Archive for March, 2018

Centralia: Investigation finds apartment building fire was accidental

Wednesday, March 7th, 2018

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  Riverside Fire Authority said yesterday they concluded the mid-January fire that damaged six units at a Centralia apartment complex was started by smoking material which ignited a couch while the occupant was asleep.

The fire originated on the first floor of the two-story building at the 1400 block of Lewis Street at about midnight on Jan. 17. It trapped the occupants of the apartment unit above the fire. All occupants were safely removed while the fire was extinguished.

The fire investigation team made up of members of the Centralia Police Department and Riverside Fire Authority determined it was accidental.

A total of seven occupants from two different apartments were displaced. They were assisted by the Red Cross.
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For background, read “Centralia: Residents of two apartments displaced after overnight fire” from Wednesday January 17, 2018, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, March 7th, 2018
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STREET FIGHT

• Centralia police are investigating after being called to Centralia College Boulevard and Rock Street just after 7 p.m. yesterday where they learned three to four young men exited a vehicle and began fighting with several people who had been walking. One female was pushed to the ground and one male sustained minor injuries, according to the Centralia Police Department. The suspects ranged in age from 15 to 20, according to police.

BURGLARY

• A deputy was called about 1 p.m. yesterday by a property owner at the 400 block of Viewridge Road in Onalaska who said he’d gotten a call from a neighbor watching his property who had seen someone inside one of his trailers, with a crowbar. The neighbor yelled at the person who ran off into the woods and arriving deputies along with a K-9 found a suspect hiding in a nearby residence, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Oganes J. Margaryan, 43, from Los Angeles, was arrested for second-degree burglary and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

AUTO THEFT

• A deputy was called about 8 a.m. yesterday to the 100 block of Doty Street where a 53-year-old man said he had been warming up his car when a male got into it and drove off, heading toward state Route 6. A deputy in the area stopped the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix and arrested Eric M. Myhre, 33, of Chehalis, for vehicle theft, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Myhre was booked into the Lewis County Jail. The car was returned to its owner.

DRUGS

• A deputy called about 11:20 p.m. yesterday about a stranger who ran into a woman’s garage at the 100 block of Reinseth Road in Winlock learned that he did so because he was scared from someone chasing him, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. When Alex E. Mackenzie was searched, suspected methamphetamine was found, according to the sheriff’s office. The 30-year-old Toledo man was was booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession of a controlled substance and a case for trespassing was referred to prosecutors, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

• A 25-year-old Centralia woman contacted about 12:20 a.m. today about an outstanding warrant at Pearl and Pine street in Centralia was allegedly found with a small bindle of suspected methamphetamine. Briget J. Parker was arrested for possession of meth and was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A traffic stop at Parkland and Southwest Interstate Avenue in Chehalis about 12:20 a.m. today led to an arrest for third-degree driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana. Alicia L. Nichols, 20, from Tacoma, was cited and then released, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, protection order violation, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, civil issue, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances, protection order violation … and more among 155 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

Tuesday, March 6th, 2018
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ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 26-year-old Vancouver man suffered a possible concussion when the car he was driving went airborne and struck a guard rail as he exited northbound Interstate 5 at Mellen Street early this morning. The 2005 Infiniti G35 had come extremely close to a deputy’s vehicle on the freeway near exit 76 at about 12:23 a.m. and a pursuit ensued at speeds of more than 100 mph, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Jeremy P. Dodd was treated at the hospital for his injuries and then arrested for attempting to elude and reckless driving, according to the sheriff’s office. Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said a 26-year-old woman from Tacoma was a passenger in the car. The Infiniti sustained major damage, according to Kimsey.

• A deputy dispatched about 7:10 p.m. yesterday for a vehicle into a ditch at Maurin and Rush Road ended up arresting the driver and the passenger for outstanding warrants. Warner S. Deleau, 52, was driving with a suspended license, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The 1996 Nissan SX sustained major damage, according to the sheriff’s office. Passenger Jazmen J. Garcia, 24, from Morton, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine,  Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said. Both were booked into the Lewis County Jail.

