Archive for September, 2017

Man who allegedly mugged Morton senior located at Silver Creek campground

Monday, September 11th, 2017
2017.0908.harmonylakesidervpark

Law enforcement secured a warrant to enter motor home where they found suspect on Friday. / Courtesy photo

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An individual who recognized the suspect in the robbery of a Morton senior citizen spotted the suspect at a Mossyrock gas station, called 911 and followed him to the Harmony Lakeside RV Park where he was later arrested, according to authorities.

Jason A. Brown, 35, was booked into the Lewis County Jail on Friday and charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with second-degree robbery.

Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead asked that Brown be held on $75,000 bail. Judge James Lawler agreed.

Brown had outstanding warrants from Lewis, Kittitas and Spokane counties at the time of his arrest, according to Halstead.

Morton police have been looking for their suspect since the afternoon of Aug. 29 when they were called to the Morton Country Market on Second Street, where a customer in his early 80s was accosted in the parking lot by an individual who asked him if he had a few dollars, then reached into his pocket, forcefully took his wallet and ran, according to authorities.

Officers were able to view security images that showed the suspect walk out of the store, and look around as if he was looking for someone, before confronting the victim John Zapalac near his car, according to charging documents. The suspect could be seen “crowding” the victim, taking something from him and then getting into a silver Chevrolet Monte Carlo and driving away.

Morton Police Department Chief Roger Morningstar posted pictures of the suspect and his car on social media and then reached out to David Rose, host of the television show Washington’s Most Wanted.

Someone who saw Rose’s piece on the robbery saw the suspect about 2 o’clock on Friday afternoon at the Mossy Mini Shell station, according to the chief.

The tipster followed the car to Silver Creek and saw the suspect enter a Bounder-style motorhome, according to charging documents.

Morningstar said the state patrol got to the RV park first, then Morton police arrived. He said they could hear someone inside the motorhome, but they would not answer the door.

The park manager said she’d seen the suspect coming and going from the RV for several days, charging documents relate.

Morningstar said police knocked on the door, banged on the door and eventually after getting a search warrant, forced the door open.

Brown was in the rear of the RV and was arrested. A second person was arrested for obstruction, according to Halstead.

One of Brown’s warrants was from an Aug. 21 arrest in Chehalis when a neighbor on the 100 block of Southeast First Street called police about a man with a backpack that walked to the back of a residence. An officer arrived to find a man walking out the front door with a purse and a jewelry box and found the back door had been kicked in, according to charging documents in that case.

Halstead said when Brown was arrested, he gave his brother’s name as his own, and after he was released from jail, failed to show up for his arraignment. Lawler set bail this afternoon for that case at an additional $75,000.

Brown’s warrant from  Kittitas  County is for first-degree theft and his warrant from Spokane County is for three counts of residential burglary, according to prosecutors. Police say he is from Spokane.

The victim in the Morton grocery store parking lot robbery told police his wallet contained $82 cash and other items such as discount cards.

Brown’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
•••

For background, read “Senior citizen mugged outside Morton grocery” from Wednesday August 30, 2017, here

2017.0911.Jason.Brown.9699

Jason A. Brown consults with defense attorney in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, September 11th, 2017
2015.0518.2013.1113.sirenslights5860.secondone

•••

Updated at 12:56 p.m.

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

• Deputies are looking for a 28-year-old Chehalis area man who allegedly head-butted a woman after shoving her onto a bed twice and tearing up the room. The victim drove herself to Providence Centralia Hospital and contacted law enforcement about 8:45 a.m. yesterday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. She said he arrived, woke her up, the two argued about her telling him not to come home to the residence they shared west of Chehalis and the physical altercation ensued, according to the sheriff’s office. Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said the suspect is wanted for second-degree assault.

