Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

June 16th, 2017
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BURGLARY

• A deputy responded about 3:10 p.m. yesterday to a residential burglary at the 100 block of Morris Road in Randle in which the victim returned home to notice items out of place and then discovered a jewelry box, hunting knives and family memorabilia were missing, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A red Craftsman riding mower, an oxygen tank and an acetylene tank were stolen from the 300 block of Toledo-Vader Road sometime between May 31 and Saturday,  according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

IMPERSONATION ATTEMPT

• A 27-year-old Toledo man was arrested yesterday for identity theft after he allegedly gave someone else’s name as his own when contacted by a deputy. Darrell R. Jackson was wanted on an outstanding warrant and it turned out the person whose name he gave was also wanted, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The alleged deception was noticed when he was brought to be booked at the Lewis County Jail, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning. Jackson allegedly got upset and broke a pay phone in a holding cell. The initial contact came when a deputy stopped a vehicle at the 100 block of Bethany Lane in Winlock about 2:30 p.m. and arrested Matthew T. Johnson, 46, of Winlock, for driving under the influence. Jackson was a passenger, according to Breen.

ARREST

• A 43-year-old Chehalis woman who went to the Chehalis Police Department to pick up some of her belongings there yesterday afternoon was arrested for second-degree possession of stolen property related to alleged checks which did not belong to her, according to police. Jennifer L. Davis, was also wanted on an outstanding warrant and was booked into the Lewis County Jail. Prosecutors however declined to file the felony charge at this time.

AUTO THEFT

• A 2005 Chevy Impala that had been reported stolen from Oakville was recovered at the 300 block of North Railroad Avenue in Centralia at about 5:45 p.m. yesterday, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VEHICLE PROWL

• An officer was called to the 100 block of Pioneer Way in Centralia about 9:25 a.m. yesterday where an unknown person had broken out a car window and stolen a cell phone, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, suspicious circumstances, third-degree theft, protection order violation  … and more among 134 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

June 15th, 2017
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SASQUATCH REPLICA MISSING

• Centralia police were contacted about 2:30 p.m. yesterday regarding the theft of a concrete Big Foot statue from a home on the 1600 block of Oxford Avenue.

GOLF CLUBS MISSING

• A deputy was called yesterday to investigate a burglary to a garage at the 1400 block of North Pearl Street in Centralia in which Craftsman tools and Tommy Armor golf clubs were taken. The loss is estimated at $1,260, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office said the break-in occurred between May 15 and Monday.

SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT MISSING

• A security camera was stolen from a residence in the 300 block of Centralia College Boulevard, according to a report made to the Centralia Police Department just before 9 p.m. yesterday.

• A closed-circuit television camera was stolen from the outside of a building on the 10 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue, according to a report made to the Chehalis Police Department yesterday.

PUD SCAM

• A business on the 700 block of West Main Street reported to Chehalis police yesterday they’d received a call from someone pretending to be with Lewis County PUD and threatening to shut off their electricity. It was a scam, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ASSAULT ALLEGED

• Chehalis police were called yesterday morning to Green Hill School to take a report of an incident that occurred a week earlier in which an 18-year-old student-inmate allegedly threw a game controller at a staff member.

THREAT ALLEGED

• Centralia police responded to a complaint of harassment yesterday from the 100 block of West Magnolia Street by issuing a summons to a 38-year-old Toledo resident. The episode involved allegedly threatening emails, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, probation violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, unfounded complaint, suspicious circumstances, third-degree theft … and more among 154 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Vacant Centralia house burns

June 15th, 2017
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Smoke rises from the 1400 block of Alexander Street. / Courtesy photo by Joseph Bonomi

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Centralia police and firefighters responded to a call early this morning to a fire at a vacant single-story house frequented by unauthorized inhabitants.

It was found fully involved in flames and its roof eventually caved into its basement, according to the Centralia Police Department.

The home on the 1400 block of Alexander Street has been boarded up for some time, police Sgt. Kurt Reichert said.

Reichert said it’s a location where patrol officers have frequently found individuals staying there or trying to stay there. It has no electrical service, according to Reichert.

The fire department was not able to get inside and investigators likely won’t be able to either for quite awhile because of the remaining heat, Reichert said.

He said he understood a bull dozer would be brought in and that after materials are moved away, the basement will need to be pumped.

News brief: Mineral Fire Department audit shows fuel misappropriation

June 14th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office has forwarded a case to prosecutors of second-degree theft in connection with a volunteer firefighter’s alleged misuse of a gas card.

Brady J. Mounce was a volunteer with Lewis County Fire District 9 in Mineral and allegedly used a district card for just over $1,500 in personal use between 2013 and 2014, according to the sheriff’s office.

Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning said a report from the Washington State Auditor’s Office came back early last week and showed Mounce misappropriated more than $5,000 worth of fuel from the district.

Some it occurred in the Morton area and some in Eatonville, according to Breen. Similar charges have been filed in Pierce County, Breen said.

Mounce, 23, of Mineral has not been arrested and a charging decision will be made by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office.

