•••
Updated
ARRESTEE IS PERSON-OF-INTEREST IN MULTIPLE BURGLARIES
• Chehalis police on Thursday said as they investigated the break-in to a church on the 600 block of Northwest St. Helen’s Avenue early Wednesday, they discovered many similarities to other burglaries and vehicle prowls which have taken place in the area since June. Several thousand dollars worth of items, ranging from tools to cash, have been taken, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Joshua A. Duncan, 32, from Chehalis, was booked into the Lewis County Jail on Wednesday for second-degree burglary, for the church incident, according to police. Department spokesperson Linda Bailey said the church had been burglarized three times previously. Officers called about 12:06 a.m. on Wednesday discovered a suspect still inside the building, but as they entered, he fled out the back, according to Bailey. The suspect was located in a field nearby, with the assistance of deputies from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office on Thursday said that based in part on previously obtained surveillance images, they spoke to Duncan about four unsolved burglaries from the Toledo and Winlock area that took place between July 26 and Aug. 12 as well as another in a neighboring county. The sheriff’s office is referring to prosecutors the cases for additional charges, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said on Thursday. “This is another great example of law enforcement within Lewis County working together to solve cases,” Sheriff Robert Snaza stated in a press release. “I am proud of the hard work of all those involved, and our ability to resolve this investigation as a team.” Chehalis police continue to investigate possible connection with their other cases.
VEHICLE THEFT
• Chehalis police were contacted on Thursday by an auto dealership on the 1500 block of Northwest State Avenue that wanted to report a missing 2007 Jeep Compass. They had purchased it from an auction in Oregon but after getting the vehicle up here, decided they didn’t want it and had plans to return it, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The local dealer was contacted by the owner in Oregon asking where the Jeep was and both parties claimed they did not have it or know where it was, according to police.
• Chehalis police were called about 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday by an individual who reported his white 1999 Saturn had been stolen from the parking lot at Wal-Mart previously. Because the title was in another person’s name, police have not entered the car as stolen but are attempting to locate the owner, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
• An unoccupied stolen vehicle was recovered near railroad tracks at the 700 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia about 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
VEHICLE PROWL
• Centralia police were called for a car prowl at the 300 block of North Gold Street about 11:25 a.m. on Wednesday. Jewelry was taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.
HIT AND RUN
• Chehalis police were called about 9:35 a.m. on Wednesday after an older Chevrolet Silverado rolled through a stop sign at the 1700 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue and struck a woman on a bicycle, but the driver left without providing the victim their information. The 22-year-old Centralia woman suffered an injured wrist and shoulder, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The driver did stop, apologize and ask if she was okay, before leaving, police said.
AND MORE
• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, third-degree theft, no contact order violation, fourth-degree assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, hit and run, trespassing, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor theft, disorderly person … and more among 319 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.
More to come
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter