Lewis County Sirens.com

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 29-year-old Centralia man is in custody, accused of kicking another man in the face, head and ribs and stealing $16 worth of tobacco from him.

Chad C. Bass was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree robbery, a felony with a maximum penalty of life in prison.

He denies it, defense attorney Rachael Tiller said when Bass was brought before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

Judge Andrew Toynbee set bail at $30,000.

The incident came to light when the victim went to the Centralia Police Department yesterday morning to report an assault.

He said he was attacked the day before at the 500 block of North Tower Avenue by a guy he knew by the name of Hillbilly, according to charging documents. Andrew Zech told police his assailant took his Native American Spirit Rolling Tobacco and kicked him with steel toed boots, the documents relate.

The officer noted a swelled up lump on the left side of his forehead and scrapes on his face, left side and right knee, according to the documents. Zech said it was the second time it had happened, that he was robbed by the same person on Saturday.

The officer subsequently prepared a photo montage and the victim circled Bass, according to the allegations.

Bass was wearing steel toed boots when he was arrested.

The investigating officer spoke to Bass and then with two individuals Bass said he was with the day before, one of whom said Bass had bragged about beating up Zech behind Pioneer West and, with the help of another person, took all his stuff, according to the documents.

Bass’s arraignment is scheduled for June 29

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WINLOCK WOMAN DISPLACED BY RESIDENTIAL FIRE

• A senior citizen alerted by her smoke alarm spotted fire in her bathroom, called 911 and got outside safely early this morning at the 300 block of Hemenway Road southwest of Winlock. Crews responding to the approximately 6:20 a.m. call arrived to find smoke showing from the roof line, entered and discovered fire in the attic space above the bathroom in the double-wide mobile home, according to Lewis County Fire District 15. Fire Lt. Patrick Jacobson said they were joined by personnel from Napavine, Toledo and Vader fire departments. The Red Cross was going to help the woman out with a place to stay, Jacobson said. The damage was primarily to the attic and the cause is under investigation, he said.

PEDESTRIAN ASSAULTED

• Centralia police were called about 7:20 p.m. for an incident at the 100 block of South Silver Street in which a 21-year-old Centralia woman said she was walking down the street when a female struck her in the face with what she thought was a bottle. She was treated at the hospital for cuts, according to the Centralia Police Department. She said she didn’t wish to pursue charges, according to police.

CYBER CRIME

•  Centralia police at about 11:15 p.m. yesterday took a report of possible extortion via Facebook associated with an address on the 600 block of Centralia College Boulevard. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FRAUD

• Chehalis police were called about 10 a.m. yesterday to investigate a possible fraud associated with a location on the 600 block of West Main Street.

ATM HEIST

• A deputy was called to a campground at the 2200 block of Centralia-Alpha Road yesterday morning following the discovery someone had removed a cash machine from the laundry room area. It was taken sometime between 3:30 p.m. on Friday and 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

TOOLS, EQUIPMENT STOLEN

• A self-propelled lawn mower, a Stihl leaf blower and a weed eater were stolen from a shed at the 100 block of Spencer Road sometime between 3:30 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. yesterday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is $950, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A deputy was called to the 1600 block of Bishop Road about 7:45 a.m. yesterday for a break-in to a business in which more than $2,000 worth of equipment was stolen. Among the items taken since about 6 p.m. on Saturday were a welder, a Husky air compressor as well as a surveillance system, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

VEHICLE  PROWL

• A vehicle parked inside a fenced compound at the 900 block of Johnson Road in Centralia was broken into and gas siphoned out of it, according to a report made to police about 7:50 a.m. yesterday.

DRUGS

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports this morning they are referring a case for possession of a controlled substance to prosecutors in connection with finding suspected Suboxone – a medication used in the treatment of opioid addiction – inside a book in a 25-year-old inmate’s cell at the Lewis County Jail on Friday. The substance will be sent for testing, according to the sheriff’s office.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

• Chehalis police were called about 6:40 a.m. today about a person suspected to be “camped out” in the Honey Bucket at the 400 block of Northwest State Avenue. No arrest was made, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• It was a suspected equipment failure that caused a semi truck to end up on its side last night at U.S. Highway 12 and North Prairie Road, according to Lewis County Fire District 5. Firefighters responded to the scene shortly after 8 p.m. and determined the driver was uninjured, Fire Lt. Laura Hanson said.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, misdemeanor assault; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, suspicious circumstances, hit and run, vehicle collision, third-degree theft … and more among 180 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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U.S. Highway 12 at North Prairie Road. / Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Hank the dog’s human family will fight on.

After yesterday’s emotion laden court hearing about the fate of a pit bull terrier implicated in killing livestock, Lewis County District Court Judge R.W. Buzzard signed an order that Hank be euthanized by the close of the business day tomorrow.

Detained April, 2016

But today, a Lewis County Superior Court judge issued a “stay” meaning the dog cannot be put down during the next 30 days.

Hank’s owner, rural Centralia resident Jann Propp-Estimo, is represented by Bellingham animal lawyer Adam Karp.

Karp said after yesterday morning’s court proceedings, he would appeal and / or file a new lawsuit against the county.

Under Lewis County code, there was no option other than death for the canine after he was deemed in an administrative hearing to be a dangerous dog, for the events of last year in rural Winlock. However, that was delayed as county employees worked to find a lawful way to potentially declassify a dangerous dog.

Meanwhile, the pet that those at the Lewis County Animal Shelter felt was  really not an irredeemable killer, found himself with a new name and then adopted out to a new family. Propp-Estimo knew nothing of Hank’s past until Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer learned that someone bypassed the rules and had Hank impounded last month.

The Lewis County Board of County Commissioners yesterday approved an amendment to the dangerous dog ordinance which allowed the appeal that took place in Lewis County District Court.

The new rules allowed for the judge to take into consideration new evidence including present behavior, character and disposition of the animal. Judge Buzzard wasn’t convinced.

Karp laid out a case that suggested Hank’s mother was the actual killer of the two goats.

Today’s order signed by Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler notes the matter was brought to him at the request of Karp and Lewis County, with both having agreed to the temporary reprieve.

The action gives Karp time to file his appeal.

However, Hank, formerly known as Tank, shall be euthanized no late than 48 hours following the expiration of Lawler’s order, unless he or another court intervenes.
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For background, read “Possible reprieve for dog implicated in goats’ deaths” from Wednesday May 31, 2017, here