Breen said the audit overall showed $20,300 worth of fuel misappropriated from the district but it couldn’t be determined who was responsible. He didn’t note the time period involved.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

June 14th, 2017
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Updated at 2:23 p.m.

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS STOLEN FROM HOSPITALIZED WOMAN

• A 34-year-old Winlock woman was arrested yesterday at the end of a two-month long investigation which concluded she withdrew more than $43,000 from two accounts belonging to a woman who was hospitalized and subsequently died. Aurora S. Fulmer allegedly made more than 100 transactions in approximately a one-month period that ended on Feb. 8, according to the sheriff’s office. Fulmer was contacted yesterday, taken into custody and booked for seven counts of forgery and two counts of first-degree theft, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning. Breen said the case is associated with an address on the 100 block of Fircrest Road in Centralia, but didn’t say how or if the suspect knew the victim.

MISSING MONEY

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports this morning a case for second-degree theft is being referred to prosecutors in connection with a Sunday call to the 400 block of Jones Road in Centralia in which a father reported $800 cash vanished from the home during the two-hour time period when his 17-year-old son was left unattended there.

MOTOR MISSING

• Chehalis police were contacted just before 9 a.m. yesterday about a 6 horse power motor having been removed from a boat at the 1900 block of Northeast Kresky Avenue. The black Mercury long shaft motor was valued at $300, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

HARASSMENT

• Chehalis police were called about 9:40 a.m. yesterday to take a report of harassment over social media involving juveniles.

BEGGING IN THE STREET

• A 42-year-old man who police say was warned multiple times for aggressive panhandling and impeding traffic was arrested after an officer saw him standing in the middle of the road at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, allegedly trying to stop cars while asking for money. An officer responding about 1:35 p.m. yesterday took Todd D. Strenge, of Olympia, into custody and booked him into the Lewis County Jail for disorderly conduct, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FROM THE COURTHOUSE

• A pair of Centralia men are accused of stealing nearly $30,000 worth of materials from their employer, a recycling business that specializes in high pressure cylinders and gas tanks located on the 2600 block of Commercial Boulevard in Centralia. The theft wasn’t reported until after a December call to Cylinder Depot Inc. about damage to a back door as if someone tried to break in. A manager told a deputy he suspected 27-year-old Matthew B. Meyer and 31-year-old Christopher A. Clements who had been fired for allegedly stealing, according to court documents. When the deputy contacted the company’s owner, Brian Ogier, he was told the theft was discovered in October when Ogier learned the two men had been taking the stolen brass cylinder valves to Hand and Hand Recycling, according to charging papers. Ogier reported a loss of $29,959, according to the documents. Charges of first-degree theft and also first-degree trafficking in stolen property were filed in Lewis County Superior Court on May 16. The suspects were summonsed to appear in court yesterday afternoon, but only Meyer showed up. He was allowed release pending trial on a $5,000 unsecured bond. Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Jeffrey Schapp said the summons mailed to Clements was returned with a message saying he had moved to Ohio. Judge Andrew Toynbee ordered a no-bail bench warrant for Clements.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault; responses for alarm, dispute, vandalism, civil issue, suspicious circumstances, third-degree theft, disorderly person … and more among 131 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

June 13th, 2017
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•••

Updated at 5:26 p.m.

BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 5:35 a.m. today to the 900 block of B Street where an individual said someone broke into his garage during the night. It is unknown what was taken, according to the Centralia Police Department. The case is under investigation.

HARASSMENT

• Chehalis police were called about 2:30 p.m. yesterday to take a report of one juvenile harassing another juvenile via social media.

• Chehalis police were contacted about 3:15 p.m. yesterday about harassment involving juveniles.

CAR PROWL

• Several items were taken from a vehicle that was parked in the 600 block of G Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police at 10:10 a.m. yesterday.

OTHER THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 11:45 a.m. yesterday to take a report that a Seattle Times newspaper box valued at $500 was missing from the 1300 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

• Police responded to the 100 block of East Main Street in Mossyrock about 8:35 a.m. yesterday to a report of someone writing a fraudulent check to the store. The case is  pending the receipt of further information, according to the Morton Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Chehalis police and firefighters were called about 1:15 p.m. yesterday to the Twin City Town Center on Northwest Louisiana Avenue where a car pulling into a parking spot in front of an unoccupied business space accidentally struck the front glass entrance, leaving the driver shaken up, but not injured. It appeared her foot slipped onto the accelerator instead of the brake, according to the Chehalis Fire Department.

• Centralia police reported today they have referred the case involving a 24-year-old Centralia man for possible criminal charges, related to the car that was discovered upside down in China Creek on Sunday morning. Officers and firefighters responding just after 7 a.m. to the area near the 500 block of North Gold Street determined the vehicle was unoccupied and the wreck had occurred sometime during the night, according to the Centralia Police Department. Search dogs as well as a water rescue team were summoned to search the water and the banks but nobody was located, according to police. Officers were finally able to track down the owner of the vehicle, who admitted to being the driver. Police say that Colton C. McDonald told them his vehicle was unable to negotiate the S-curve and went off the road, rolling and landing on its top in the water, according to police. “Both he and his female passenger were able to get out of the vehicle and walked from the scene,” the police department stated in a press release. The passenger was later located and it was determined she had non-life threatening injuries, according to police. The case is still under investigation as speed and/or alcohol may be a contributing factor, according to police.

