Posts Tagged ‘news reporter’

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Sunday, September 25th, 2016
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•••

AUTO THEFT

• A 29-year-old Centralia man was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with a case associated with a location at North Tower Avenue and Susan Street on Friday night, according to the Centralia Police Department. David J. Eslick was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Someone broke into a vehicle parked on the 500 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia and stole a Galaxy Note tablet computer, according to a report made to police just after 3 p.m. on Friday.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called to the 100 block of South Tower Avenue about 10:40 p.m. yesterday where tires had been slashed on a parked vehicle.

AIRPLANE DOESN’T CRASH

• Chehalis firefighters stood by at the airport after being notified a small plane was going to make an emergency landing on Friday. Chehalis Fire Department Capt. Casey Beck said he got a phone call from Seattle air traffic control, asking for their assistance. “They said, ‘hey, we’ve got a plane having difficulty with their alternator, they think it will be fine, but they’re going to land in Chehalis’,” Beck said. He notified dispatch at about 11:30 a.m. the crew was heading to the Chehalis-Centralia Airport, he said. “Probably about 15 minutes later, it came down and landed without problems,” he said.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, protection order violation, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more among 280 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Lewis County ends summertime outdoor burning restrictions

Saturday, September 24th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Board of Commissioners announced yesterday they would end their restrictions on outdoor burning as of 12:01 a.m. today.

A prohibition on outdoor burning was put in place in unincorporated areas of Lewis County on Aug. 2 when weather conditions created substantial fire danger. Even recreational campfires were prohibited for a period but were allowed again beginning Labor Day weekend.

Now, the board and the county fire marshal say conditions have improved.

Outdoor burning is restricted to natural vegetation from the burn site and is subject to an open burning application and permit.

Burning garbage, paper or other refuse is never allowable.

To obtain an Open Burning Application and Permit, apply on-line at http://lewiscountywa.gov/communitydevelopment/burn-permit-2 or in person at the Lewis County Fire Marshal’s office.

For further information, contact Doyle Sanford, Building Official/Fire Marshal, at 360-740-1146.  The fire marshal’s office is in the Lewis County Public Services building, located at 2025 NE Kresky Avenue, Chehalis.

Logging accident claims life of Centralia man

Friday, September 23rd, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office reported today that a 50-year-old man from Centralia was killed in an accident at a logging site yesterday.

William J. Leonard was deceased at the scene, inside the cab of a piece of heavy equipment that tumbled several hundred yards down a steep embankment of the Fossil Creek area of Pacific County, according to the sheriff’s office.

Chief Deputy Pat Matlock wrote in a news release this afternoon that they were called about the incident about 12:25 p.m. yesterday.

It happened about 16 miles from the paved roadway, on Rayonier Forestry land, according to Matlock.

“Witness statements and evidence observed at the scene indicate that the victim was ‘shovel logging’ a steep side hill,” Matlock wrote. “It appeared that the shovel had been moving decks of trees up the hill when it tipped over and rolled to the bottom.”

Leonard was working for EDB Logging, according to sheriff’s office.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, September 23rd, 2016
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•••

Updated at 6:47 p.m.

INMATE ASSAULTED, GETS STITCHES

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning an inmate assaulted his cell mate, causing serious lacerations to his forehead and cheek on Wednesday afternoon. A deputy responding about 9 p.m. to the Lewis County Jail learned the incident was over an unpaid debt, according to the sheriff’s office. The victim is a 48-year-old man and the arrestee is 27-year-old Robert E. Chandler, of Centralia, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. Chandler is being held on a second-degree assault case out of Centralia and was re-booked for an additional second-degree assault. Breen did not say what object might have been used to cause the cuts. When Chandler was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court, prosecutors wrote that the victim got eight stitches for his wounds. The argument was over a deal in which Chandler reportedly purchased the victim a deck of playing cards in exchange for portions of his meals, according to prosecutors. The victim recalled being pushed back into his cell and the door slamming shut and the next thing he recalled, he said, was waking up in the nurse’s office with a bandage on his forehead, Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello wrote. Chandler said it was self defense, and his cell mate fell backwards hitting his head on the bed frame, according to Masiello. His bail was set at $20,000.

EMPLOYEE ASSAULTED BY INMATE

• Police were called to Green Hill School yesterday to take a report of a 17-year-old student-inmate who allegedly threw punches at a staff member. The case is being referred to juvenile prosecutors for charging, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

SMASH AND GRAB SPREE

• Centralia police were called about 6:35 p.m. yesterday to the 500 block of Pioneer Way where five different vehicles were broken into during a sporting event. Windows were smashed and purses stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department. In Chehalis, an officer was called to Stan Hedwall Park on Rice Road just before 7 p.m. where four people were similarly victimized, according to police.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Chehalis police were called yesterday by an individual who said that sometime between 11 a.m. and 12:25 p.m., someone stole a tool box from the back of their pickup truck while it was parked at the 1700 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

OTHER THEFT

• Centralia police were called to the 100 block of West Fifth Street about 9:10 a.m. yesterday to take a report of the theft of a leaf blower.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called about 3 p.m. yesterday to a business at the 1600 block of North National Avenue, recently burglarized, to take a report that windows had been broken and someone came inside and caused property damage.

FRAUD

• Chehalis police were contacted by a resident yesterday morning who suspected their credit information was being used by someone else, leading to an address in Chehalis where packages had been delivered. The second person told police they were working as a quality control person for a business called Pure Delivery, which turned out to be a fraudulent business, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Police attempted to contact the company, with no success, according to according to a department spokesperson.

DRUGS

• A 32-year-old woman pulled over about 12:45 a.m. today at the 3100 block of Ives Road in Centralia because of an outstanding warrant was additionally arrested for possession of methamphetamine after some was found in one of her undergarments at the Lewis County Jail. Melissa A. McAllister, from Centralia, also had switchblade in her purse, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. McAllister was booked also for possession of a dangerous weapon, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, trespassing, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances … and more among 166 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Phone fraud involving sheriff’s office

Thursday, September 22nd, 2016

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Someone is impersonating a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office employee, making phone calls and trying to scam people out of money.

Chief Deputy Dusty Breen says several individuals have advised the sheriff’s office they’ve been contacted by a person purporting to be with the warrants division.

They’ve been told the call is about missing federal jury duty and the only way to avoid arrest is to come to the sheriff’s office after completing an initial procedure, according to Breen.

The “initial procedure” involves obtaining a “Green Dot” pre-paid card and providing the caller with security information so the caller can get the funds, according to Breen.

The sheriff’s office is actively investigating the source of the calls as originating from an Internet based application, according to Breen.

“We are asking the public to remain vigilant to the ever increasing amount of scams via telephone and internet,” Breen states in a news release. “If you are contacted by someone from a government agency and believe it seems suspicious, it is recommended you find independent contact information for the agency and contact them directly.”

The sheriff’s office also recommends the public not share any personal identifying information with anyone if they are not certain of their identity.

Former Chehalis Chief Hamilton dies in Mexico

Thursday, September 22nd, 2016

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Former Chehalis Chief of Police and Fire Services Randy C. Hamilton passed away on Saturday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, at age 65.

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Randy C. Hamilton
1951 – 2016

Hamilton retired from the city of Chehalis in March 2002, and went on to work for the U.S. Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center traveling the country and teaching, according to his daughter.

“He taught a lot of classes, all over the U.S. really, and even Guam,” Kalessa Markham said.

The Chehalis native moved to the Tacoma area about 10 years ago and worked as a handyman and then, as general manager of a bar in Tacoma called The Mix, Markham said.

He retired for good in August and decided he would move to a place he enjoyed visiting so much, she said.

Markham said her father’s death was unexpected, but he died peacefully with family members around him.

“I’m realizing what an impact he had, not just in our community, but everywhere,” she said. “It’s so nice to know he’s missed by so many people.”

Hamilton began his law enforcement career as a Lewis County sheriff’s deputy, spending his last five years as the undersheriff. He ran for sheriff, and lost. Then in 1987 was hired by the city of Chehalis.

Hamilton leaves behind three children, three grandchildren and other family.

A public viewing at Brown Mortuary in Chehalis is scheduled for tomorrow between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. A family graveside service will be held on Saturday.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Chehalis Middle School Commons. Everyone is welcome, his daughter said.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, September 22nd, 2016
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NIGHTTIME INTRUDER STEALS TP

• Deputies responded about 11 a.m. yesterday to the 200 block of Jones Road in Winlock where a 39-year-old man reported someone got into his basement while he was sleeping and stole medications, toilet paper and motor oil. A Foosball table surface was damaged as well, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It happened sometime between 7 p.m. on Tuesday and 7 a.m. yesterday, according to the sheriff’s office.

BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called to the 800 block of Marion Street about 3:15 p.m. yesterday to investigate a burglary to a shop. Tools were taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AUTO THEFT

• A deputy was called yesterday afternoon to property behind a gate off of the 400 block of Teitzel Road outside Centralia where a car was found that appeared to be partly “parted out,” according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A cutting torch was located and the 1992 Honda Accord had been stolen in Centralia, according to the sheriff’s office.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called about 3:30 p.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 2000 block of Haviland Street in Centralia. A cell phone was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 31-year-old Centralia man picked up on outstanding warrants about 6:45 p.m. yesterday at the 1400 block of West Main Street in Centralia was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine as a sandwich baggie containing several bindles of suspected meth were located inside a backpack, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Steven D. Harko Couch was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Chief Deputy Dusty Breen.

TRUCK FIRE

• Firefighters were called abut 12:20 a.m. today to a fire in a semi truck on Interstate 5 southbound near milepost 65. The truck was destroyed and the 53-foot trailer transporting bottled water sustained minor damage, according to Lewis County Fire District 15. The driver said she’d seen smoke coming from the sleeping area of the cab, but the cause is undetermined, Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Anderson said. A crew was on scene for approximately an hour total for extinguishment and overhaul, according to Anderson.

HOUSE FIRE CAUSE STILL UNKNOWN

• Fire Investigator Ted McCarty said this morning the cause of the house fire at South Market Boulevard and 11th Street last Thursday morning remains under investigation, by the police and fire department. A man, a woman and a toddler were helped to safety out of a second-floor dormer window before the fire department arrived after the approximately 5 a.m. call.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police were involved with a short vehicle pursuit of a gray pickup truck at about 2:10 p.m. yesterday in the area of Mellen Street and Interstate 5. The officer attempted a traffic stop because of an equipment violation, but the driver headed south on the freeway and the officer terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, request that a pair of homeless males with all their “stuff” on a bench outside a church be asked to move along … and more among 155 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.