Archive for April, 2017

News brief: Rural Chehalis rollover crash claimed life of 64-year-old

Wednesday, April 26th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The driver who was killed when his pickup truck wrecked along the 1400 block of Centralia-Alpha Road on Monday afternoon is being identified as 64-year-old John Halvorsen of Chehalis.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said it appeared his truck had drifted off the road, struck a culvert and rolled multiple times.

The Lewis County Coroner’s Office says Halvorsen died from blunt force injuries to his head and neck.

Deputies and the Washington State Patrol investigated the accident that occurred between Logan Hill and North Fork roads east of Chehalis.
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For background, read “News brief: One person dead in rollover crash” from Tuesday April 25, 2017, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, April 25th, 2017
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•••

HEAVY SHOPLIFTING

• A 20-year-old Chehalis resident was arrested for second-degree theft after she was caught allegedly shoplifting a felony level of merchandise from a retail store at the 1300 block of Lum Road in Centralia yesterday. Officers called about 12:45 p.m. booked Desiree M. Webley into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning a Chehalis motorist was cited after she lost control of her vehicle and traveled about 200 feet off the road and struck a fence. The 37-year-old Chehalis woman had turned to check on her two children and when she turned back saw a vehicle in the middle of the road, according to the sheriff’s office. It happened along the 200 block of Romerman Road near Napavine on Saturday morning, Chief Deputy Duty Breen said. One of the children had small cuts on their face from glass and the 1999 Toyota 4Runner was totaled, Breen said.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, probation violation, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving under the influence, third-degree malicious mischief, displaying dangerous weapon; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vehicle collision, trespassing, suspicious circumstances … and more among 159 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: One person dead in rollover crash

Tuesday, April 25th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 64-year-old Centralia man was found deceased at the scene when his pickup truck wrecked yesterday afternoon along Centralia-Alpha Road east of Chehalis.

Deputies and firefighters were called at 3:24 p.m. and found the 2004 GMC Sierra was totaled, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

It appeared the truck had drifted off the road, struck a culvert and rolled multiple times, sheriff’s Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. The vehicle came to rest wheels down, on the roadway, according to Lewis County Fire District 6.

The driver was the sole occupant, according to Breen.

The Washington State Patrol is assisting with the investigation, he said.

News brief: I-5 freeway fatality under investigation

Tuesday, April 25th, 2017
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Northbound Interstate 5 traffic in Chehalis is diverted off freeway at exit 79. / Courtesy image WSDOT

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A motorcyclist was killed this morning on northbound Interstate 5 in between Chehalis and Centralia.

Troopers and firefighters were called at 5:09 a.m. to milepost 80 for what was initially described as a multiple vehicle accident and they found semi trucks and cars pulled over with one motorcycle down, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Trooper Will Finn said about 9 a.m. detectives were still sorting out what occurred but he said the collision involved at least one semi truck.

“It’s a pretty dynamic situation,” Finn said.

All northbound traffic was being diverted off the freeway at the Chamber of Commerce Way exit, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The state patrol has a person of interest not at the scene they want to interview who may have been involved or may be just a witness, Finn said.

A tow truck had been called by about 9:10 a.m. but Finn had no estimate as to when the lanes would reopen.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, April 24th, 2017
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•••

BURGLARY PACKWOOD

• A deputy responding about 4:45 p.m. yesterday for a burglary of a vacation cabin in Packwood learned that someone forced their way inside, ransacked the place and stole at least $10,000 worth of valuables. Among the missing items from the 100 block of Timberline Drive West were a generator, chainsaws and air compressors but a list is still being complied, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It happened sometime during approximately the previous two weeks, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

STORAGE UNITS POSSIBLY BURGLED

• Chehalis police were called just before 9 p.m. yesterday to the 1900 block of Northeast Kresky Avenue where locks from two storage units were missing. It’s not yet known if anything was stolen, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

TAILGATE TAKEN

• An individual reported the theft of a tailgate from a pickup at the 300 block of Latona Street in Centralia yesterday. It occurred during the night, according to the Centralia Police Department.

POSSIBLE FRAUD

• Chehalis police were called at 3:07 p.m. on Friday about suspected possible fraud associated with a location on the 600 block of South Market Boulevard. The report is being investigated, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called just after 2 p.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of Roosevelt Avenue where sometime during the night someone had slashed tires on someone else’s vehicle.

• A 46-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for third-degree malicious mischief last night after allegedly breaking out a vehicle window during an argument at the 1200 block of Mellen Street in Centralia. Officers called about 10:40 p.m. issued a citation to Michael J. Bock and then released him, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 26-year-old Chehalis man was arrested for possession of heroin after he was pulled over by a deputy about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday in the vicinity of the 500 block of Centralia-Alpha Road, and driving with a suspended license, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Michael A. Welsh was booked into the Lewis County Jail,  according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A 56-year-old Onalaska man pulled over for speeding just before midnight on Friday at the 400 block of Centralia-Alpha Road was subsequently found to be driving with a suspended license and then found in possession of suspected heroin and suspected meth residue on a glass pipe, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Daniel G. Church was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A 54-year-old man contacted for trespassing at a red tagged residence on the 200 block of Southwest 14th Street in Chehalis at about 3:25 p.m. on Friday was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, according to police. Loring G. Thomas was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND FROM MORTON

• Officers responded to a 7:48 p.m. call on Friday to the 100 block of Main Avenue to a possible assault that took place.  The case is pending further information, according to the Morton Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 33-year-old motorist who was reportedly seen “huffing” on an aerosol can and at one point passed out in the lane while cars went around him along Rush Road south of Chehalis was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence yesterday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Joseph M. King was contacted on Newaukum Valley Road shortly after 12:40 p.m. and then arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’ office.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning that the driver who struck a large tree along the 1600 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday was arrested for driving under the influence. Christopher E. Moore had been wearing his seatbelt but he seemed confused, acknowledged he had consumed alcohol and believed he was still in the parking lot of a bar, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. Moore was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital and then booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to responders.