• A 37-year-old man was booked into the Lewis County Jail yesterday morning and charged today with three counts of second-degree assault in connection with an incident on Saturday night in which he allegedly rammed his vehicle into a vehicle occupied by his wife and two of her companions. Police called just before 8 p.m. to the 1200 block of Mellen Street in Centralia were told Bert A. Holmes had been arguing with his wife and she went inside the Chevron gas station while he was circling the location outside looking for her, according to charging documents. When she came out, she got into the backseat after the two asked her if she needed a ride out of the area and then Holmes allegedly drove over the curb, gunned his engine and struck their vehicle in the rear passenger area knocking it out of its parking spot, before fleeing, according to court documents. Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer this after recounted an “alarming” number of previous convictions, with several involving domestic violence involving his wife. Meyer asked for and the judge agreed that bail should be set at $250,000.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, displaying falsified trip permit; responses for alarm, dispute, vandalism, civil issue, misdemeanor assault, suspicious circumstances … and more among 151 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

June 12th, 2017
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•••

Updated

SCREWDRIVER ASSAULT

• A 35-year-old Chehalis woman was arrested after deputies responded to a 5 a.m. call on Saturday where a 43-year-old man from Lacey said the woman he was dating stabbed him with a screwdriver leaving him with injuries to his neck, arms and hand. Deputies arriving to the 100 block of Oyler Road in Ethel learned the couple had been arguing and the victim was able to get her off him, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. He was treated at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office. Amber R. Wilson-Delaney was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree assault, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning.

VEHICULAR ASSAULT

• Centralia police reported yesterday morning they were looking for a 37-year-old Chehalis man who allegedly rammed his vehicle into an occupied parked vehicle during a dispute at the 1200 block of Mellen Street. Officers called just before 8 p.m. on Saturday about the incident report the suspect fled the scene but his vehicle was later located and impounded.

TOY GUN ASSAULT

• Centralia police were called about 3:20 p.m. on Saturday when an individual reported that two teens confronted him and pointed a pistol at him at the 1300 block of Kayu Lane in Centralia. They then told him it wasn’t real and shot it in the air before fleeing  according to the Centralia Police Department. He thought maybe it was an Airsoft gun, according to police.

BURGLARY

• A residence in the 1100 block of E Street was reported to have been broken into yesterday and multiple items are missing. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Scott N. Edwards, 35 of Centralia, was arrested for damaging his girlfriend’s windshield of her car during a dispute at the 600 block of North Pearl Street which was reported at about 7 p.m. on Friday, according to the Centralia Police Department. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• Chehalis police were called about 6:15 p.m. on Friday to a report of someone slashing tires on a vehicle parked at the 100 block of Southwest McFadden Avenue.

OTHER STUFF

• Chehalis police were called about 10:30 a.m. on Friday and told that a woman in her 60s had pulled down her pants and urinated in front of the store on the 1400 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue. The arriving officer issued a warning, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police responded to a 911 call from a male at about 2:15 a.m. on Saturday who said he was intoxicated and needed a ride. The caller said he realized he was too drunk to drive so he pulled over and parked in front of the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The arriving officer was unable to locate the caller, according to police.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police responded to a vehicle upside down in China Creek at the 500 block of North Gold Street at about 7:10 a.m. on Sunday. Police indicated that further details would be forthcoming.

• Deputies responding to a single-vehicle wreck about 11 a.m. on Saturday at the 800 block of Rhoades Road in Winlock arrested the 64-year-old drivier for driving under the influence. The Geo Metro had left the roadway, gone into a ditch and struck a fence, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. James L. Marthini, of Toledo, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Centralia police were called about 1:10 p.m. on Friday to a collision between a bicycle and a vehicle at the 900 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia. It resulted in minor injuries, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE RIVER, OFF THE RIVER

• Two kayakers whose craft overturned on the Cowlitz River near Packwood were rescued on Saturday afternoon and treated for potential hypothermia, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office swift water rescue team along with search and rescue personnel responded to the call just before 5 p.m. near the La Wis Wis Campground, according to the sheriff’s office. Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said there was no way to get to the two men by land. They were monitored for exposure related injuries by the Packwood Fire Department. The victims were 44 years old from Portland and 45 years old from Del Mar, California, according to Breen.

WINLOCK HOUSE CATCHES FIRE

• Nobody was hurt but a two-story house in Winlock is a total loss after it went up in flames on Saturday night, according to Lewis County Fire District 15. Crews called at 11:36 p.m. to the 900 block of Northwest Kerron Street could see flames as they left the station, as the home was less than two blocks to the north, according to Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Anderson. The residence was vacant, Anderson said.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, trespassing, third-degree theft, resisting arrest, reckless driving, misdemeanor assault, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, protection order violation, third-degree malicious mischief, interfering with domestic violence reporting; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, shoplifting, hit and run, barking dog, trespassing, harassment, gas drive off, suspicious circumstances, vehicle collision, disorderly person, dog alone in parked vehicle … and more among 431 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.