TAVERN DISPUTE ERUPTS WITH “BEAR SPRAY”
• A 23-year-old Chehalis man was arrested last night after he allegedly used bear spray inside a Chehalis drinking establishment. It’s like pepper spray, but for use on bears and several people were affected by it, Deputy Police Chief Randy Kaut said. It happened at Garbe’s Tavern on the 300 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue just before 11:20 p.m. An arriving officer saw a suspect running down the street with people chasing him and arrested him for disorderly conduct, according to police. Kaut said he didn’t know the details of whatever dispute led to the discharge of the chemical. The individuals affected by the spray declined aid, he said. Jeremy D. Barnes was released after getting his citation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
MACHINERY STRIPPED OF WIRING
• A deputy was called about 7 a.m. yesterday to the 800 block of state Route 507 in Centralia where someone had done about $30,000 damage to heavy equipment by cutting wiring. The 70-year-old man who called 911 said he thought his Ford Ranger was stolen as well, but he found it elsewhere on the property with its steering column broken and a screwdriver jammed in the ignition, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
CAR MISSING
• The owner of a white 1993 Mazda MX3 reported yesterday their car was stolen from the 1900 block of South Market Boulevard in Chehalis. It had been loaned to someone and was left in the parking lot at the Chehalis Eagles when that someone was arrested in a drug incident the other day, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
PROWLING OUTSIDE WAL-MART
• Police called to the north end of the Wal-Mart parking lot about 11 p.m. yesterday found two vehicles had been prowled. Someone stole cologne, a GPS device and collectible sports cars from a car and took an electrical cord and the stereo faceplate from a Jeep, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
SLASHING SPREE LEAVES NUMEROUS VICTIMS
• By the time the day ended yesterday, the number of victims of the tire slashing spree in the south end of Centralia grew to more than 30. Centralia officers got their first call about 5:15 a.m. to the 600 block of Hamilton Avenue and continued responding to similar complaints all day long, according to Officer John Panco. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, which patrols a portion of the area, were dispatched about 8:30 a.m. for a report of tire slashing and were greeted by eight victims on South Street. Panco said yesterday most likely a pocket knife was used to flatten the tires. Deputies will be reviewing surveillance video to look for clues, but are asking anyone with information to please call Lewis County Crime Stoppers, according to Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown.
SUDDEN SWERVE, CULVERT, LEAD TO CRITICAL INJURIES
• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports the Honda that wrecked yesterday morning on the 3000 block of Jackson Highway struck a culvert. The driver was northbound when the car suddenly swerved to the left for unknown reasons, according to the sheriff’s office. Firefighters had to cut the roof off the car to extricate the driver, who was severely injured, responders. said The 33-year-old Centralia woman was taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, according to the sheriff’s office. Information about her current condition was unavailable. Her passenger, a 26-year-old Centralia man, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital with a leg injury, and has been released, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.
Responders cut the roof from a 1997 Honda Accord to get the injured driver out on Jackson Highway.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter