Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 9th, 2017
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ATTEMPTED ROBBERY

• Centralia police were called just after 5 o’clock this morning to the 1000 block of Belmont Avenue where they were told a man in his late 20s to early 30s walked into the store and demanded money. The clerk refused and the subject fled, according to the Centralia Police Department. The suspect is a white male with a tattoo of a cross on his face, according to police. No arrest had been made as of this morning.

BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 3:10 p.m. yesterday and told jewelry had been stolen from a house damaged by fire at the 400 block of South Oak Street.

MOM TRACKS STOLEN PHONE

• Chehalis police were called just after 4 p.m. yesterday by a parent who had used GPS to track down a child’s stolen iPhone 6 near the 500 block of Cascade Avenue. An arriving officer contacted a 14-year-old girl and retrieved the phone, according to the Chehalis Police Department. A case for theft will be forwarded to juvenile prosecutors, a department spokesperson said.

ATTEMPTED FRAUD

• Centralia police were called at 2:24 p.m. yesterday to the 500 block of Harrison Avenue where an unidentified male had allegedly attempted to cash a stolen check.

AUTO THEFT

• A stolen vehicle was located in a motel parking lot at the 700 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia about 1 p.m. yesterday. A second stolen vehicle was found there about an hour later, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called to the 1500 block of North National Avenue about 8:15 a.m. yesterday following the discovery someone had prowled a work truck during the night, stealing a generator and a gas can. It was a Smarter Tolls AP2000, valued at $1,000, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Police were called just before 5 p.m. yesterday to the 300 block of West Pear Street to take a report of overnight prowls of two vehicles. Missing are speakers, an amplifier and LED off-road lights,  according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police responded to a call yesterday to take a report of a vehicle prowl that had occurred more than a week earlier at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue. A Kindle and tablet were stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, third-degree malicious mischief, driving with suspended license, protection order violation; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, civil issue, vandalism, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 125 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Rain, snowmelt: Minor flooding expected

February 9th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The National Weather Service this morning issued a flood warning for the Newaukum River near Chehalis, expecting it will overflow its banks today.

Minor flooding is forecast, which will inundate many roads as well as residential and commercial areas along the river and its forks, according to the weather service.

Later this morning flood warnings were issued for the Skookumchuck River near Bucoda and the Chehalis River around Doty and Grand Mound.

Heavy rain last night and today, with a little boost from melting
lowland snow, will drive the several rivers in southwest Washington
over flood stage today, according to the weather service.

A flood watch remains in effect for other areas of Lewis and surrounding counties with a weather system moving through the region and snow levels dropping.

“Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop,” the weather service states.

Today’s  rain will lead to an increase in threat of landslides in Western Washington.

A winter storm warning and avalanche warning are in effect in East Lewis County, with freezing rain expected. U.S. Highway 12 is closed in both directions around White Pas, because of multiple snow slides, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The public can monitor the changing conditions for their area by checking the the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. Information on current and forecasted river levels can be found here.

Former social services manager gets three years in prison for theft of money

February 8th, 2017
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April K. Kelley says her goodbyes while a corrections officer waits to escort her down to the Lewis County Jail.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The 35-year-old married mother of two and former county employee was dressed in black as she tearfully received hugs from arriving supporters in the hall outside the courtroom.

She knew prosecutors would be asking the judge to sentence her to 10 years in prison for stealing tens of thousands of dollars from an association in which she served as treasurer.

April K. Kelley knew her attorney would request a special sentence available for first time offenders, which could amount to 90 days in jail.

Seven rows of benches behind her were filled, when Kelley sat before Judge Andrew Toynbee this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

“I’m not proud of what I did by any means, but I’m proud of how I handled it,” Kelly said as she stood reading from a piece of paper. “What I did was a terrible thing; I wake up every morning shocked that it happened.”

Kelley worked at the Lewis County Department of Public Health & Social Services, and in that capacity, served as treasurer for the Association of County Human Services. When a new treasurer took over last year, the books were reviewed and money was missing. She was arrested in September after an investigation conducted by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

She pleaded guilty last month to  eight counts of first-degree theft, committed over a less than four-year period ending in the spring of 2014.

The standard sentencing range for her crimes was 22 to 29 months.

Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer addressed the court, saying there are times when that would be appropriate, but this was not one of those times.

“The defendant admitted she violated a position of trust,” Meyer said.

ACHS is a non-profit group with members who provide or administer programs related to chemical dependency, mental health and developmental disabilities. Kelley was  social services manager for Lewis County.

Meyer estimates Kelley stole about $143,000.

“Something that sets Ms. Kelley apart, is she stole from every taxpayer in the state of Washington,” he said. “She spent it on lavish things that she was not willing to work for.”

Meyer noted over $1,000 in tickets to events, and shopping in Las Vegas, Canada and California.

She stole 90 percent of ACHS’s revenue during one year and about 75 percent of it in another year, he said.

The prosecutor suggested the judge should not give much weight to a letter in her court file that says she is bipolar, nor should he offer leniency because of an impact on her children.

Meyer raised the issue of a letter of support from Lewis County Commissioner Bobby Jackson, which he called inappropriate.

“It shows the manipulative nature of the defendant,” he said.

Defense attorney Shane O’Rourke acknowledged to the court it was a lot of money and there was no good or acceptable explanation for his client’s conduct.

“I think we’re in a difficult position, me and Ms. Kelley,” he said. “Not from a sympathetic perspective.”

O’Rourke pointed out there was no loss of life, no violence.

“Ultimately, we’re considering a property crime,” he said.

O’Rourke and Meyer had both submitted written briefs ahead of time, and he spoke to some of the comparisons to other cases involving large thefts of money in recent years.

His client is saying she’s sorry because she is sorry, he said. And she voluntarily paid $10,000 back the day before, which is as much as she possibly could, he said.

O’Rourke requested she be given 90 days in jail, which would be a punishment for someone who has never been to jail, he said.

Toynbee considered aloud the various aspects he would or would not consider, noting her sentence could be as little as zero days or as long as 80 years. He noted she has no criminal background.

The judge acknowledged the defendant has incredible community support, but that individuals don’t get a break because they are a good person.

“People are sentenced based on their actions, not their value in the communities eyes,” he said.

Toynbee concluded by telling Kelley he was sentencing her to 36 months with the Department of Corrections.

The parties agreed to return to court at 1 p.m. tomorrow, to fill out and file the written judgement and sentence. Kelley was to be taken down to the jail at the end of the hearing.

The judge left the bench and eventually a corrections officer arrived to retrieve her. For more than 10 minutes, Kelley accepted hugs from her supporters who lined up in the aisle.

Kelley was escorted, unhand-cuffed, by a corrections officer out of the room just before 2 p.m.

Lewis County Commissioner Jackson outside the courtroom declined to comment on his Dec. 28 letter submitted in support of the now-former county employee, in which he asked for leniency.
•••

For background, read “Ex-government employee admits stealing thousands from account she managed” from Friday January 20, 2017, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 8th, 2017
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•••

BIKE THEFT

• A black with green stripes Mongoose mountain bike was stolen between 11 p.m. on Monday and 6 p.m. yesterday from the 800 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 12:40 p.m. yesterday regarding a bicycle stolen from the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue. The victims friend recovered the bike later in the day and may have gotten a photo of the person riding it, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CUSTODIAL ASSAULT

• A Chehalis police officer was called to Green Hill School just after 10 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a student-inmate assaulting a staff member. The police department is awaiting statements in order to proceed, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, probation violation, driving under the influence, misdemeanor domestic assault; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 121 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Centralia house fire sends family to hospital

February 8th, 2017
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South Oak Street, Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Daniel Hansen

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A family of five was hospitalized after a house fire in a Centralia neighborhood overnight that almost completely destroyed the residence.

Firefighters called to the 400 block of South Oak Street about 12:45 a.m. found the home heavily involved in flames and threatening two adjacent homes, according to authorities.

“Crews deployed hose lines for suppression of the affected residence and protection of the adjacent properties,” Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Scott Weinert stated.

The residence to the north was also occupied by a family of five, but both families got out prior to the arrival of firefighters, according to Weinert.

The five occupants from the primary house affected were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, and then three of them transferred to a Seattle Hospital, according to Weinert. Airlifted were a man, a woman and a 17-year-old boy. The remaining two are children believed to be younger than 10, he indicated.

Weinert did not indicate what type of injuries they sustained.

Riverside Fire Authority was joined by members of the Chehalis Fire Department. The cause is under investigation.

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South Oak Street, Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 7th, 2017
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•••

THEFT, THEFT

• Centralia police were called to the 100 block of Woodland Avenue about 2:15 p.m. yesterday regarding the theft of a fire extinguisher.

• Police were called about 10:35 a.m. yesterday about the theft of a money from a retail business on the 500 block of South Tower Avenue.

BAD BILL

• Chehalis police were called to the 2100 block of North National Avenue where one of the $100 bills a customer used to pay a bill would not pass the counterfeit machine, according to the Chehalis Police Department. It was given back to the individual who used a different $100 bill, according to police.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police were called just before 6 o’clock this morning to the 300 block of South Gold Street where a vehicle collided with a power pole.

• A Winlock driver and her passenger were reportedly unhurt when they ran into a garbage truck and were subsequently hit by another vehicle on U.S. Highway 12 in Montesano yesterday. Troopers called just before 3 p.m. found a Kia Sportage had lost control and collided with the jersey barrier on the Devonshire Road overpass, according to the Washington State Patrol. The garbage truck saw the wreck and moved to block the lane, but Ruby A. Schlett, 38 of Winlock, could not stop in time and hit the garbage truck, according to the state patrol. Schlett’s Isuzu Rodeo was hit by a Lincoln four-door and was totaled and then impounded, the state patrol reports. Two other people involved were injured and transported to Community Hospital, according to the investigating trooper. The roadway was blocked for approximately an hour.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, shoplifting, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 159 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

February 6th, 2017
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•••

Updated at 5:47 p.m.

BROOM SWIPED IN BREAK-IN

• Centralia police were called about 3:15 a.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of South Pearl Street where an individual reported someone had broken into their residence sometime within the previous several hours. The only items initially determined to be missing were food and a broom, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BOATING EQUIPMENT MOVED

• A deputy was called to the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds on Saturday after a maintenance person there found  a wheel barrow filled with items stolen from a dairy barn area. The property included an outboard motor,  three boat batteries and two boat gas cans, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A gate, padlock and chain were damaged, according to the sheriff’s office.

WINLOCK BURGLARY

• A deputy was called on Saturday afternoon to a residence at the 100 block of Limmer Road in Winlock following the discovery of the theft of a Samsung surround sound system valued at $400. The victim indicated that sometime since Nov. 13, someone had gotten inside, possibly through an open bedroom window, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

AUTO THEFT

• Police were called about 10:30 p.m. on Saturday to the 800 block of Southwest 19th Street in Chehalis where a black 1997 Honda Civic went missing.

• A vehicle stolen out of Seattle was recovered about 3:30 a.m. on Saturday at the 500 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia.

CUSTOMER SPENDS PLAY MONEY

• Police were called to the 1000 block of Belmont Avenue in Centralia about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday where a victim business reported receiving a counterfeit $100 dollar bill from a customer.  The bill was marked “Motion Picture Money,” according to the Centralia Police Department.

ASSAULT INVESTIGATION

• Chehalis police were called to Green Hill School on Friday morning regarding an alleged assault by a student-inmate upon staff. There was no indication the employee was injured, but an investigation is underway, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

UNHAPPY ARRESTEE

• A 49-year-old Arlington resident allegedly damaged a patrol vehicle after being arrested for a warrant at the 900 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia about 3:30 a.m. on Saturday. Ronnie L. Lawrence reportedly caused the  back door to buckle outward, according to the Centralia Police Department. Lawrence  was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree malicious mischief, according to police.

VANDALISM

•  Several windows were broken out at a local business on the 200 block of East Maple Street in Centralia, according to a report taken about 5 a.m. on Saturday.

DRUGS

• Chehalis police were called about 3:15 p.m. on Friday to an apartment complex at the 1100 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue where some teenagers had gone into a laundry room, locked the door and were smoking what may have been marijuana. A smoking device that was confiscated is going to be tested, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia Police are investigating a two vehicle, injury, hit and run collision from just prior to12:45 p.m. yesterday at South Gold and Main streets. The driver of the suspect vehicle fled on foot after the vehicle was disabled, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police took a report about 2:30 a.m. yesterday of a hit and run accident at the 500 block of South Pearl Street. The victim described the fleeing passenger car as a green, 1990’s BMW, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing, third-degree theft, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence, minor in possession/consumption of alcohol; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, harassment, shoplifting, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 432 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.