• The driver who collided with a fence along the 200 block of Southwest William Avenue in Chehalis at about 4:45 a.m. on Saturday was arrested for driving under the influence, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Katheryn L. Rider, 30, of Chehalis, was issued a citation and then released to her parents, according to police.

• A 22-year-old Centralia resident advised he was attempting to dodge a deer in the roadway causing his vehicle to roll over at the 1800 block of Little Hanaford Road outside Centralia early Friday morning. A deputy responding to the approximately 2:30 a.m. call arrested Joshua D. Bales for driving under the influence, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, protection order violation; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vehicle collision, disorderly person, third-degree theft, unfounded report, suspicious circumstances … and more among 127 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Police awaiting autopsy for confirmation about body found inside parked Honda Accord

Monday, April 24th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Chehalis Police Department has an idea about how he died and feels “pretty positive” he is the missing 16-year-old Camas boy, but are awaiting word from the coroner in regards to the body discovered inside a car parked at the Twin City Town Center late Friday afternoon.

Department spokesperson Linda Bailey this morning called the death a tragedy.

Cole Burbank, 16, of Camas, was reported missing by his parents on April 13 and the Camas Police Department issued a missing person report to the public hoping to locate him and his black 2010 Honda Accord. An intense investigation to find him as quickly as possible began immediately, according to police.

Chehalis police responded about 5:30 p.m. on Friday to the shopping center on Northwest Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis, following a phone call from someone Bailey said she believed was a friend of the family who had located the vehicle.

“I do understand Camas sent a team up to assist with … to process the scene,” Bailey said.

It doesn’t appear police are looking for any suspect. Bailey said if police thought there was a danger element to the public, she would have already made such an announcement.

Officers have an idea of how he died, “but we aren’t going to say that until we get an autopsy report,” Bailey said.

An autopsy is being conducted today, she said.

The car was found in the parking lot east of the auto parts store and closer to Security State Bank. Bailey said she had not yet heard if detectives have determined how long the car was there.

Further information is expected to be released by the Lewis County Coroner’s Office, which has the responsibility to positively identify him and find the cause and manner of his death.
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For background read “Male found dead inside missing teen’s car in Chehalis” from Saturday April 22, 2017, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Sunday, April 23rd, 2017
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South Scheuber Road wreck / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A driver was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital early yesterday morning after their car left the roadway and struck a large tree along the 1600 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia. Firefighters responding to the approximately 1:30 a.m. call found the driver still inside the vehicle, according to Riverside Fire Authority. The car sustained significant damage, with debris scattered in all directions, Fire Capt. Erik Olson stated. The injuries appeared to be non-life threatening, according to Olson.

• A motorist escaped serious injury when her car collided with a fence and came to rest in a yard along Southwest William Avenue in Chehalis at about 4:45 a.m. yesterday, according to the Chehalis Fire Department. It happened between Second and Third streets, according to Firefighter Braxton Traylor. While a two-by-four crashed through her windshield, it veered toward the passenger side, Traylor said. A second piece of lumber pierced the vehicle between the brake and gas pedal, he said. The driver was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital as a precaution, Traylor said.

• A 2011 Kia Soul was totaled when its 20-year-old driver ran into the back of a semi truck on northbound Interstate 5 near milepost 60 late Friday night. Brenden K. Banta, 20, from Kalama, and his 17-year-old passenger from Woodland were both injured and taken to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers called about 11:45 p.m. report the driver of the 2017 Peterbilt tractor was unhurt and the big rig was able to be driven from the scene. The collision is under investigation. Banta was to be arrested for driving under the influence and vehicular assault, according to the state patrol.

HEAVY SHOPLIFTING

• Centralia police arrested a pair of teenagers and a third person for organized retail theft in connection with an approximately 6 p.m. call yesterday associated with an address on the 1300 block of Lum Road. Elijah A Chambers, 18, of Renton and Brianna R Westwood of Kent as well as a 16 year old boy were booked, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AUTO THEFT

• An abandoned Kia Optima was recovered at Hemlock and Pine streets in Centralia about 3:20 p.m. on Friday, according to the Centralia Police Department. It was stolen from California, according to police.

OTHER THEFT

• Speakers were stolen from a storage unit at the 1200 block of North Pearl Street, according to a report made to police on Friday morning.

• Police were called about the theft of power tools from a business at the 2000 block of Johnson Road in Centralia on Friday morning.

• Centralia police a report on Friday afternoon that $40 was stolen from a resident at the 1300 block of Alexander Street.

• Centralia police were called to a vehicle prowl at the 600 block of Warsaw Street at about 1:20 p.m. on Friday. Keys were taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FRAUD

• Centralia police took a report just after noon on Friday from the 800 block of North Pearl Street of an unknown person using another individual’s social security number and birth  date to fraudulently file a tax return.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, trespassing, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, anti-harassment order violation; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 298 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.