• A 22-year-old woman and her boyfriend were arrested for allegedly assaulting his father yesterday evening at the 600 block of Meier Road outside of Winlock. Deputies called about 7:40 p.m. about a dispute were told that during an argument, 27-year-old Kodey L. Howard began swinging punches at his father and his father restrained him, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Samantha E. Taylor allegedly struck the 48-year-old father in the head, causing a laceration, with what a witness said was a piece of wood, according to the sheriff’s office. Taylor was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree assault and Howard was booked for fourth-degree assault, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

BURGLARY

• Approximately $400 in coins was stolen in a burglary at the 1200 block of West Main Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 9:35 a.m. on Saturday.

• A wallet containing $100 and a bag of nickels and dimes were reported stolen from the victim’s residence while she was at another apartment visiting at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 2:55 p.m. on Friday.

PAWNED SOMEONE ELSE’S ITEM

• A 42-year-old Centralia man was arrested for trafficking in stolen property after he pawned an item that did not belong to him in a Saturday morning case associated with the 800 block of West Main Street in Centralia. Steven R. Fenton was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

OTHER THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 5:45 p.m. yesterday by an individual who said she accidentally left her backpack unattended at the 500 block of South Tower Avenue and when she returned to retrieve it a short time later, it was gone.

• Centralia police took a report late Saturday afternoon from the 1500 block of Harrison Avenue from a victim who said money had been stolen from them sometime during the previous two days. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 42-year-old woman arrested for an outstanding warrant about 11:25 p.m. on Friday at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue was allegedly found in possession of stolen property. Kimberly R. Iverson, a homeless person, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BAD BILL

• Chehalis police were called just after 7 a.m. yesterday to the 100 block of Southwest Interstate Avenue to take a report that someone paid for their order with a counterfeit $100 bill.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called at 6:45 a.m. today for a vehicle prowl at the 1500 block of North National Avenue.

DRUGS

• Centralia police arrested a 20-year-old Chehalis resident just before noon yesterday after he was reportedly found passed out in a vehicle holding pipes used to smoke meth and heroin at the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue. Logen K. Elliott was booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and possession of heroin, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 32-year-old man arrested about 1:50 p.m. on Saturday for a warrant at the 100 block of West Main Street in Centralia was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine, according to the Centralia Police Department. Steven D. Couch, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• A 46-year-old Chehalis man arrested on an outstanding warrant about 12:40 p.m. on Saturday at the 800 block of West Main Street in Centralia was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine. Joshua L. Harris was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Scotty E. Mullins Jr., 32, of Centralia was arrested and booked for possession of methamphetamine and for a felony state Department of Corrections warrant following contact with police about 7:23 a.m. on Friday at the 300 block of North Pearl Street in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Deputies requested about 2:20 a.m. today to check on the well-being of a woman leaving Thurston County and traveling south on Interstate 5 at speeds of 130 mph located her near Napavine going about 90 mph, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Kaylee I. Jackson, 25, of Toledo, was arrested for driving under the influence but not booked into jail due to possibly having taken other medications and a potential prolonged hospital stay, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Deputies arriving just after 9 p.m. on Saturday to a single-vehicle collision at the 1200 block of Wildwood Road in Curtis found a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta was totaled and the driver’s breath smelled of intoxicants, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Jimmy R. Flores, 60, Ryderwood, said he had not been drinking but had taken some medication, according to the sheriff’s office. He was arrested for driving under the influence but not booked because of medical issues, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

• Deputies responding to a rollover collision about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the 3100 block of Cooks Hill Road in Centralia arrested the 33-year-old driver for driving under the influence and also for reckless endangerment as she had the child passengers. The 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe sustained major damage, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Tara M. Burgeis, of Centralia, was cited also for third-degree driving with a suspended license and booked into the Lewis County Jail, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. Nobody was injured, according to Breen.

• Police called to the 600 block of M Street in Centralia about 6:40 p.m. on Saturday after a motorist allegedly drove his vehicle off the roadway and damaged “personal property” subsequently arrested a 25-year-old Centralia man. Richard R. Morris was booked into the Lewis County Jail for driving under the influence and for hit and run, according to the Centralia Police Department.

RV FIRE

• Firefighters called to the 1000 block of Silverbrook Road in Randle about at 8:43 p.m. on Saturday extinguished a fire in a motor home believed to have had an individual who stayed there from time to time, according to Lewis County Fire District 14. There was nobody there at the time and nobody was injured, according to Fire Chief Jeff Jaques. The RV was destroyed.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, trespassing, fourth-degree assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, hit and run, vehicle collision, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances … and more among 445 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

Higher court agrees with Judge Buzzard’s order that dog should be euthanized

Friday, September 8th, 2017
2017.0908.hankincarcerated

Hank’s family visits him at the Lewis County Animal Shelter

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The attorney working to save the life of Hank the pit bull terrier announced today a judge agreed with a lower court which ruled Hank is a dangerous dog who should be put down.

“Today, Judge Edwards affirmed Judge Buzzard’s ruling,” Bellingham animal lawyer Adam Karp stated. “However, he did not enter an order at this time.”

The appeal of Lewis County District Court Judge R.W. Buzzard’s June decision was heard in Grays Harbor County Superior Court because all three Lewis County Superior Court judge’s recused themselves.

The 2-year-old pet belonged to a Centralia family which adopted him in January from the Lewis County Animal Shelter. Jan Propp-Estimo, her son and grandson lost him when local authorities realized Hank was actually a dog named Tank which the county had previously designated a dangerous dog because he was implicated with his mother in the killing of two goats in Winlock last year.

The county took him back in May. He remains locked up at the shelter.

Karp said that the judge today basically said it’s not his job to second guess Judge Buzzard.

Presently there is no order mandating Hank’s euthanasia by any date certain.

The parties will return to Grays Harbor County Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 25 to enter the written order of today’s oral conclusions of the judge, Karp said.

Karp said his plan is to appeal today’s decision to the state Court of Appeals, trying to expedite it, for Hank’s sake, he said.

Separately, an action Karp filed on Propp-Estimo’s behalf against Lewis County and some of its personnel seeking damages and other relief was removed to federal court and continues.

Karp this afternoon said something he’s learned in nearly 20 years of practice is, if first you don’t succeed, keep on trying because often one finds justice at higher levels.

“We’re not going to let this dog die, it’s just not going to happen,” he said. “If it requires the Ninth Circuit or the Washington Supreme Court, that’s what we’ll do.

“I feel for Hank, being incarcerated for this period of time; I hope he’ll have the spirit to continue on.”
•••

For background, read “Hank: Judge declines to declassify dangerous dog” from Monday June 19, 2017, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, September 8th, 2017
2015.0518.2013.1113.sirenslights5860.secondone

•••

BURGLARY TOLEDO

• A deputy was called the 100 block of Hopp Road North in Toledo yesterday after a resident arrived home to find his front door open and valuables missing. It happened sometime between 6 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Stolen was an Apple iPad II and a speaker, according to the sheriff’s office.

BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called just before 11 a.m. yesterday to the 1400 block of Harrison Avenue where they took a report that someone broke into a warehouse and stole a chainsaw and a Tote coat. No suspect information is known, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AUTO THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 8:25 a.m. yesterday by an individual who reported the theft of black 1998 Ford Contour which had last been seen parked at the 200 block of North Market Boulevard about 8:30 a.m. the day before. The victim had the keys and said the car had been locked, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 38-year-old Winlock woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine when she was picked up on an outstanding warrant following a traffic stop about 3:45 p.m. yesterday at the 600 block of Koontz Road outside of Chehalis. A search turned up a small bindle of a white crystalized substances in her jeans’ pocket, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Michelle R. Holt 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, trespassing, fourth-degree assault, probation violation, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vandalism, vehicle collision, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances … and more among 163 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, September 7th, 2017
2015.0518.2013.1113.sirenslights5860.secondone