VEHICLE THEFT

• A deputy was called about 3 p.m. yesterday regarding a beige 1986 Ford Ranger missing from behind a locked gate at the 300 block of Toledo-Vader Road. The truck had been donated to the Toledo Fire Department and is valued at about $300, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It has a license plate reading B51245F, according to the sheriff’s office.

GUN THEFT

• A 45-year-old Chehalis man was arrested last night for allegedly stealing a Remington rifle from a relative’s home on the 1100 block of Koontz Road and then pawning it. Shay B. Howard was booked into the Lewis County Jail for  theft of a firearm and trafficking in stolen property, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Chehalis police were called just before 4 p.m. yesterday by an individual who reported a firearm was stolen from their vehicle.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called about 7:15 p.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl that had occurred about an hour earlier at the 1700 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue. An Android cell phone was taken, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

OTHER THEFT

• Centralia police were called to the 1300 block of Alexander Street about 10:30 a.m. yesterday to take a report of the theft of cash from a locked drawer.

DRUGS

• A 15-year-old boy was booked onto the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center for possession of marijuana after police were called about 3:40 p.m. yesterday to the 900 block of Johnson Road in Centralia.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, third-degree theft, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, trespassing, civil issue, misdemeanor theft, disorderly person, 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.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, March 5th, 2018
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Updated

ASSAULT

• A 30-year-old Centralia woman was arrested on Friday for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend in his back with a knife during an argument. The incident was reported to police about 1:35 p.m. on Friday by a friend, but had occurred the day before at the 1100 block of Centralia College Boulevard, according to the Centralia Police Department. There was an approximately 1-inch laceration, according to police. Amanda D. Barnhart was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree assault, according to police.

• A 28-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for second-degree assault for allegedly using his vehicle to intentionally strike an occupied vehicle at the 200 block of West Main Street on Friday. Officers called about 5:30 p.m. booked Andrew J. Filer was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 5:20 p.m. on Friday when a man in his early 20s reported three unknown males assaulted him for no reason at the 1400 block of Lewis Street. Police were told the suspects fled prior to officers’ arrival.

BREAK-IN

• Chehalis police were called about 2:35 p.m. on Sunday about a burglary at the 1300 block of Northwest River Street in Chehalis.

• A shop building at the 3600 block of Galvin Road in Centralia was burglarized, according to a report made to police about 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

• Police were called to the 1100 block of South Pearl Street in Centralia about the theft of tools from a locked shed at about 9:10 a.m. on Saturday.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were called to the 100 block of South Tower Avenue about 11:15 a.m. yesterday to take a report of the theft of a silver 1992 Honda Accord. The car has a license plate reading BIA 5205, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Approximately $12 in change and an iPod were stolen from a vehicle parked at the 1000 block of Washington Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 6:25 p.m. yesterday. Two juvenile males were reported to have been observed getting into the vehicle, but then left the area, according to the Centralia Police Department.

•  Chehalis police were called to the 700 block of Northwest Liberty Place about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday following the discovery a pair of five-gallon gas cans were missing from a truck.

• Chehalis police were called to the 1100 block of South Market Boulevard about 4:30 p.m. on Friday when an individual discovered a blue tooth speaker had been stolen from her vehicle. She found it in a trash can nearby, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called about noon yesterday by an individual who said someone had egged their vehicle at the 1500 block of Southwest Johnson Avenue.

• An individual reported to Chehalis police about 9 a.m. on Saturday that someone had cut the fuel line on his vehicle at the 1500 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

DRUGS

• Chehalis police were called about 5 p.m. on Saturday to the 500 block of Southeast Washington Avenue because a client allegedly arrived with a white crystal-like substance. Stacey E. Brown, 34, of Sequim, was arrested for an outstanding warrant and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 8:40 a.m. on Friday to the 300 block of Southwest 16th Street where a a 15-year-old girl allegedly had marijuana at school. The case was referred to prosecutors for charging, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

RIVER RESCUE

• Police and fire personnel responded to the report of an intoxicated man that fell down the river embankment nearly landing in the water near Harrison Avenue and First Street in Centralia just after 8 p.m. on Friday. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 59-year-old man behind the wheel of a 2010 Peterbilt that ran off the road and into a ditch near Gee Cees truck stop said he was utilizing his phone, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies called about 12:20 a.m. on Saturday to the 100 block of Rogers Road in Toledo arrested Robert E. McKinley, of Federal Way, for driving under the influence, according to the sheriff’s office. he was booked into the Lewis County Jail, Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said.

