Posts Tagged ‘By Sharyn L. Decker’

News brief: This is a test

Wednesday, April 5th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Tacoma Power and the Lewis County Department of Emergency Management will conduct a coordinated test of their emergency notification systems at 11 a.m. today.

Tacoma Power’s emergency sirens at Ike Kinswa State Park, Mayfield Lake Park and the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery will sound and include an announcement of the test.

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Mossyrock Dam

The sirens and loudspeaker are part of a system that would be used to alert the public in the event of any imminent catastrophic-type failure of either of the two dams which could cause uncontrolled release of water downstream, such as an earthquake, according to Tacoma Power’s Jason Lellie, the emergency action plan coordinator at the utility’s power generation division.

Tacoma Power owns and operates Mossyrock Dam and Mayfield Dam on the Cowlitz River.

Both organizations conduct annual system tests, but this year marks the first time they have synchronized their efforts.

“Public safety is our number one priority,” Tacoma Power Chief Dam Safety Engineer Toby Brewer stated. “While we have a robust emergency action plan in place, the success of these systems in helping to keep people safe depends on all of us working together.”

Lewis County DEM will send two test messages using its new alert notification system. The first will alert users that the siren test is about to begin; the second will announce that the siren test is over.

The test should last approximately 90 seconds.

Lewis County’s notification system has replaced the former Code Red system. Users must register to receive the alerts and may choose to be notified by cell phone, landline, text message and/or email.

“We encourage Lewis County residents and visitors to register as soon as possible so they can receive future notifications,” said Lewis County DEM Coordinator Jim Rich.

People can register by:
• Visiting www.lewiscountywa.gov then clicking the “Lewis County Alert” icon at the bottom of the page.
• Calling (360) 740-1157 to speak with a member of the Lewis County DEM staff.

Prosecutors: Lack of consent leads to rape charge for Centralia man

Tuesday, April 4th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Bail was set at $25,000 for a 32-year-old Centralia man charged yesterday with third-degree rape in connection with an encounter with a 16-year-old girl late last month.

Stephen M. Douglas Jr. was arrested on Friday after he was questioned by detectives at his home.

The incident was reported to the Chehalis Police Department after the teen’s father took her to the hospital for an exam, following her disclosure what had happened, according to court documents.

The girl takes busses between Centralia and Chehalis for school and instead of going to school that day, she got off the bus with a guy she’d met prior, near a pot store where he made a purchase and then they took a walk up the road behind a gate, according to charging documents.

The 16-year-old said he put his coat on the ground and told her to  perform oral sex, then took off both their pants and had sex with her.

Under questioning, the girl said she may have said no, but didn’t remember. However, she described drawing her forearms together in front of her with her elbows out and also trying to close her legs during the incident, according to charging documents.

“…  (She) decided to close her eyes because she was afraid and didn’t want to look at him anymore,” Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Bohm wrote.

By her description, the Chehalis police detective concluded the bus stop was near The Vintage along North National Avenue in Chehalis.

The detective tracked down Douglas by finding surveillance photos from Wal-Mart. He reportedly went there to get the girl new pants and dry socks because hers had gotten muddy.

When asked why she decided to stay with him instead of going to school, the teenager said he seemed like a nice person and she trusted him, Bohm wrote.

On Friday when detectives interviewed Douglas, he said after work that morning he went to Wal-Mart to cash his check, bought little bottles of vodka to drink at the bus stop, walked to the pot shop to buy some product and then took a bus home, according to Bohm.

Third-degree rape is a class C felony, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Its elements include the victim not consenting to sexual intercourse, and where the lack of consent was clearly expressed by words or conduct.

Deputy Prosecutor Bohm yesterday afternoon asked Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler to hold Douglas on $25,000 bail. The judge agreed.

Douglas’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, April 4th, 2017
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•••

Updated at 6:36 p.m.

ZOOM, ZOOM, BOOM

• A 22-year-old motorist, with a defective headlight and an outstanding warrant, finally pulled over and gave up after a police pursuit that reached 115 mph in East Lewis County last night, according to authorities. The dark-colored sedan was first spotted just after 11 p.m. on state Route 7 by a trooper and then followed by a Morton police officer, according to court papers. The vehicle turned east onto U.S. Highway 12 at which time both officers activated their lights and sirens, prosecutors stated. At one point during an 11-mile span, the car reportedly crossed into the oncoming lane to pass a semi truck. Charging documents in the case indicate the driver pulled over east of Randle. Curtis L. Goree, from Lynnwood, was booked into the Lewis County Jail and charged today with attempting to elude. His passenger said she tried to get him to stop but he wouldn’t listen to her, Lewis County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher wrote in court documents. Goree’s bail was set at $15,000 this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

FUEL THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 10 a.m. yesterday to the 1400 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue on a report that a truck filled its gas tank and left without paying. The case is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 1:30 p.m. yesterday about an overnight vehicle prowl at the 3000 block of Galvin Road. Among the missing items were debit cards, clothing and work equipment, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Several items were stolen from a vehicle at the 1700 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia including a speaker and amplifier, according to a report made to police just after 10 a.m. yesterday.