•••

Updated

NIGHT-TIME BREAK-IN ONALASKA

• Deputies were called about 2 a.m. today to the 100 block of Hogue Road in Onalaska where an individual allegedly climbed through a bedroom window and assaulted his ex-wife and her new boyfriend. A suspect vehicle was leaving as law enforcement was responding but couldn’t be found, however the suspect was located in Port Orchard about 7:45 a.m., according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. John R. Seifert, 38, of Onalaska, allegedly grabbed the female victim by the throat and punched the male victim, according to the sheriff’s office. Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said despite a no contact order, the suspect has been calling and messaging his ex-wife non-stop for the past few weeks, threatening to kill her, her family and burn the house down. Seifert was to be transported to Chehalis to be booked into the Lewis County Jail for residential burglary, stalking, harassment and a violation of a no contact order, Breen said.

VEHICLE THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 11:30 a.m. yesterday to take a report that a 1992 Honda Accord had been stolen from the 400 block of Northwest Park Street. Police quickly learned the car had been recovered, although it was stripped, in Clackamas County, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Lewis County sheriff’s deputies were able to get footage showing a suspect driving a missing van at the Lucky Eagle Casino and are referring the case of a 28-year-old Chehalis woman to prosecutors for vehicle theft. A deputy was called about 9 p.m. on Tuesday to the 3500 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia where a 62-year-old man said he’d given his van key to a houseguest so she could retrieve something and when he woke up later, both were gone, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Stolen was a red Ford Econoline van, with a license plate reading AXV 0620, according to the sheriff’s office. The van’s owner said that since the woman had been staying at his house, two firearms and a drill have disappeared, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

FRAUD

• A deputy was called yesterday by a Chehalis area man who said his credit card had been compromised between Saturday and Tuesday while he was vacationing in Oregon with withdrawals made from his account of over $2,000, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The transactions occurred in Bothell and Kirkland, according to the sheriff’s office.

BOAT MOTOR MISSING

• Centralia police were called to the 600 block of Richmond Avenue just before 10 a.m. yesterday where sometime during the night someone cut a lock and stole a Johnson Seahorse 7.5 hp motor from a boat, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• A pair of Nike sneakers and a basketball were stolen in a vehicle prowl reported at 7:20 a.m. today at the 1400 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia.

• Centralia police were called about 3:40 p.m. yesterday to take a report of tools stolen from a vehicle at the 1800 block of Cooks Hill Road.

• Police were called to the 700 block of West First Street in Centralia about 10:10 a.m. yesterday where during the night someone stolen a Garmin GPS device from an unlocked car, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A GPS device and a camera were stolen during the night from a vehicle at the 1500 block of Lum Road in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 9:20 a.m. yesterday.

DRUGS

• A 28-year-old woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine after contact with police on an outstanding warrant about 5:10 .m. today at the 1200 block of Mellen Street in Centralia. Jennie B. Young, transient, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

SEX CRIME

• Centralia police were contacted about 8:15 a.m. yesterday to take a report of a possible sexual assault, according to the Centralia Police Department.

LITTERING

• Dawn D. Galbreath, 59, of Centralia was cited for throwing a lit cigarette out of the window of her vehicle at Harrison Avenue and Interstate 5 about 4:40 a.m. today, according to the Centralia Police Department. She was then released, according to police.

KITCHEN FIRE INJURY

• An individual was hospitalized with burns to her chest and arms from a grease fire in the kitchen of an apartment on the 1400 block of Johnson Road in Centralia late yesterday afternoon. Firefighters called about 5:45 p.m. arrived to find a neighbor had used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, according to Riverside Fire Authority. A crew overhauled the area to make sure flames had not spread anywhere, Lt. Rick LeBoeuf stated in a brief summary of the incident. The victim was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital’s emergency room for treatment and later transferred to Haborview Burn Center in Seattle, according to LeBoeuf.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, fourth-degree assault, probation violation, driving with suspended license, failure to transfer title, driving without required ignition interlock device; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vandalism, shoplifting, hit and run, vehicle collision, misdemeanor assault, suspicious circumstances … and more among 144 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

Local fire danger not letting up

Wednesday, September 6th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Gifford Pinchot National Forest announced yesterday it is banning not only campfires, but also smoking throughout the forest, effective immediately.