• A 55-year-old man was arrested after a police pursuit that began near the 1200 block of North Pearl Street and ended at the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue around 8 p.m.on Friday night. William Sacks Jr., a homeless person, was booked into the Lewis County Jail also for eluding, driving under the influence and possession of methamphetamine, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, trespassing, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, misdemeanor domestic assault, protection order violation, no contact order violation, providing false information to police, failure to transfer vehicle title; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, hit and run, vandalism, vehicle collision, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances … and more among 414 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, March 2nd, 2018
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LOG TRUCKS WRECK

• A Vader man was injured when his log truck rear ended a log truck and logs entered the cab of his semi yesterday morning on Interstate 5 in Tacoma. Troopers called about 9:30 a.m. to the scene northbound near 38th Street report that Delbert E. Beatty, 63, from Vader, was transported to Tacoma General Hospital. The roadway was blocked for five hours, according to the Washington State Patrol. Beatty was issued an infraction for speeding, according to the state patrol. His 2005 Kenworth was towed. The 34-year-old driver of the 2010 Kenworth log truck, Ronald S. Brownlow, from Rainer, Oregon, was reportedly unhurt.

BREAK-IN

• A burglary to a residence that was being rehabilitated at the 300 block of L Street in Centralia was reported about 1:30 p.m. yesterday.

DRUGS

• A 29-year-old Napavine resident was arrested for possession of methamphetamine after contact with police about 10 p.m. yesterday near southbound Interstate 5 in Centralia. Michael E. Bylsma was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, misdemeanor domestic assault; responses for alarm, dispute, graffiti, civil issue, vehicle collision, counterfeit money, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances … and more among 136 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, March 1st, 2018
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AUTO THEFT

• A deputy dispatched about 7 a.m. yesterday about a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Brenda’s Market on the 1700 block of state Route 508 in Onalaska discovered the 1997 Yukon had been stolen from a man in Olympia. Both occupants were contacted and a search turned up a syringe and a small baggie of suspected methamphetamine, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The driver, Collin E. O’Neill, 34, from Kent, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession of a stolen vehcile and a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, according to the sheriff’s office.

HOUSEHOLD THEFT

• Centralia police were called to the 1100 block of Long Road about 3:30 p.m. yesterday to take a report of the theft of household items. The theft was captured on video surveillance, according to the Centralia Police Department. The case is under investigation.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, misdemeanor domestic assault, third-degree malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, shoplifting, civil issue, hit and run, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 123 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

White Pass: Student statement about mass murder at school leads to arrest

Thursday, March 1st, 2018

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  A 15-year-old boy was arrested yesterday for making threats at White Pass High School of going on a killing spree and hurting other students.

The Glenoma teen allegedly made statements in a hallway and in a classroom in front of other students that he was “going to take a truck and commit mass murder at the school”, apparently by driving over other students, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were dispatched to the school in Randle about 10 a.m. on Tuesday and conducted an investigation, according to Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey. The boy was sent home from school and wasn’t arrested until yesterday, according to Kimsey.

He was booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center for a gross misdemeanor related to intimidation of staff or students by threat of force or violence.

Kimsey said the second statement reported to the principal attributed to the 15-year-old was something to the effect of, if there was going to be a mass murder, it would be by his hand.

The sheriff’s office has zero tolerance regarding students making threats of harm to other students at school, Kimsey said.

The incident followed an episode occurring Monday at Morton High School in which a student joking about shooting morphed into a report of a youngster with a firearm at the school, causing a lockdown and drawing law enforcement officers with guns drawn.