DRUGS

• A 22-year-old Chehalis woman was arrested yesterday for possession of methamphetamine and heroin based on items found when law enforcement searched a trailer she said she’d been living in for about a week. Members of the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team and the state Department of Corrections had information unauthorized people had been staying on the owner’s property without permission, according to court papers. Jeran R. Applefield was booked into the Lewis County Jail and charged today in Lewis County Superior Court. Judge Andrew Toynbee inquired of the deputy prosecutor this afternoon if she had the police report, as the affidavit of probable cause filed made no mention of the location where the alleged offenses took place. She didn’t. Toynbee said for the purpose of today’s hearing, he would make a finding based on indirect evidence that it happened in Lewis County. Bail was set at $5,000.

SNAKES IN THE KITCHEN

• Morton police reported yesterday an officer was called to the 100 block of Division Avenue to a report of a snake found on a kitchen counter at about 11:45 a.m. last Wednesday. “They” were determined to be garter snakes, a neighbor got them out of the house and the officer resumed patrol, according to the Morton Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor domestic malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, hit and run, vehicle collision, suicidal person, suspicious circumstances; complaint about garbage and rats in an alley … and more among 183 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Tenino-area murder suspects captured in Cowlitz County

Tuesday, April 4th, 2017
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Deputies at the scene of homicide investigation off state Route 507 yesterday. / Courtesy photo by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 23-year-old man and his 18-year-old girlfriend are in custody in connection with the death of his mother, found yesterday at her Tenino-area home.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office began looking for Roan Littlemoon and Sabrina Young Anderson after an approximately 4 p.m. call yesterday alerting them to a potential homicide at a rural residence on the 2800 block of 184th Avenue Southeast.

Sheriff’s Lt. Tim Rudloff said detectives got a call about 9 o’clock this morning informing them the pair were just then detained in Longview. The couple’s car had been located about 2 a.m. in the parking lot of a tavern in downtown Longview, he said.

The sheriff’s office reported last night they had probable cause to arrest Littlemoon and Anderson for second-degree murder.

When deputies went to the home south of Tenino yesterday afternoon, they found the victim 60-year-old Robin L. Tingle inside her residence, according to Rudloff. Her son Littlemoon lived there with her, he stated.

The house sits on a multi-acre ranch or tree farm-type property, just off state Route 507, south of Tenino and north of Bucoda, according to the sheriff’s office.

Last night’s press release indicated the information the sheriff’s office got yesterday suggested the homicide occurred sometime before noon.

The sheriff’s office hasn’t yet offered any information about the nature of Tingle’s death. Rudloff said they’re not putting that out yet.

Detectives were headed down to Longview to pick up the two suspect and bring them back to Thurston County, he said.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, April 3rd, 2017
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•••

Updated at 7:41 p.m.

UNWELCOME VISITORS

• A 41-year-old Chehalis man was arrested after he allegedly went into a home uninvited, occupied by a woman who had a no-contact order against him on Friday morning. Police called just before 9 a.m. to the 300 block of Southwest Third Street found George S. Gonzalez hiding in a bedroom and he reportedly resisted arrest and reached for an officer’s weapon as he was being detained, according to the Chehalis Police Department. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for residential burglary, third-degree assault and other potential charges were referred to prosecutors, according to police.

• A 39-year-old Winlock man who allegedly banged on the back door of a neighbor’s house on Northwest Kerron Street, breaking a window, in the middle of the night prompting the resident and his teenage son to run out the front door and drive to a nearby police officer’s house was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail early Friday morning. Police were told Richard L. Oxford made a statement similar to, “I am going to kill you,” according to court documents.  Oxford was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with attempted residential burglary and felony harassment. Temporary defense attorney noted to the judge when discussing bail the victim was a good friend of Oxford’s and there was mention he was intoxicated. His bail was set at $10,000.

UNWELCOME CUSTOMER

• A 37-year-old Chehalis man was arrested for felony harassment after police were called to a drinking establishment on the 500 block of Northwest Pacific Avenue about 8:20 a.m. on Saturday and were told he had slapped one patron and threatened another, according to the Chehalis Police Department. When he was searched, the officer found he had a double-sided dagger type knife, according to police. Terry L. Bryan was  booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

POSSIBLE ASSAULT

• Chehalis police were called about 1 p.m. on Friday by a person who reported an incident involving the alleged assault of a child the week before. The case is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

• A 32-year-old Centralia man was booked into the Lewis County Jail on Friday morning for second-degree rape in connection with a case Chehalis police began investigating on March 24. Stephen M. Douglas Jr. is expected to be brought before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were called at about 6:30 a.m. today regarding a silver 2003 Volkswagen Jetta stolen as it was warming up at the 200 block of Latona Street.

