Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

September 13th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 3:33 p.m.

THEFT, THEFT, THEFT

• Two people were arrested yesterday afternoon after a victim of a vehicle prowl saw Michael E. Caton 32, of Winlock, walking in Centralia with his backpack and called police. Caton was contacted by an officer and implicated 39-year-old Kyle W Elliot, according to the Centralia Police Department. Police contacted Elliott in his pickup truck and allegedly found him to be in possession of property from other thefts and burglaries, according to police. The case associated with a location of Tower Avenue and Walnut Street is still under investigation. Caton and Elliott were both booked into the Lewis County Jail. Caton was released today with no criminal charges filed.

• A deputy was called yesterday to the 1900 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia about a break-in to a storage building. A door had been left unsecured and among the approximately $950 worth of items missing was a 55-inch JVC television, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The burglary occurred sometime between 4 p.m. on Thursday and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A deputy was called yesterday about a burglary at the 700 block of Lincoln Creek Road west of Centralia in which forced entry was made and numerous items stolen including two large bags with duck decoys, a fishing pole, miscellaneous tools and a portable duck blind, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It appears based on surveillance the break-in occurred about 4:20 a.m., according to the sheriff’s office.

• Police were called to the 200 block of Railroad Avenue in Centralia about 1:10 p.m. yesterday to take a report of the theft of medication.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were contacted about 2:35 p.m. yesterday after an individual attempted to withdraw $8,000 from someone else’s account, in a case associated with the 100 block of South Pearl Street.

‘REDNECK UBER’

• Police were called about 1:15 p.m. yesterday by an individual at the 900 block of K Street in Centralia who reported an abandoned red Honda car parked in front of the residence. It turned out to have been stolen in Tumwater, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 1993 Honda Civic reported stolen during the night from the 200 block of East Oakview Avenue in Centralia turned up abandoned in a field along the 1300 block of Winterwood Drive in Centralia just before 2 p.m. yesterday. It was all in one piece and the owner was given a ride by an officer to pick it up and take it home, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Morton police are still investigating a case involving a vehicle stolen from the 200 block of Mossyrock Road West, which was reported about 8:45 p.m. on Friday, according to the Morton Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 3:40 p.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 800 block of North Pearl Street. Missing were backpacks and fishing gear, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• An officer was called about 10:40 a.m. yesterday to the 70 block of Southwest Saunders Way in Chehalis for a vehicle prowl. Someone rifled through a glove box and stole prescription medication, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 10:10 a.m. yesterday by an individual at the 50 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue who said sometime during the night, someone got into their pickup truck again.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called about 8:30 a.m. yesterday following the discovery someone had kicked in a door at Stan Hedwall Park on Rice Road. Nothing appeared to be missing from what was described by police as a batting cage.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, trespassing, probation violation, fourth-degree assault, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute civil issue, hit and run, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, disorderly person, misdemeanor domestic assault, collision on city street … and more among 180 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Winlock resident charged in skull-faced mask robbery

September 12th, 2016
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Surveillance images from the Handi Store showed boots that looked familiar to business’s owner. / Courtesy image

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 45-year-old local man has been arrested and charged in last week’s holdup of the Handi store in Winlock.

When Tamrick A. Torres was brought before a judge this afternoon for a bail hearing, temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke told the judge her client has lived for eight years at the same address in Winlock.

Torres has his own business, a cat rescue, O’Rourke said. But it doesn’t bring in any income, she said indicating he would qualify for a court appointed lawyer.

“Robbery second is a violent offense,” Chief Deputy Criminal Prosecutor Brad Meagher said. “We’re asking the court to impose a $25,000 bond.”

Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler agreed.

Police responded to the report of robbery at about 10:30 p.m. last Tuesday, and learned from the clerk who was working alone the individual was wearing a black and white mask, like of a skull, and displayed a handgun. The clerk said he demanded she give him all her money and reached toward his waistband where she saw what looked like the black handle of a firearm, Meager wrote in charging documents.

The owner reported $1,589 in cash was missing, according to Maeagher.

The court documents show it was his footwear and yellow sport utility vehicle that led the Toledo Police Department to Torres.

After viewing surveillance footage, the store’s owner told an officer he thought the suspect was a person he’s seen driving a yellow sport utility vehicle and wears boots like those on the video, according to the court documents. Amarjit Rai said the way the suspect walked looked familiar too.

Toledo Police Officer Andrew Scrivner observed video that showed the yellow vehicle pass the convenience store on Kerron Avenue shortly before and after the robbery, and knew of just one person in town who drove such a vehicle, Meagher wrote.

On Friday when police conducted a search of Torres’s residence, they found boots that looked similar and also a dark jacket with the same type of white stitching worn by the person in the video, according to Meagher.

Torres reportedly told police he and the clerk had conspired to rob the store because she was unhappy with her wages there, according to Meagher.

When interviewed by police, the clerk said she had nothing to with planning the robbery, but the investigation is ongoing, according to court documents.

Torres was charged today with both second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary, which each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Centralia attorney Shane O’Rourke was appointed to represent him. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.

•••

For background, read “Robber with black and white Scream-type mask hits Winlock store” from Wednesday September 7, 2016, here

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Tamrick A. Torres is brought before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

September 12th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 12:08 p.m.

BOLD INTRUDER TAKES TOOLS

• A 52-year-old man reported yesterday that while he was using a weed eater around the outside of his shop building yesterday between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., at the 100 block of Kjesbu Road outside Silver Creek, someone went inside and stole a Stihl chainsaw and a cutting torch, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

BREAK-IN TO OUTBUILDING

• A deputy was called on Saturday morning to the 800 block of Ceres Hill Road west of Chehalis following the discovery someone had kicked open a pump house door and stole a Stihl chainsaw and a Honda BEU2000 generator. It happened sometime before 6:30 a.m. and after 5 p.m. the day before, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is estimated at $2,300.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY

• Chehalis police were called to the 200 block of Southwest 10th Street about 8:50 a.m. on Saturday following the discovery someone had pried the door lock on a shed during the night, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VEHICLE THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 5:40 a.m. today about a green 1996 Honda civic stolen from the 100 block of Halliday Road.

• A red Nissan Pathfinder that vanished from where it was parked in front of a residence at the 500 block of Northwest St. Helens Avenue in Chehalis between 7:20 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. yesterday turned up just before 11 o’clock this morning abandoned at the 1500 block of Rice Road in Chehalis, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• An officer was called just before 6 p.m. on Saturday and told a red 2004 Kia Rio four-door, passenger car was stolen from the parking lot of a business on the 2500 block of Haviland Street in Centralia. It has a license plate reading AWD 1635, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning that someone stole a 25-foot long, yellow three-axeled flatbed trailer from the 300 block of Centralia-Alpha Road sometime between Thursday and Friday. The victim reported it belonged to his deceased brother and had been advertised for sale, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is estimated at $3,500, according to the sheriff’s office.

VEHICLE PROWL

• A Chehalis officer was called about 2:20 p.m. on Saturday regarding a vehicle prowl at a motel on the 500 block of Southwest Parkland Drive in which more than $5,000 worth of valuables were stolen during the night. A backpack was taken that contained numerous hearing aids along with a black Apple iPad II with keyboard, other electronics and a pilots license, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 11:30 a.m. on Saturday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 1000 block of F Street. A stereo was taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

LICENSE PLATES LIFTED

• Centralia police were called to the 900 block of South Scheuber Road about 10:45 p.m. on Saturday to take a report that sometime during the day both the front and rear license plates were stolen off a vehicle there. They are Washington plates reading ATL 2381, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FRAUD

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning they learned from a 59-year-old Rochester area man that sometime since July, someone stole his checks and spent about $600 at Home Depot in Chehalis.

• An officer responded to an approximately 6:20 a.m. call today to the 600 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia where someone has passed a counterfeit $5 bill at the business.

• Police were called to the 1300 block of Lum Road at about 7:45 p.m. on Saturday after a woman attempted to purchase merchandise with what turned out to be two counterfeit $20 bills. She said she acquired the bills during a garage sale at her home in Tumwater, according to the Centralia Police Department.

GREEN HILL ASSAULT

• Chehalis police were called to Green Hill School about 1:35 p.m. on Saturday to take a report of an incident in which a 17-year-old student-inmate allegedly punched a staff member after he was “escorted to the ground.” A case for custodial assault is being referred to prosecutors, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

PEEING OUTDOORS

• A 32-year-old Centralia man was arrested after allegedly exposing himself to two females when he urinated on a tree in the park at the 100 block of South Silver Street yesterday evening. Matthew E. Eastman was booked into the Lewis County Jail for indecent exposure, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BRUSH FIRE

• Riverside Fire Authority reported yesterday evening they were assisted by the Chehalis Fire Department and personnel from the state Department of Natural Resources in extinguishing a one-acre fire at the 500 block of Proffit Road in Centralia. They tweeted it was an illegal burn.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, trespassing, probation violation, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence, falsification of insurance card; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, third-degree theft, collision on city street … and more among 277 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Prisoner accused of forging Lewis County Prosecutor Meyer’s name

September 10th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A former Lewis County man doing 12 years in prison for dealing Oxycodone is now in trouble with the law here again, even though he’s been locked up since mid-2014.

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Forrest E. Amos

Forrest E. Amos tried to file documents related to his 2013 case which authorities say he forged with the names of elected Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead, and police officers Chad Withrow and Adam Haggerty.

The new case is being handled by Pacific County Prosecutor Mark McClain.

McClain indicates the Lewis County Clerk’s Office received a letter from Amos in which he stated the clerk was required to take action, along with  four documents entitled “Forced commercial contract” which were purporting to be notice of subrogation bond and claim for $1 million.

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Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer

The documents appeared to be signed by Meyer, Halstead, Withrow and Haggerty, according to McClain.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office investigated and confirmed Amos signed the documents but Amos contended he merely put the names of others there to reflect who he was bringing the suit against, according to McClain.

Amos, now 33, is incarcerated at Clallam Bay Corrections Center on the Olympic Peninsula.

He was brought before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court last week and pleaded not guilty to four charges of forgery and four charges of first-degree criminal impersonation. A trial has been scheduled for the week of Nov. 28.

Asked what “forced commercial contract” and “notice of subrogation bond” meant, McClain said:

“I have absolutely no idea what he thinks that means,” he said. “Every elected official has a bond they are required to post; I suppose he thinks he can go after them.”
•••

For background, read, “News brief: Local oxycodone dealer goes back to prison” Thursday Aug. 21, 2014, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

September 10th, 2016
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•••

ROBBERY OUTSIDE TAVERN

• Centralia police this morning said they are still trying to locate a male who allegedly ripped the purse off the shoulder of a female acquaintance outside a bar on the 1500 block of South Gold Street around 1:25 a.m. today. The two had been engaged in an argument, according to the Centralia Police Department.

POLICE PURSUIT

• A 26-year-old Federal Way resident was arrested yesterday for attempting to elude following a chase that began on Kresky Avenue, wound through a residential area and ended at the transfer station on the 1400 block of South Gold Street in Centralia. An officer attempted to contact a driver who took off around 5:30 p.m. and at the end of the pursuit got out and started running, according to the Centralia Police Department. The suspect had an outstanding felony warrant, according to police. Centralia’s police dog Lobo detained Tristan Martinez, who was booked into the Lewis County Jail, Officer John Panco said.

THEFT

• Police were called about 2:50 p.m. yesterday to the 1300 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia following a report individuals attempted to cash a forged check. No arrests were made,  according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called just before 11 a.m. yesterday abut a vehicle prowl at the 800 block of K Street in Centralia in which the items stolen included a GoPro camera, a vehicle chip programmer and the title. Even the license plate was taken, according to the Centralia Police Department. It reads C72591E, according to police.

HIT AND RUN

• Police called about 1:35 a.m. today about a hit and run, non-injury collision at the 100 block of Virginia Drive in Centralia subsequently arrested a 28-year-old Centralia resident.  Nicolas Tomas-Gasper was arrested and then released pending court, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR BURNS UP

• The owner said it smelled hot when he parked it, a Chehalis firefighter said of the car that caught fire in the parking lot at W.F. West High School yesterday. The crew arrived following the approximately 6:30 p.m. call to find heavy black smoke rolling out from beneath the engine compartment, according to the Chehalis Fire Department. “So we did a quick knockdown,” Firefighter Steve Emrich said, but the vehicle was still ruined.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, probation violation; responses for alarm, dispute … 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.

Centralia: Police arrest suspected drug dealer, after search warrant

September 9th, 2016
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Cody M. Warner yawns as he awaits his turn to go before the judge while Dakota W. Davidson sits with defense attorney during bail hearing.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – After twice arranging with informants to buy heroin from a 34-year-old man, drug detectives yesterday served a search warrant at his north Centralia home and arrested two people.

When law enforcement officers approached the residence on Rose Street, they saw someone peek out of a trailer window, and responding to shouts of “search warrant”, a male and female exited, according to court documents.

Dakota W. Davidson, 21, of Centralia, had an outstanding warrant and a search incident to his arrest turned up a small container with suspected meth, charging documents relate. He was arrested, booked into the Lewis County Jail and charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with possession of methamphetamine.

A short time after a detective finished searching the trailer, the detective got a phone call from 34-year-old Cody M. Warner, who said he heard police were at his trailer, and was told he needed to come back so the detective could talk with him, the documents state.

Warner arrived with his father, was shown the search warrant and was placed under a arrest. He too was booked into jail.

Charging documents in Warner’s case indicate that twice between Aug. 1 and Aug. 31, a confidential informant purchased heroin from Warner. The second time the transaction took place at his home, according to court documents.

The case came out of an investigation by the local multi-agency Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team. Court documents don’t indicate what if anything the search of the home and trailer turned up.

Warner was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance.

Judge Nelson Hunt set his bail at $20,000, calling it a community safety issue. Davidson’s conditions of release included a $5,000 signature bond.

Both individuals are unemployed and both were given court-appointed lawyers. Their arraignments are set for next Thursday.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

September 9th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 5:53 p.m.

THEFT CENTRALIA

• Police were called about a residential burglary at about 2:50 p.m. yesterday at the 500 block of Courtland Street in Centralia. A laptop computer was taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called just after 3 p.m. yesterday to the 200 block of South Iron Street in Centralia where multiple electronic devices were reported stolen.

• Centralia police were called at 2:45 p.m. yesterday to the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue where an individual reported a restraining order violation and a first-degree theft, according to the Centralia Police Department. The case is still under investigation, police said this morning.

• Centralia police were called about 8:35 a.m. yesterday when an individual at the 800 block of West Main Street reported someone attempted to use his debit card online at the Apple store.

THEFT CHEHALIS

• Chehalis police were called about 1:30 p.m. yesterday to the 1500 block of North National Avenue following the discovery someone had broken in to one of the business’s outbuildings and stole power tools including a chainsaw, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• A portable gaming system and a CD were stolen in a vehicle prowl at the 2600 block of Seward Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police just before 1 p.m. yesterday.

DRUGS

• Chehalis police were called over to the drug and alcohol treatment facility on the 500 block of Southeast Washington Avenue about 10:45 a.m. yesterday after possible drug items were found with a 24-year-old Wenatchee resident during a search. Seabrook T. Bryant was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession of a controlled substance, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called just after 8 o’clock yesterday morning to the 1400 block of Crescent Avenue where someone had slashed a tire on a vehicle during the night.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, obstructing, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, trespass, hit and run, civil problem, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more among 150 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.