Southwest Cascade Avenue last night. / Courtesy photo by Derrick Paul
Updated at 3:05 p.m.
SNOW AND ICE CHALLENGE LOCAL MOTORISTS
• Chehalis police began yesterday morning with a report from a snow plow driver of 10 cars off the road and into the ditch in the area of the 500 block of Southeast Prospect Street. The Chehalis Fire Department responded for two such incidents related to snow and ice yesterday, including a rollover off Northeast Kresky Avenue. Two people were taken to Providence Centralia Hospital after a Volkswagen Bug slid sideways into the back end of a truck parked on Southwest Cascade Avenue near Fifth Street at about 9 p.m., according to the fire department. The 17-year-old driver and his passenger seemed to have escaped serious injuries, but were transported to be checked out, Capt. Kevin Curfman said.
UNWELCOME GUEST
• Centralia police were called about 10:20 p.m. yesterday to the 1900 block of Ahlers Avenue where a woman said her ex-boyfriend showed up, forced his way into her apartment and demanded housing for the night. The 21-year-old suspect reportedly punched her as well, but then fled the home, according to the Centralia Police Department. Officers are looking for Nolan R. Bartel, to arrest him for first-degree burglary, according to police.
RESISTING ARREST
• Ruben J. Inman, 26 of Centralia, was arrested and booked on an outstanding felony warrant and for resisting arrest after contact with police at the 100 block of West Alaska Way in Centralia about 11:40 a.m. yesterday, according to the Centralia Police Department. Inman was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.
FAKE DRUGS
• Centralia police arrested a 33-year-old homeless person yesterday for possession of a counterfeit controlled substance. Adam T. Kay was booked into the Lewis County Jail following contact with an officer about 2:45 p.m. at the 1400 block of Alexander Street in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department. The substance looked like meth but wasn’t, according to police. Prosecutors declined to file the felony charge today.
SENIOR CITIZEN ARRESTED
• A 70-year-old man was arrested yesterday for allegedly not paying for his taxi fare from a casino to Centralia. Police contacted him about 4:20 p.m. at the 1300 block of South Gold Street, issued the citation for third-degree theft to Angelo J. Lester, 70, of Centralia, and then released him pending a court date, according to the Centralia Police Department.
SENIOR CITIZEN STRANDED
• A man who said he is 80 years old and had been standing waiting for a bus for four hours near Wal-Mart called 911 at 10:40 a.m. yesterday after finding out the busses had been cancelled and said he needed a ride back to Centralia, to the “cold weather station,” where he’s been staying because he doesn’t have a home anymore. A Chehalis police officer provided a courtesy transport, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Overnight low temperatures of 30 degrees in Chehalis didn’t get above 32 degrees until after noon time yesterday.
AND MORE
• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for felony assault, warrants, shoplifting, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, misdemeanor domestic assault; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances, patron arriving to the Chehalis library about 1:45 p.m. yesterday to find it was closed, although the front door was open … and more among 178 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.
Since the decision to not press charges was made today, at least the guy was out of the elements overnight and got a couple hot meals. Being in jail no doubt sucked mightily, but so would being out in the snow with an empty stomach and nowhere to go.
Still, that WAS a strange arrest. I could speculate, but a guess is all it would be.
I wondered that too BobbyinLC. I can understand how prosecutors declined to file charges there! Now… the situation with the 80 year old man makes me sad. 🙁 No seniors should be homeless.
For once we agree on something BobbyinLC. I believe this was just an excuse for the local police to molest the man, generate revenue, and throw him in the slammer. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me.
It’s all about money BobbyinLC we are just prey for the police department.
I do not understand the charge of possession of a counterfeit controlled substance. If it is not a controlled substance then you can posses it.
I realize the law has been into place in many states as people try to sell counterfeit controlled substances and that gets them killed. But to have something on your person that looks like drugs, but it isn’t? Not attempt to sell it?
What is you have a baggie of oregano? Is that a crime? I don’t get this one.