• An 18-year-old stopped for allegedly traveling 95 mph in a 70 mph  zone yesterday was pulled over on Interstate 5 in south Lewis County and found to be driving a 2014 Toyota Camry which had been reported stolen. Said M. Salah reportedly admitted taking the vehicle without the owners permission and was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to court documents. The Oregon CIty resident was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with possession of a stolen vehicle.

• A stolen vehicle was recovered just after 1 p.m. Friday at the 700 block of G Street in Centralia.

FRAUD

• Chehalis police are investigating after an individual reported he used his credit card to place an order at a business on Saturday evening at the 100 block of North Market Boulevard and shortly afterward discovered several fraudulent charges were made, even though he still had his card, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The amount is about $1,300, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

OTHER THEFT

• Chehalis police were called at 8 a.m. on Saturday to the 1500 block of Northwest State Avenue where a set of tires and 20-inch chrome wheels installed the day before on a truck were missing. The vehicle was on jack stands and its license plate was missing as well, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The loss is $1,692.44, according to police.

• Centralia police took a report about 9:50 p.m. on Saturday of a wallet stolen from a locker at the 2000 block of Borst Avenue.

• Centralia police were called to the 800 block of Harrison Avenue about 8:40 p.m. on Friday to take a report of the theft of a debit card.

• Centralia police took a report just before 11 a.m. on Friday of multiple flower pots stolen from a residence on the 500 block of South Gold Street.

DRUGS

• A 30-year-old Yelm man was arrested for possession of heroin after a deputy responded to a report just before 10:20 a.m. on Saturday about a person possibly doing drugs in a parking lot at a store on the 100 block of Highway 603 outside Chehalis. The deputy contacted Kevin L. Pittman in the driver’s seat of a vehicle and observed a hypodermic needle between his legs and a baggie containing a brown substance in his hands, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Pittman was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• An 80-year-old Centralia woman was injured when the pickup truck in which she was a passenger was struck by a car making an improper U-turn on U.S. Highway 12 just west of Morton at about 11 a.m. on Saturday. Joy L. Ward was transported to Morton General Hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol. Both vehicles were drivable after the collision, according to the state patrol. The driver of the Hyundai Elantra, Jean M. Odegard, 59, of Morton, was cited for no insurance and improper U-turn, according to the state patrol.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, obstructing, misdemeanor assault, protection order violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, road rage, civil issue, disorderly person, hit and run, vehicle collision, third-degree theft, suicidal person, suspicious circumstances … and more among 381 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: DUI suspected in two-vehicle U.S. Highway 12 wreck

Sunday, April 2nd, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Five people were injured when a car crossed crossed the centerline on U.S. Highway 12 in Grand Mound and hit an oncoming truck last night.

Troopers called just after 9:40 p.m. to the scene near Elderberry Street Southwest report a Mitsubishi Mirage was traveling eastbound when it collided with a Toyota Tacoma, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The Mirage was driven by 41-year-old Jeremy L. Brown, of Cathlamet, who was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle as was one of his three passengers, 47-year-old Tori C. Clark of Enumclaw, according to the state patrol.

Both vehicles were totaled and impounded, the investigating trooper reports.

The driver of the 2006 Toyota Tacoma, Todd R. Phelps, 51, of Rochester, was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital.

The Mirage’s other passengers were reportedly also transported to local hospitals: Teresa L. Meyer, 45, of Vancouver, to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia and Daniel I. Garr, 28, Cathlamet, to Providence Centralia Hospital.

The state patrol indicates it suspects drugs or alcohol were involved and charges are pending.

News brief: Onalaska resident named as victim in Thursday crash

Saturday, April 1st, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The driver who died in a rollover wreck along state Route 508 on Thursday night has been identified by the state patrol as Michael L. Wells, 53, of Onalaska.

Wells died at the scene of the approximately 9 p.m. incident near Tauscher Road, about three miles east of Interstate 5.

The Washington State Patrol said the pickup truck was eastbound when the driver lost control, the vehicle rolled and came to rest in a pasture.

The passenger, 45-year-old Stephanie R. Richards, of Onalaska, was injured and transported to Providence Centralia Hospital.
•••

For background, read “News brief: Rollover crash claims life on SR 508” from Friday March 31, 2017, here