Archive for July, 2017

Chehalis: Hay-filled barn succumbs to flames

Tuesday, July 4th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Smoke may continue to linger in the area for several days following a barn fire yesterday morning south of Chehalis, according to Lewis County Fire District 5.

Crews called to the scene along Bishop Road just before 9 a.m were able to prevent the fire from spreading to several adjacent buildings, but the 80-year-old barn and the approximately 5,000 bales of hay it held were destroyed, according to Fire Lt. Laura Hanson.

District 5 units were assisted by Lewis County Fire District 6, the Chehalis Fire and Lewis County Fire District 2, according to Hanson.

Personnel from District 5 are continuing to monitor and mitigate the remaining materials on scene, Hanson stated.

Two arrested in string of small fires in Winlock

Monday, July 3rd, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Bail was set at $50,000 each for a pair of men who allegedly set fires around downtown Winlock early on Saturday morning.

Aaron J. Kalista, 33, and Brent T. Brooks, 30, who reside in Winlock, were charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with second-degree arson.

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Aaron J. Kalista

No injuries were reported and no buildings burned down, but firefighters and police Sgt. Sam Patrick responded to four random fires within less than an hour, according to court documents.

It was about 4:14 a.m. when Patrick was asked to go to the 200 block of Southeast First Street where the fire department was extinguishing a small fire which seemed to have been intentionally set in a pile of new construction materials next to a house being remodeled, according to authorities.

At 5 o’clock the same morning, a fire was discovered in a dumpster against the wall of the Winlock Post Office, just blocks to the north, on the 200 block of Northeast First Street, according to charging documents.

There was also a fire in another nearby dumpster on the other side of the post office, next to a fence, according to Patrick.

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Brent T. Brooks

As Patrick responded, he was informed of another fire across from the hardware store on the 500 block of Northeast First Street where boards, pallets and grass were burning, Patrick said.

While the fires were being extinguished, Patrick and two sheriff’s deputies began to search the area looking for who might be responsible, according to charging documents.

Patrick was able to view surveillance images from the hardware store, and saw two males walking away from the last fire, and curiously looking back at it, Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Bohm wrote in charging documents.

Patrick recognized the two as the men he’d contacted just before he learned of the first fire, according to Bohm.

Patrick said he had been following up on a complaint of two males harassing someone, came across Kalista and Brooks on foot and spoke with them, and took down their names.

He and the deputies responded to the suspects’ home on the 100 block of state Route 505, and found them wearing the same attire observed in the video, according to Bohm.

They were booked into the Lewis County Jail.

Both were given court appointed lawyers this afternoon. Their arraignments were scheduled for Thursday.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, July 3rd, 2017
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•••

RETAIL THEFT

• Centralia police are investigating a theft in which an estimated $1,000 or more worth of items were stolen from a hardware store on the 1600 block of Harrison Avenue. The theft was reported about 5:25 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CHECKS MISSING

•  Numerous rent checks were reported to have been stolen from a drop box at an apartment complex on the 2400 block of Borst Avenue in Centralia. Police called about 4:10 p.m. yesterday are investigating, according to the Centralia Police Department.

PILFERING PRODUCE

• A 27-year-old Centralia resident appeared to be trying to steal fruits and vegetables when he was located inside the fenced area of a produce stand on the 100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia about 12:10 a.m. yesterday, according to the Centralia Police Department. David T. Alexander was arrested for second-degree burglary and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

SNACKS SNAGGED

• Chehalis police were called for a break-in to a coffee stand at the 2300 block of Northeast Kresky Avenue at about 8:30 a.m. on Friday in which someone pried open a window and took about $10 worth of food.

BURGLARY SUSPECT TURNS SELF IN

• A 21-year-old Longview woman came forward on Friday to confess her involvement in a residential burglary and theft of a car from a Toledo man at the 100 block of Lacey Lane back on May 4, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The 2000 Mercury Milan was recovered by the Longview Police Department but about $2,000 worth of valuables were taken from the home, including credit cards, checks, clothing and jewelry, according to the sheriff’s office. Desiree A. Barnard was arrested for residential burglary, vehicle theft and second-degree theft and then booked into the Lewis County Jail, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. A case has been referred to prosecutors for burglary and making a false statement for a 34-year-old Onalaska man who is incarcerated in the Cowlitz County Jail, according to Breen.

GARDEN TOOL MISSING

• Chehalis police were called about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday to the 400 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue where someone had stolen a weed trimmer from an outbuilding.

AUTO THEFT

•  A green 1996 Honda Accord was reported stolen from the 500 block of South Oak Street, according to a report made to Centralia police about 9 a.m. on Saturday. The passenger car bears a license plate reading 858 YFB, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called to the sports complex at the 700 block of Pioneer Way about 4:35 p.m. yesterday where someone had broken a vehicle’s window and stolen cash.

• Two small wallets and some cash were reported stolen from a vehicle parked outside an apartment complex at the 1800 block of North Pearl Street, according to a report made to police about 8:25 a.m. yesterday.

• An estimated $1,300 worth of hairdressing equipment was stolen from a vehicle parked at the 1300 block of Logan Street during the night, according to a report made to Centralia police on Saturday.

•  A black Dickie’s jacket, medication, handicap placard and vehicle documents were stolen during the night from a vehicle at the 500 block of West Center Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 11:50 a.m. on Saturday.

• Police were called at 7 a.m. on Saturday to the 500 block of North Rock Street in Centralia where a window on a vehicle was smashed out and a Pioneer stereo was stolen.

VANDALISM

• Two vehicle tires were reported to have been slashed by an unknown suspect at the 500 block of North Oak Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 10:20 a.m. on Saturday.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 29-year-old Mossyrock man was injured when his pickup truck left the roadway and rolled along U.S. Highway 12 in Silver Creek last night. Troopers called about 9:05 p.m. report the Dodge Dakota was westbound before the wreck, according to the Washington State Patrol. It was totaled, according to the state patrol. Adan Cruzcruz was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital and was arrested for driving under the influence as well as without insurance, the investigating trooper reports.

• Chehalis police were called just before 3 p.m. on Friday to the parking lot at Wal-Mart where a small child and a vehicle collided. Chehalis Police Department Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said he did not yet have the details but understood it involved either no injury or a minor injury.

FIREWORKS COMPLAINTS

• Verbal warnings were given to numerous Centralia residents after 11 p.m. on Saturday for setting off fireworks after hours, according to the Centralia Police Department. The authorized times for discharging fireworks was explained to them, according to police. State law allows for discharge between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. until Wednesday, with an exception for tomorrow when they are okay until midnight. Some cities and counties may have other restrictions.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, trespassing, misdemeanor assault, malicious mischief, protection order violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, second-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with DV reporting, minor in possession and/or consumption of alcohol; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, civil issue, vehicle collision, hit and run, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances; complaint of fireworks … and more among 339 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Fatal wreck on I-5 north of Centralia under investigation

Monday, July 3rd, 2017
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Right lane northbound I-5 near Lewis-Thurston county line closed for investigation. / WSDOT image

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An 80-year-old motorist is dead after his car was struck by a semi truck late last night on Interstate 5 north of Centralia.

Troopers called about 11:45 p.m. to the northbound lanes near milepost 86 found the Subaru Legacy was totaled.

Edward P. Chambers, 80, of Beaverton, Oregon died, according to the Washington State Patrol. His 19-year-old passenger, Scott R. Anderson, of Hillsboro, Oregon, sustained minor injuries and was treated at Providence St. Peter Hospital, according to the state patrol.

The driver of the 2017 Peterbilt with double trailer, Michael L. Buterbaugh, 36, from Yelm, was uninjured, the investigating trooper reports.

Both vehicles had been in lane one approaching the Southwest 216th Avenue overpass when the big rig hit the car, according to the state patrol.

The collision is under investigation, with charges pending the outcome, but drugs or alcohol are suspected to be involved, according to the state patrol.

Trooper Brooke Bova however Tweeted at 1:34 a.m. that the truck driver was in custody for vehicular homicide.

Bova tweeted again just after 7 a.m. that just as the state patrol was clearing the scene, an inattentive driver struck a WSDOT incident response truck. “No injuries,” she stated.

News brief: Passenger killed, two hurt near McCleary

Sunday, July 2nd, 2017
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State Route 108 is closed more than five hours after fatal crash. / Courtesy photo by Jared Biscay

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 25-year-old Salkum man was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle while one of his passengers was taken to a local hospital and another passenger died in a wreck yesterday in Mason County.

His 2002 Chevrolet Silverado was totaled after striking a tree about six miles east of McCleary, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Troopers called at 2 p.m. to the single-vehicle collision on state Route 108 determined Todd V. Jones of Salkum was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed when he failed to negotiate a curve.

Drugs or alcohol are suspected to be involved, according to the state patrol.

Passenger Morgan I. Hite, 28, from Akron, Indiana, was injured and transported to Mason General Hospital, according to the investigating trooper.

Dead is Harley J. Harmon, 33, from McCleary, according to the state patrol. All three had been wearing seat belts.

The roadway was fully blocked for five and one half hours.

Jones is facing possible charges of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, according to the Washington State Patrol.

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Six miles east of McCleary, along state Route 108

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Saturday, July 1st, 2017
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•••

CHEHALIS MAN SHOT IN LEG

• Police were called just after 11 p.m. yesterday to Providence Centralia Hospital where a 40-year-old Chehalis resident was dropped off with a gunshot wound to his thigh and eventually determined it was accidental and self inflicted. Josafat Acuna-Rios told officers it happened by Chase Bank in Chehalis, according to the Centralia Police Department. During the investigation, a large amount of cash and a bag of meth were found in his pants pocket, according to police. “They had him fixed up and out the door a few hours later,” Officer William Phipps said. Acuna-Rios was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Phipps.

FEMALE ROBBED IN CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 10:45 p.m. yesterday for a report a woman was assaulted at the 2000 block of Borst Avenue and had her medications stolen from her, according to the Centralia Police Department.

LEWD MESSAGE, NUDE PHOTO

• Centralia police were called about 1:35 p.m. yesterday to take a report that a teenager had received lewd messages and a nude photo from a male. The case associated with an address on the 1000 block of Scammon Creek Road is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THEFT CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called to the 1000 block of G Street about 4:30 p.m. yesterday where someone had stolen a Polaris ATV, a Mantis rototiller and a Briggs and Stratton generator. A backpack was missing from the residence, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called about 3:40 p.m. yesterday to take a report that $230 cash was stolen from a person who had set it on the ground while they were close by at the at the 600 block of North Tower Avenue in Centralia.

• Centralia police were called just before 5 p.m. yesterday about $120 getting stolen from a purse at the 600 block of Jefferson Street.

• Centralia police were called to a business at the 1300 block of South Gold Street about 9:20 a.m. yesterday where a fraudulent check had been passed.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police responded about 3:10 a.m. today to the 800 block of Marion Street where someone had smashed a truck’s window and removed a purse. The purse was found a short distance away, with nothing missing from it, and was returned to its owner, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called about 3:45 p.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 200 block of North Railroad Avenue in Centralia. Tools, paints and solvents had been stolen from toolbox in the bed of a pickup truck, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police were called just after 6 p.m. yesterday about a hit and run that had occurred about 5:30 p.m. at the 600 block of West First Street. The suspect vehicle is a red Dodge Durango, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, malicious mischief, driving under the influence, second-degree arson; responses for alarm, dispute, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 164 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.