fiedler called Lewis County dispatch and asked for help, bringing law enforcement to her residence that night. However, a copy of the police incident report indicates it was her boyfriend who called 911.

Fiedler was passed out on the bed with a needle in her arm and he said he called because he did not know what to do, according to the report and charging documents.

The responding deputy wrote she was extremely upset and crying, and said she had relapsed and shot up with heroin. She told him she really wanted his help to get treatment, he wrote.

A second deputy noted in his report that Fiedler told them she knew she had a problem and repeatedly said she needed to go to rehab and needed help.

As she was reaching in to her purse, Deputy Andrew Scrivner told her she did not have to give him anything, according to the report.

Fielder stated, “I know, but its the right thing to do,” Scrivner wrote.

They had no choice at that point but to arrest her, according to Breen.

“Really, for law enforcement if someone presents us with, if they are in possession of an illegal substance, we don’t have another avenue,” Breen said.

The deputies also took in to evidence a silver spoon with brown resin in it they had seen laying on the bed next to her purse, according to the report. A possible charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was referred to prosecutors, according to Breen.

The second deputy wrote that Fiedler was cooperative and compliant during the entire contact.

While the arresting deputy told Fiedler they’d do the best they could to get her into a treatment program so she could continue on have a successful career, and “we’re here for ya,” Breen said the sheriff’s office doesn’t have authority to get someone into drug treatment.

“We don’t have a lot of avenues where we can go with that,” Breen said.

Breen said the only time they can take a person into custody other than a law violation, would be if they were gravely disabled or in danger to themselves, in which case they could be taken to the hospital to talk with a mental health professional.

“Obviously the best thing to do would not be to produce the controlled substance,” he said.

When Fiedler went before a judge the following day, she was allowed release on a $5,000 signature bond. The prosecutor noted to the judge she has no criminal history and was cooperative.

She pleaded not guilty on March 9. Her trial is scheduled for the week of May 22.

Breen said the erroneous information he initially provided to the news media was based on a synopsis of the incident from the deputy that did not contain the same information as the actual incident report.
•••

For background, read “News brief: Onalaskan asks law for help with drug issue” from Wednesday March 1, 2017, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, March 21st, 2017
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•••

UNRULY VISITOR

• A 41-year-old Centralia woman allegedly assaulted a nurse at a healthcare facility at the 900 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia. Centralia police were contacted about the incident just after 8 p.m. yesterday and indicate they will refer to the prosecutor’s office a potential charge of third-degree assault.

THEFT, THEFT

• Items were stolen from a carport at the 1300 block of Alexander Street in Centralia while the victim was away, according to a report made to police about 8:20 p.m. yesterday.

• Centralia police were called about 11:30 a.m. yesterday about the theft of saddle bags from a broken down motorcycle overnight at the 900 block of Harrison Avenue.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

• An officer advised a woman she should probably modify her behavior after police were called the the 1400 block of Southwest Wilson Avenue yesterday afternoon about a woman carrying an axe and yelling outside of her home. She said she was looking for her dog, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Officers responded to the 100 block of West State State Street in Mossyrock on Saturday morning to a complaint of someone letting cows out of their pasture. The cows were found several blocks away in another pasture, according to the Morton Police Department.  It is unknown at this time who might have let them out but is still being investigated, according to police.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, third-degree theft, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, shoplifting, civil issue, trespassing, suspicious circumstances … and more among 139 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Twenty-four pounds of meth seized in Centralia

Monday, March 20th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The local drug detective team announced today they found 24 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside the gas tank of a car and arrested two people.

The traffic stop of a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta took place on northbound Interstate 5 at milepost 81 on Friday, according to the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team.

The stop followed an investigation by the team, according to a news release.

The drugs were located individually wrapped inside the Jetta’s fuel tank, JNET stated.

Arrested were the driver, 26-year-old Martin Alejandro Vega-Vega and passenger, 25-year-old Marco Antonio Lopez-Vega, both from Kent, according to the news release.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Lewis County Jail roster does not show the two men as detained there.

The news release states no further details will be provided. Centralia Police Department detective Patty Finch who forwarded the information to the news media said she did not know the answer as to where the arrestees are being held.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is staffed by law enforcement officers from the Centralia Police Department, the Chehalis Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Last month, sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen advised the Lewis County Board of Commissioners that during January, JNET assisted federal agents in two separate incidents, one which turned up 13.7 pounds of meth and the other 15 pounds.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, March 20th, 2017
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•••

Updated at 6:35 p.m.

HIT BY HAMMER

• Centralia police were called at 8:45 p.m. yesterday after a Centralia man allegedly struck a 30-year-old man in the neck with a hammer in the parking lot at the Apex store on the 400 block of West Main Street. The victim chased the suspect to his home a few blocks away, according to the Centralia Police Department. Police arrested 40-year-old Patrick R. Lytle for second-degree assault and booked him in to the Lewis County Jail. It seems the suspect didn’t like the way the other man was treating women, according to police. The injury was superficial, Sgt. Kurt Reichert said.

