Courtesy photo by Debbie Davis Dwelly
Updated at 4:56 p.m.
ONE INJURED IN FIERY WRECK NEAR WINLOCK
• Firefighters were called just before 1 p.m. today when a car went off the roadway near Winlock, struck a wire fence and caught fire in a ditch. One male was airlifted to Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, according to Lewis County Fire District 15. Firefighter Patrick Jacobson said he didn’t know if the patient got out on his own or if bystanders pulled him out but the vehicle was fully involved in flames when they arrived. It happened near Morton and Military roads on state Route 505, Jacobson said. The driver is identified as James M. Hunter, 66, of Centralia, by the Washington State Patrol. His 2005 Hyundai Accent was destroyed. The cause of the wreck is under investigation, according to the state patrol.
ANOTHER HOT HONDA CAR TURNS UP IN TENINO
• Centralia police took a report about 8:30 a.m. yesterday of a 1991 Honda Civic stolen during the night from the 400 block of North Oak Street. It was found several hours later in the Tenino area with its battery missing and some wires cut, according to the Centralia Police Department.
TRICKERY AND FRAUD
• Centralia police took a report from a 75-year-old woman on the 2400 block of Leisure Lane who fell victim to a phone scam on Friday morning. A caller claiming to be from the Publisher’s Clearinghouse told her she needed to purchase a $300 prepaid PayPal card and give them the number before she could collect her prize, according to police. The woman was told someone would be arriving at 10 a.m. to collect more money, but they never showed up, according to the Centralia Police Department. The woman is out $300, Sgt. Stacy Denham said.
• Centralia police took a report yesterday from a female at the 1200 block of G Street in Centralia regarding fraudulent use of her bank account.
UNRULINESS
• Police used a Taser gun on a 29-year-old Centralia man when he allegedly tried to fight with officers arriving at the 1000 block of Orton Street last night. Officers responding about 11 p.m. were told Nichole R. Unterwegner, 30, pushed several people, according to the Centralia Police Department. She was arrested for disorderly conduct, according to police. Justin J. Russell, 29, was arrested for obstruction, resisting arrest and being in possession of unspecified drug paraphernalia, police reported. Both were booked into the Lewis County jail but scheduled to be released today.
• A 27-year-old Centralia man was arrested about 5 p.m. on Friday after he allegedly slashed a tire near the 1100 block of F Street and then was found at a neighbor’s home, where he was arrested for violating a protection order and other alleged offenses, according to the Centralia Police Department. Francisco T. Lamas was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.
ATTEMPTED BURGLARY AT HISTORIC HOUSE
• Centralia police are investigating an incident in which the front door was kicked in at the historic Borst Home on the 2500 block of Pioneer Way. An officer responding to an alarm about 10:15 p.m. on Thursday noted nothing appeared to be missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter