Updated at 1:37 p.m.
ARRESTEE: “SHE SAID SHE WAS 18”
• A 14-year-old Chehalis-area girl called 911 yesterday evening after a man she met on the Internet allegedly groped her in a car at Stan Hedwall Park, according to Chehalis police. Sgt. Gwen Carrell said the two had developed an online relationship over the past couple of months and they met in person yesterday when the man picked her and they drove to the park on Rice Road. There was some inappropriate touching and she opened the car door, ran away and called 911 on her cell phone, Carrell said. The suspect, 25-year-old Christopher Haight, was found, arrested booked into the Lewis County Jail for indecent liberties, according to Carrell, however further investigation suggested police would recommend a charge of third-degree child molestation. He said the girl told him she was 18 years old, Carrell said. According to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, however, Haight will be released without charges pending further investigation.
POLICE SEEKING ASSAULT SUSPECT
• Police are looking for a 30-year-old Centralia man after he allegedly unleashed his Pit Bull on a neighbor who tried to intervene in an argument last night. Officers called about 10:40 p.m. to the 100 block of East Center Street found the neighbor bleeding from a dog bite and suffering from a minor head injury, according to the Centralia Police Department. Police were told Ronald W. Manjares Jr. was at his home arguing with his girlfriend when the neighbor got involved. Police said Manjares also hit the neighbor over the head with a lamp before fleeing the scene.
MARIJUANA MISSING AFTER BURGLARY
• Someone broke into a Mossyrock area home and stole a small amount of medical marijuana over the weekend. A deputy called yesterday afternoon to the 100 block of Ajlune Road was told the residents returned home about 3:30 p.m. after being gone since the morning before to discover two and a half ounces of marijuana missing from a dresser drawer, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is estimated at $400.
DRUGS
• A 26-year-old Centralia man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine just before midnight on Saturday at the 1200 block of Alder Street in Centralia. Tyler V. Geist was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• A 41-year-old Centralia man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and a misdemeanor warrant around 2:15 a.m. on Saturday after contact with an officer at the 200 block of Railroad Avenue in Centralia. Tom A. Reeves was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• A 28-year-old Centralia man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine following a traffic stop about 4:35 p.m. on Friday at Johnson Road and Linda Lane in Centralia. Jesse L. Thomas was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.
FOUR PICKED UP IN BUCODA
• Centralia police with the help of Thurston County law enforcement officers arrested four individuals wanted on various warrants after they got a tip leading them to the 100 block of West 11th Street in Bucoda on Friday night, according to the Centralia Police Department.
VANDALISM
• Police were called to the 100 block of South Washington Avenue in Centralia just before 9 a.m. yesterday about a car tire being slashed.
• An inmate said he accidentally broke a sprinkler head inside his cell when he was messing around with it because he was so excited he was going to be released from jail yesterday. The cell was flooded and 19-year-old Zachary J. Johnston-Penrose, was arrested for third-degree malicious mischief, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Here and there: Consent defines inappropriateness if it’s lacking. Age can as well, but judging by the fact that she opened the door and ran, it suggests he didn’t have her consent for touching.
Inappropriate touching would have to do with age, age difference, probably mental abilities, consent and where you were… ex: in a restaurant as opposed to your own home…
Just what is “inappropriate touching”? Does age determine appropriateness?
Joan, when I started 7th grade I was 12 and I was 5 ft. 8 inchs and my measurements were 36″ 24″ 36″. By the time I was 15 I could buy the beer. At 13 I could pass for 18, and by 15 could get into the bars with no I.D. and I could lie like a rug, I also could run like hell. I had to as I was not interested in putting out, bet you can guess my nickname in high school. But at any age NO means no. So what is his story again? Because no matter what her age she should not have to run from him. I have three beautiful, very tall teenage Granddaughters today and , needless to say I watch them like a hawk.
If she lied about her age, I feel sorry for the kid they arrested. This could follow him for life even if he is never charged or acquitted. If she didn’t lie . . . throw the book at him. I am sure they will be able to go back in the internet history and find out who is telling the truth here.
And “joan dean” no, you often can’t tell the difference between 14 and 18, especially these days.
Either way, it’s a bad thing and the girl is an idiot. I’d ground her for life if she were my kid.
Are guys supposed to ID girls that they meet? Of course not, if she says she was 18 (which girls nowadays dress and do their makeup to look older) its her fault.
What do these girls THINK is going to happen when they meet up with strangers from the internet!!!!! All these girls need to wise up, dammit. It’s not right for the boys/men on the other end of the deal, but these girls need to treasure their safety far more than they do…. this is not a game. Social networking is a terrible, terrible thing for our young people.
someone cannot tell the difference between 18 and 14?????
I hope that girl realizes how blessed she is not to be missing and later found dead after being raped.
IF she did lie, I hope that she is charged for something. If she did NOT lie I hope that she got scared straight.
I wonder is the fact that the girl said she was eighteen will be braught up in this case. I am hey concerned that these girls don’t understand what this can do to a person when they say they are older then they are. Where was her parents. Sam old questions. Not defending his actions just want it known that she is lying and now we have a man in jail and sh is free I see no justice in that.