OTHER ASSAULT

• A 27-year-old Chehalis man was arrested yesterday evening after he allegedly kicked an officer when he was detained in response to a call to the 200 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue about someone looking in cars. Matthew R. Istre appeared to be intoxicated and had also allegedly kicked at the window of a police vehicle, according to the Chehalis Police Department. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree assault. A deputy called to the jail at 11:15 p.m. about a person destroying two phones in a holding cell further arrested Istre for second-degree malicious mischief, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Centralia police were called at 6:45 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a fourth-degree domestic assault during a child exchange associated with a location at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue.

• Chehalis police called about 2:30 a.m. on Saturday by a female who said she was an officer and had been assaulted at the 400 block of Northwest Prindle Street found a woman who appeared to be intoxicated and concluded she had not been assaulted. She was not a police officer either, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Rochelle T. Perez, 31, of Chehalis, allegedly began causing a disturbance, was detained for disorderly conduct and resisted arrest, according to police. She was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree assault, department spokesperson Linda Bailey said.

• A 37-year-old man who allegedly spit on a police officer after he was handcuffed and detained during a shoplifting incident at Wal-Mart was arrested Friday afternoon and then charged today with third-degree assault. Kyle J. Richie reportedly told the officer he has hepatitis and is HIV positive, according to court documents. The spittle struck the upper chest area of the officer’s uniform, according to charging documents. He was booked Friday afternoon for third-degree theft and resisting arrest, according to the online jail roster.

BREAK-IN MORTON

• Deputies responding about 3:10 p.m. yesterday to a report of a burglary at the 100 block of Riffe Hill Road outside Morton found a front door forced open and items missing including a Honda quad, a wood chipper and a Craftsman riding lawnmower. The victim is in the process of compiling a list of everything that was taken, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The break-in occurred sometime since January, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

BREAK-IN CENTRALIA

• A 29-year-old Centralia man who allegedly broke into a house he was restrained by court order from being at was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree burglary. Centralia police called about 10:35 a.m. on Saturday to the 600 block of West Maple Street stated that Jake A. Reinitz was in possession of a knife at the time, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FUGITIVE TASK FORCE FINDS RYAN JUSTICE

• A 22-year-old Glenoma resident was arrested for second-degree rendering criminal assistance after she and a wanted person were found together at the 1700 block of Ferrier Road in Winlock on Friday evening. Deputies and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force got information on the location for 29-year-old Ryan Justice, also of Glenoma, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. He was wanted on an outstanding warrant and also in connection with a possession of a stolen vehicle case, according to the sheriff’s office. Since Kayleigh J. Longmire had been previously told to immediately notify law enforcement if she came across Justice, she was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail, Chief Dusty Breen said.

DRUGS

• Chehalis police called about 2:10 p.m. yesterday about suspected shoplifting at the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue ended up contacting a pair of individuals, one of whom was wanted on an outstanding warrant. They had fled in a vehicle and one of them tried to flee again as police caught up with them, according to police. Ronald J. Clayton, 38, was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine and was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department. His companion, Debra S. VanMeter, 54, of Olympia, was arrested for third-degree theft, according to police.

MAN WAITS FOR ARREST

• A 47-year-old Chehalis man allegedly  shoplifted a pair of boots and two jugs of wine from Wal-Mart, then went outside and sat down and waited for police to arrive. An officer called about 11:35 a.m. on Friday arrested Scott M. Sanders for third-degree theft and then released him to be transported by ambulance to Providence Centralia Hospital for an unspecified evaluation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called to the 500 block of North Gold Street for a vehicle prowl just before 4 p.m. on Friday. A wallet was taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police took a report of the theft of medication from a vehicle at the 900 block of L Street at about 12:25 p.m. on Friday.

BAD BILL

• Chehalis police were called just before 1 p.m. on Friday for a person trying to spend a counterfeit $20 bill at the 1900 block of South Market Boulevard. The individual did not know it was fake and could not recall where they got it, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Two children and a woman from Reno were injured when their car was struck from behind and knocked over onto its top on southbound Interstate 5 in Lewis County this morning. Troopers called just before 9 a.m. to the scene about five miles south of Napavine report traffic was slowing for another collision and a 2006 Ford F150 pickup truck was following too closely and failed to slow before striking the 2016 Subaru Forester station wagon. The Subaru rolled and came to rest in the median, according to the Washington State Patrol. The driver of the truck, Austin R. Nachatilo, 19, of Chehalis, was uninjured and was issued a citation for following too close, according to the state patrol. Both vehicles were totaled. Amanda L. Windes, 36, and a 5-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl were all transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, the investigating trooper reports. All four involved had been using seat belts or restraints.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, third-degree theft, misdemeanor assault, protection order violation,  third-degree  malicious mischief, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, civil issue, hit and run, reckless driving, vandalism, vehicle collision, third-degree theft, suicidal person, suspicious circumstances … and more among 432 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

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Three hurt in rollover wreck near milepost 66 on Interstate 5. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol.