Updated at 6:14 p.m.
DRUG OVERDOSE LEADS TO ARREST
• A 26-year-old Centralia woman who overdosed on heroin yesterday morning was revived by medics and a 25-year-old Rochester man was jailed for allegedly supplying her with the drug. Police and aid responding to a 7:10 a.m. call to the 300 block of North Diamond Street in Centralia found she was not breathing, her heart had stopped, according to the Centralia Police Department. The department’s special Anti-Crime Team investigated and arrested Christopher C. Lee, for delivery of heroin, according to police. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail. Riverside Fire Authority personnel say calls for drug overdoses are more frequent than serious auto accidents or even heart attacks in the Centralia area. “Heroin overdoses, I bet we don’t go three weeks between those types of calls,” Fire Capt. Scott Snyder said. Capt. Casey McCarthy, who is also a paramedic, said it’s not just heroin, but various types of prescription drugs such as pain killers as well, the kind that slow down important body functions like breathing. For heroin, medics can give an injection of what’s called Narcan, to reverse those affects and that can help, he said. As of today, the Lewis County Coroner’s Office has seven cases from this year alone in which they are waiting for the results of toxicology tests and Coroner McLeod predicts most of those will come back with a result of accidental death from drugs.
AUTO THEFT
• Police were called about 8 a.m. yesterday to the 600 block of West First Street in Centralia about a car stolen during the night. Missing is a white 1992 Honda Prelude with a license plate of 687 WHW, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• Chehalis police were called yesterday to the 2100 block of North National Avenue where an auto repair business in the Yard Birds complex reported someone had gotten inside multiple vehicles. Nothing seemed to be missing but damage suggested someone was trying to steal a vehicle, according to the Chehalis Police Department. An officer learned the break-ins happened on Saturday morning, according to police.
BURGLARY AT SUMMER HOME
• A 50-year-old man from Port Orchard contacted the sheriff’s office after the discovery someone had gotten into a shed on his vacation property at the 400 block of Larson Road in Silver Creek. Taken was an old non-operation Stihl chainsaw in its case, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The break-in was reported on Saturday night; it’s unknown when it took place, according to the sheriff’s office. The loss is estimated at $250.
WALLET SNATCHED
• A woman called police yesterday morning after someone lifted her wallet while she was shopping at Wal-Mart on the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis. The purse was in her shopping car and she walked away, and subsequently discovered the billfold was gone, detective Sgt. Gary WIlson said.
WALLET FOUND
• A found wallet turned into Chehalis police yesterday was returned to its owner; everything except the cash remained, according to police.
CAR PROWL
• Chehalis police were called to the 500 block of Northeast Jefferson Avenue about 10:30 a.m. where someone had gotten into an unlocked vehicle during the night and stole a cooler and a purse. About an hour later when taking a report of another vehicle prowled on the same block, an officer recovered the items and returned them to the first victim, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
DRUGS
• A 46-year-old homeless man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine last night after an officer driving down the street recognized the pedestrian as a wanted person. Dale A. Drew was detained in the area of the 200 block of West Main Street about 9 p.m. and had a smoking device in his pocket with material that field tested positive for the drug, according to the Centralia Police Department. He was booked in to the Lewis County Jail, according to police.
OUT-OF-CONTROL FLAME
• Firefighters were called about 1:45 p.m. yesterday to an Adna area residence where an individual using a weed burner – a torch-like tool – got too close to the house. Flames caught some of the plastic vapor barrier beneath the modular home on McLaughlin Road, but there was no damage, according to Lewis County Fire District 6.
FOUR MOTORCYCLISTS INJURED
• A 24-year-old Olympia driver was issued a ticket for failing to yield the right of way when he began to cross Highway 603 west of Chehalis, pulling out in front of a pair of motorcycles traveling about 50 mph up the highway, both of which wrecked. It happened about 3:30 p.m. yesterday at Shorey Road, sending at least one person to Providence Centralia Hospital. Lewis County Fire District 6 Chief Tim Kinder said the first motorcycle T-boned the 2013 Toyota Corolla. The driver of the second motorcycle laid his bike down, according to Kinder. The Harley Davidson and Yamaha motorcycles were carrying two couples from Castle Rock and Kelso, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. said. Chief Ciivl Deputy Stacy Brown described the injuries to the riders as injuries to arms, a hand and pain to neck and shoulders.
STRIP SEARCH REVEALS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
• A 33-year-old woman jailed after a scuffle with store security in Centralia yesterday evening found herself in extra trouble when a search at the jail turned up a hypodermic needle in her vagina. Police responding about 7:30 p.m. to the 500 block of South Tower Avenue arrested Michelle M. O’Connell saying when she was confronted by security about shoplifting, she refused to give the merchandise back and a fight ensued. She was booked for second-degree robbery as well as a warrant, according to the Centralia Police Department. Later, following the discovery from a strip search at the Lewis County Jail, she was also booked for introducing contraband to the facility. Police said she is from Tenino. The sheriff’s office lists her as a Chehalis resident. O’Connell was not charged with robbery, as a judge did not find probable cause for that offense. However, when she appeared in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon, she found herself charged with bail jumping for neglecting to arrange electronic home monitoring or report to jail for a previous case, according to Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher. As for a possible criminal charge on contraband, Meagher said they were waiting on that. He didn’t offer further detail.
AND MORE
• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence; responses for misdemeanor theft, concern about harassment, complaint of children picking blossoms from plum trees … and more.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
European countries have developed multiple methods of dealing with drug addiction. Many have almost elimnated overdose deaths. Some such as Portugal have decriminalized all drugs. The use, medical costs have dropped, entry into treatment has increased, education is widespread, safe sites, narcan Is freely available and Hep C has dramatically dropped. Law enforcement has been removed from the equation except when an actual crime is committed. Countries such as Germany and Austria have made dramatic changes in the addiction levels. Hopefully some day the United States will be able to move away from the punative angry methods of dealing with addiction by examining those things that actually have worked. Even western Canada has made huge inroads into their addiction rates by looking at the various European models.
Observant…As it stands, we’re footing the bill for taking care of addicts and their kids, AND paying for a failed ‘War on Drugs’. Legalization/decriminalization would at least save some money.
One argument against decriminalization is that drug use would spike. I don’t accept that. One thing that is true of human nature, and always has been true, is that we are attracted to what we are told we can’t have. Numerous myths and legends are based on this common trait we all share (Pandora, Eve and the Apple, etc.). Conversely, if you’re not interested in something, the sudden availability of it likely won’t boost your interest. If cocaine, heroin, and meth were suddenly legal tomorrow, I wouldn’t be any more interested in trying them than I am now. (Which is to say, not at all.)
“And make more sense, I have been prescribed opiates on several occasions. I am not nor have I ever been addicted so I think your logic is flawed.”
It’s not “logic”, it’s FACT.
People who end up using stree heroin are previous patients who were prescribed opiates.
You didn’t get addicted? CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You are SPECIAL. Only 10% of drug users can claim what you do. Good job.
JZ while I see your point and agree to some extent that it is not the government’s place to tell me what I can or can’t do. I also know that there enough druggies out there that can’t take care of them selves or they’re kids so who ends up footing the bill for them and what you want to be leagle???? And make more sense, I have been prescribed opiates on several occasions. I am not nor have I ever been addicted so I think your logic is flawed.
Perhaps the Government shouldn’t have the power to tell us what we can or cannot do with our own bodies. Holding you responsible for what you do to others while in an altered state is one thing; telling you that you can’t take whatever drug you wish to take is more power than we should ever have allowed the Government to wield over us.
But hey, prohibiting alcohol worked SO well, right? No reason it won’t work for drugs.
Now, I’ve never done an illegal drug in my life, but I’m sure some hoopleheads on this forum will say I’m a drugged-out dope fiend (or even a dealer) because I call for legalization and/or decriminalization of drugs. To me, it will just sound like so much bleating of sheep, who actually believe that Big Government is trying to keep them safe. Baa.
The REAL ISSUE is the addictive opiate that are prescribed by doctors. 9 times out of 10, these addicts are seeking an alternative to the dope their doctors have prescribed and the dope their insurance companies refuse to provide after the addiction has set in.
Perhaps the doctor who originally got the person hooked on opiates should be charged. Perhaps the company that makes the addictive opiates should be charged. Perhaps the insurance companies who end prescription coverage that leads addicts to the street should be charged.
Perhaps the patient to prison pipeline should be shut down.
I know they aren’t known as responsible people but for the 1 in 10000 chance she reforms and becomes a drug counselor she would have to repay it.
Delivery of a controlled substance will get you many years in prison as it is a class B felony. The overdosed gal only possessed it and would get maybe 2 days in county. I think its fair to say that dealers are the issue here. No?
The junkie who overdosed should b charged too! She’s a waste
THE BITCH THAT OVERDOSED SHOULD BE CHARGED ALONGSIDE HER DEALER BUDDY…HE SOLD HER THE JUNK,BUT SHE WAS THE ONE WHO PUT IT IN HER BODY
Apparently they are the kind of people that feel the need to hide a syringe in their vagina on the off chance that they end up in jail before the day is out.
Darren, what good would that do? I know there are exceptions to every rule but junkies are not known for being upstanding citizens that pay their bills and honor their responsibilities.
I hope the junkie that overdosed is charged for the medical attention she received.