Restrictions will remain in place until there is significant moisture to lower the fire danger.

2015.0806.final.nocampfire-001

•••

The restrictions apply also to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument area.

The ban includes any stove fires including briquette fires. Smoking is not prohibited within an enclosed vehicle or building.

At the same time, the state Department of Natural Resources expanded its outdoor burn ban to include the entire state, meaning no campfires in any state parks or any land protected by DNR.

“Wildfire and smoke is affecting every community around the state as we see the hot, dry summer take its toll on our forests,” Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz stated in a press release. “Without any relief from this weather in the foreseeable future and with our firefighters spread across the Northwest, we can no longer allow outdoor burning anywhere in Washington.”

Anyone caught violating the burn ban can face fines.

On Monday, Labor Day, DNR firefighters responded to 21 new fire starts.

Fireworks and incendiary devices, such as exploding targets, sky lanterns, or tracer ammunition, are always illegal on all DNR-protected forestlands.

Lewis County enacted a total outdoor burn ban at the beginning of August.

At its peak, there were 200 personnel battling a wildfire in Rochester that began a little over two weeks ago and consumed 384 acres, two residences, a historical home and its barn as well as a business, outbuildings, heavy equipment and vehicles, with most of the fire burning through the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area. West Thurston Regional Fire Authority announced Thursday the fire was finally out.

A red flag warning about critical fire weather is in place until 11 p.m. tomorrow in Pacific County as well as the Pe Ell area and the westernmost strip of Lewis County, down through Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties and also Skamania County.

Expected lightning and especially dry fuels are the reason.

Smoke from wildfires across the region will continue to linger over Western Washington through at least Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

An air quality alert remains in place for all of Western Washington through mid-day tomorrow.

“Children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory illnesses are most at risk of serious health effects,” NWS states in its alert. “These groups should limit or avoid spending time outdoors.”

Morton police investigate “present of dead kittens”

Wednesday, September 6th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 20-year-old Morton resident is charged for his role in allegedly leaving a taped-shut box of kittens in the yard of his 15-year-old companion’s ex-girlfriend and sending taunting social media messages.

The little cats were inside a cardboard diaper box, with no air holes or water on a very hot day, and placed in a location where they would not be easy to find, according to authorities.

An adult who discovered them told the Morton Police Department the felines appeared dehydrated, sick and hungry, court documents relate.

The two suspects allegedly told the 15-year-old girl via an audio Facebook message, there was a present of dead kittens waiting for her.

Brandon M. McIntyre, 20, of Morton, was arrested on Saturday and was  brought before a judge on yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court. The 15-year-old boy’s case is being handled in Lewis County Juvenile Court.

When McIntyre’s bail was discussed, Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher called the case alarming. Judge Joely O’Rourke called the allegations extremely alarming and agreed to the recommendation of $10,000.

Charging documents state the incident occurred on June 23 and 24 and came to the attention of police from a girl who learned about it on Facebook. A Morton police officer began investigating at the end of July and interviewed those involved, according to the documents.

The 15-year-old girl said the two suspects did it to get back at her for breaking up with her boyfriend, the younger of the two suspects.

When the adult confronted the boy about it on Facebook, he allegedly denied involvement but made several threats, including “I hope you die,” charging documents allege.

The audio Facebook message between the suspects and the 15-year-old girl allegedly include calling her vulgar names and also McIntyre threatening to “put a hit out” on the adult.

The adult and the girl reside in the same home where the kittens were found, though its location in Morton, or Mossyrock, is not mentioned. Charging documents don’t offer any update as to the kittens’ conditions.

McIntyre’s arraignment is scheduled for tomorrow in Lewis County Superior Court. He is charged with one count of first-degree animal cruelty and one count of cyberstalking.