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SUSPECTED INTRUDER INTO ELDERLY WOMAN’S HOME JAILED
• A 29-year-old man was arrested yesterday following witnesses identifying him as the person seen on security video inside an 85-year-old Winlock woman’s home while she was sleeping. Devin K. Lang was contacted at his residence in Ethel just after 6 a.m. yesterday and booked into the Lewis County Jail for residential burglary, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said the investigation began when deputies were called just before 7 o’clock on Thursday to the 200 block of Nikula Road in Winlock. The woman’s family members had set up surveillance video in her home and were reviewing the footage when they saw a person walking around inside the home, through the kitchen, the living room and into the bedroom where the victim was sleeping. They observed the person put something in his pocket before leaving out the door, Kimsey said. Deputies discovered entry had been made through a bathroom window, according to the sheriff’s office. Kimsey said the family members, but not the victim, knew the suspect.
PROSECUTORS: CHILD TOSSED OVER COUCH
• A 41-year-old man arrested last night for allegedly pulling his ex-girlfriend’s feet out from under her as she was walking up stairs to her Centralia apartment was also arrested for allegedly assaulting his 12-year-old daughter in a previous incident. Gunner J. Genzel was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with third-degree assault of a child and fourth-degree assault. His bail was set at $50,000. Charging documents in the case state a deputy was called just after 8 p.m. yesterday for a dispute at the 2000 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia. His former girlfriend said she was trying to get her apartment key back from him when he grabbed her feet causing her to slam into the steps, the documents relate. She asked her two children to call 911. During questioning, the deputy learned of an episode that happened earlier this month at the same location. The ex-girlfriend and Genzel’s daughter stated he had grabbed the daughter around her neck, dragged her inside the apartment and tossed her over the couch onto the floor, according to the allegations. His arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 8.
DANGEROUS WEAPON AT SCHOOL
• Chehalis police were called about 11:15 a.m. yesterday to the 300 block of Southwest 16th Street to investigate a report a student had brass knuckles on school grounds. The case regarding the 15-year-old boy is being referred to prosecutors for a possible charge of possession of a dangerous weapon, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
FRAUD
• Chehalis police were called about 12:50 p.m. yesterday by a woman who reported someone had made deposits into her bank account and withdrawn them the following day without her permission, in a case associated with the 400 block of North Market Boulevard.
ALCOHOL HAUL
• Chehalis police were contacted about 3:50 p.m. yesterday by a business on the 1100 block of South Market Boulevard to take a report of a theft a few days prior in which someone stole $1,100 worth of liquor.
DRUGS
• A 35-year-old homeless woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine after a sheriff’s detective recognized her as someone he wanted to talk with, as she was riding a BMX bicycle about 10:40 a.m. yesterday at Harrison Avenue near the Interstate 5 onramp. She was arrested and bag inside her pocket contained a needle and a bag containing suspected meth, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Sherri L. Scott was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.
VANDALISM
• Centralia police were called about 9:30 a.m. yesterday to the 300 block of West Pine Street where someone had damaged the ignition on a car in a possible attempt to steal it.
• A window on a vehicle parked at the 300 block of South Iron Street in Centralia was broken, according to report made to police about 5:10 p.m. yesterday.
• Centralia police were called just before 10 a.m. yesterday regarding graffiti tagged on a fence in an alley near the 1300 block of Oxford Avenue.
FROM THE COURTHOUSE
• An 18-year-old student-inmate from Green Hill School in Chehalis accused of sexual assault of his cell mate was brought before a judge today in Lewis County Superior Court. Andrew E. Umino was charged late last year with second-degree rape for an incident investigated by Chehalis police in September. The 19-year-old roommate told police that four days earlier after lights out, Umino got angry, pushed him into a corner and began hitting him, according to court documents. He said Umino told him to suck on his penis or he would beat him, the documents relate. Afterward, he said if he told anyone, he would kill him, Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead wrote in the charging documents. Umino was released back to Green Hill School following this afternoon’s hearing. His arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 8.
• Arrest warrants were issued yesterday for a father and son who were allegedly unlawfully growing marijuana plants at a Curtis Hill Road property. Joseph A. Watson, 59, and Derek J. Watson, 30, were summonsed to appear yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court based on charges of manufacture of marijuana which were filed earlier this month. They didn’t show up, according to prosecutors. Charging documents in the case state that Joseph Watson arrived home to find deputies there on Oct. 4 and told them he believed the law said they could grow four plants on the property without getting into trouble. He said he had about 20 plants. The deputies seized 23 plants. Deputy Sgt. Dan Riordan spoke with the son on the phone, and the son told Riordan that Riordan was wrong about the laws, Lewis County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher wrote in charging documents. Neither suspect had valid medical marijuana authorization, according to Meagher.
AND MORE
• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for dispute, harassment, vehicle collision, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances … and more among 156 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter