Posts Tagged ‘news reporter’

News brief: Car smashes into Centralia storefront

Saturday, May 6th, 2017
2017.0506.cartowerhubbubtower

The scene at North Tower Avenue in Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

Updated at 10 a.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The driver of a car that struck a building in downtown Centralia overnight was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with multiple traumatic injuries.

Firefighters responding to a 1:30 a.m. call to 505 North Tower Avenue found a man in the driver’s seat who had to be extricated from the vehicle, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

The collision caused extensive damage to the storefront and a sidewall, Fire Capt. Scott Weinert stated.

The brick building which houses the specialty shop Hub Bub was occupied by its owner who was uninjured, according to Weinert.

The driver was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital in serious condition and then transferred to the Seattle hospital. He is estimated to be in his late 20s or early 30s, Weinert said.

Centralia police are investigating and indicate alcohol may have been a factor in the collision.

News brief: Elderly Chehalis man missing since late Wednesday

Saturday, May 6th, 2017
2017.0505.warren.neal

Warren Neal

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Deputies are looking for an 87-year-old rural Chehalis man who was last seen around 10 p.m. on Wednesday at his home south of Chehalis and east of Napavine.

Warren Neal possibly suffers from dementia and may not be able to provide his personal information if contacted, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

The family vehicles are accounted for and Neal is known for often taking walks in the wooded areas around his home, but it is unknown if he may have been picked up or given a ride, according to the sheriff’s office.

His residence is on the 100 block of Fircrest Road, just northwest of the intersection of Coulson and Koontz roads.

Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said deputies were notified by family members of Neal’s disappearance early yesterday morning.

He was thought to last be wearing khaki pants and new balance running shoes.

Anyone with information that can help locate Neal is asked to contact sheriff’s detective Jeff Humphrey at 360-880-2910.

News brief: Remains found in Cowlitz River belong to missing Des Moines man

Friday, May 5th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Coroner’s Office has positively identified the remains found by a guide boat on the Cowlitz River near Toledo as the fisherman who vanished in January from an area several miles upriver.

2017.0130.fisherman.Nammavong

Prathana Nammavong

Forty-three-year-old Prathana Nammavong from Des Moines was able to be identified by a unique tattoo, according to the coroner’s office.

An autopsy has been completed but a determination about the cause and manner of his death can’t be made until the results of toxicology tests come back, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Dawn Harris.

Nammavong was reported missing January 28 after two friends went to the Blue Creek Boat Launch area south of Ethel to meet up with him. He was a regular weekend fisherman there. His chair and fishing pole were located on the bank near the river’s confluence with Blue Creek.

Multiple searches were conducted without success.

Just after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office got a call from anglers on a guide boat who spotted fishing waders caught on a branch that led to the discovery of his remains in the area of the Mandy Road boat launch.

A representative of his family was notified that day of the find and the possibility it was Nammavong, according to the sheriff’s office.
•••

For background, read “News brief: Human remains located in Cowlitz River near Toledo” from Thursday May 4, 2017, here

News brief: Person found dead near Centralia railroad tracks

Friday, May 5th, 2017

Updated at 2:55 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A man was found dead behind a business in downtown Centralia this morning but police found no outward signs of foul play.

Just before 8 a.m. today, officers responded to a report of a male lying on the ground not breathing off the 500 block of South Tower Avenue near the railroad tracks, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Arriving officers and EMS units concluded he was deceased, detective John Panco stated in a press release.

A preliminary investigation determined there were no signs of foul play apparent, according to Panco.

Panco said there were no obvious injuries and nothing to suggest how he may have died.

The area where he was found, between the Chevron gas station and the tracks is a place he likely would have been seen if he was there before darkness yesterday, according to Panco.

There was no identification on the man and police are estimating he is between 50 and 60 years old, Panco said.

“Looking in the immediate area, it appears he may have been sitting at one time, but we don’t have any idea why he would have been there,” Panco said.

The body has been turned over to the Lewis County Corner’s Office for further examination, according to Panco. The coroner’s office will figure out who he is and how he died, he said.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, May 5th, 2017
2015.0518.2013.1113.sirenslights5860.secondone

•••

Updated

ASSAULT

• Centralia police were called just before 8:30 a.m. yesterday to take a report of a sexual assault associated with the 400 block of Lakeshore Drive. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THREAT TO ASSAULT

• A 44-year-old Centralia man being taken to the Lewis County Jail yesterday evening for warrants and disorderly conduct allegedly made threats to kill the transporting officer so he was booked for felony harassment. The incident took place following a 5 p.m. contact between Michael A. Kauer and police at the 2000 block of Borst Avenue in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

UNRULY PERSON

• A 55-year-old Centralia man was arrested for interfering with a health care facility in connection with an approximately 10:30 a.m. call yesterday to the 1200 block of South Tower Avenue. Jeffrey L. Neeley was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 37-year-old Centralia man who allegedly damaged a door during a dispute at the 1400 block of Johnson Road in Centralia yesterday was arrested. Juventino Barrera-Martinez, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree malicious mischief, according to police.

SUSPECT WRECKS FOLLOWING THEFT FROM QUARRY

• The owner of a Mossyrock area rock pit called 911 about 4:50 a.m. yesterday after getting notification on his cell phone from a security camera showing a person on his property and arriving there to find a Dodge Dakota truck leaving the area, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The quarry owner attempted to follow the truck away from the 200 block of Winston Creek Road and onto U.S. Highway 12 while giving directions to the sheriff’s office, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. Breen said as a deputy came up behind the suspect vehicle, its driver lost control, launched from a ditch and struck a tree head on, injuring the suspect. Property from the quarry was found in the bed of the truck and Mark A. Scott, 55, of Roy, was transported to the hospital, Breen said. Taken from the pit was insulated hose containing copper wire valued at $4,800, according to the sheriff’s office.

DRUGS

• A 29-year-old Chehalis woman arrested at the 700 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia about 1:45 a.m. today for an outstanding warrant was subsequently also arrested for possession of methamphetamine. Breianna I. Eberly was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, civil issue, vehicle collision, misdemeanor assault, suspicious circumstances, third-degree theft … and more among 188 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Apartment dwellers impacted when tree hit with lightning bolt

Friday, May 5th, 2017
2017.0504.lightningstrick204746

Electrical receptacle inside apartment is burned / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A lightning strike last night led to a power surge that damaged multiple electrical outlets and electronics at a nearby Centralia apartment complex.

Firefighters called just before 8:10 p.m. to the area on the 1000 block of Scammon Creek Road found that lightning struck a large fir tree about 10 yards north of the building, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

Numerous units in the three-story complex lost power and a surge of electricity followed, according to Fire Capt. Jesse Berry. Nobody was hurt however, Berry stated.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, May 4th, 2017
2015.0518.2013.1113.sirenslights5860.secondone

•••

BREAK-IN MORTON

• A deputy responded to a report of a burglary last night of a shop and carport on the 5000 block of state Route 508 outside Morton. Sometime between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. someone entered through an open window and stole valuables, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A list of items and their value is being compiled by the victim, according to the sheriff’s office.

BREAK-IN CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 10:50 a.m. on Tuesday to the 1200 block of Alder Street where someone had burglarized a closed business. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AUTO THEFT

• A victim reported about 4:35 p.m. on Wednesday that sometime overnight her gray 2000 Honda Civic,was stolen from in front of her residence on the 500 block of Woodland Avenue in Centralia. It has a license plate reading BCS 5939, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Shane T. Bonagofski, 33 of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for taking a motor vehicle without owner’s permission after police were investigating a report of the theft of alcohol from a business on the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue yesterday morning. Some of the stolen alcohol was recovered, according to the Centralia Police Department.

OTHER THEFT

• Centralia police were called just after 7 p.m. yesterday regarding the theft of money from an ATM with a stolen debit card in a case associated with the 1000 block of North Gold Street. The investigation is ongoing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ASSAULT

• Centralia police called just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday to the 900 block of South Scheuber Road regarding two people assaulted at the health care facility are referring a case to prosecutors for third-degree assault regarding a 24-year-old Chehalis woman.

DRUGS

• A 35-year-old Centralia woman arrested on an outstanding warrant at the 900 block of Harrison Avenue about 4:45 a.m. today was also arrested for possession of heroin. Shyla M. Winterholler was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police called to a dispute about 2:10 a.m. today at the 100 block of Southwest Fifth Street ended up arresting two people for a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act after drug residue was found on paraphernalia. Booked into the Lewis County Jail were Kristen A. Novoa, 29, and Jason R. Snow, 25, both of Chehalis, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Snow was further arrested for possession of a controlled substance by a prisoner when a small bag of heroin was found when he was being booked into the jail, according to police.

VANDALISM

• An insurance business at the 400 block of West Main Street in Centralia on Tuesday reported damage to their payment lockbox occurring sometime overnight. It is unknown if any payments were stolen,  according to the Centralia Police Department.

• An individual reported about 10 a.m. on Tuesday that someone attempted to drill out the locks on his parked vehicle at the 1300 block of Lakeshore Drive in Centralia. They were unsuccessful and no entry was made however the door was damaged, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, obstructing a public servant; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, vehicle collision, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances, third-degree theft, suicidal person, unfounded report … and more among 346 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.