News brief: First Responders Day at the fair

August 16th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Fans of Lewis County’s first responders can meet the people on the front lines and behind the scenes at their show-and-tell today.

Last year, the gathering dubbed First Responders Day was held in the parking lot at Bethel Church in Napavine. This year, the fun moves to the Southwest Washington Fair.

The event is designed to provide citizens the opportunity to interact with the many different first responders serving the citizens of Lewis County, all in one place. It will be held in the area of the north lawn by the Saloon Stage.

Demonstrations planned include: a firearms simulator, fire extinguisher simulator, CPR flash mob, Sparky the Fire Dog, water pump drill, Safety Pup, Hurst rescue equipment demonstration, less-lethal demonstration, Stop Stix deployment demonstration, search and rescue K-9 demonstration, and patrol K9 demonstration.  Visitors will also be able to meet the sheriff and local police chiefs.

Demonstrations run from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The following agencies have been asked to participate in the event: Centralia, Chehalis, Napavine, Toledo, Morton and Pe Ell Police Departments, Washington State Patrol, Lewis County Dispatch, Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Lewis County Juvenile, American Red Cross – Lewis County Chapter, Lewis County Crime Stoppers, Search and Rescue – Cascade Dogs, all Lewis County fire districts, Lewis County Chaplains and the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.

News brief: Olympia couple practically unscathed by encounter with falling tree on highway

August 15th, 2016
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Van is impounded after getting struck by tree. / Courtesy photo by Bill Serrahn

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The couple whose van roof was crushed by a cottonwood tree in Packwood escaped serious injury or worse by inches.

Lewis County Fire District 10 Chief Lonnie Goble said they were traveling along U.S. Highway 12, maybe 30 to 45 mph, when the tree came down yesterday afternoon, striking just behind the driver’s seat.

“That had to be a sudden stop,” Goble said. “It pushed the roof down to within an inch of where you put your feet on the floorboard.”

The woman passenger possibly had a broken arm and the driver had to wait to get out while a crew cut the vehicle, he said.

“He was just fine, he just stepped out and had a little pain in his back,” Goble said.

John E. Lange, 45, and Stephanie C. Lee, 39, both from Olympia, were transported to Morton General Hospital. They were treated and then released, a hospital spokesperson said today.

Their 2007 Honda Odyssey minivan was destroyed. The fire chief estimated the diameter of the tree as 18 to 20 inches.

Goble said they had a dog laying in the back seat, which was shook up, but seemed to also be unhurt.

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Tree lays along U.S. Highway 12 after roadway is cleared. / Courtesy photo by Bill Serrahn

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

August 15th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 7:13 p.m.

ARMED DOMESTIC DISPUTE

• A 62-year-old Mossyrock woman was booked into jail yesterday after allegedly picking up a pistol from a coffee table in her living room, loading it with a magazine and pointing it at her husband during an argument. Deputies arriving to the home on the 300 block of Jarvis Road about 4:40 p.m. arrested Sandra K. Merritt for second-degree assault, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. No injury was reported.

FIREARMS STOLEN

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports someone broke into a home on the 300 block of Harmon Road outside Chehalis and stole four rifles, two shotguns and a set of binoculars sometime in the two weeks that ended on Friday. The loss is estimated at $3,914, according to the sheriff’s office.

MOSSY BURGLARY

• Sometime between 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. yesterday, someone broke a window at a home on the 100 block of Valley View Drive in Mossyrock, went inside and stole a computer, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Missing is a silver 20-inch HP laptop, according to the sheriff’s office.

SAFE, JEWELRY MISSING

• A Chehalis woman returned home from vacation to find someone had burglarized her home on the 1900 block of Bishop Road, stealing a diamond ring, two diamond sapphire rings and a black safe containing cash and more jewelry, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It happened sometime between Aug. 4 and Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office. The loss is estimated at $2,100.

GARAGE BURGLED

• Sometime between Friday and Sunday someone got into an unlocked garage on the 3100 block of Ives Road in Centralia and took a green and orange floating tube valued at $9.98, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

AUTO THEFT

•  A black 1996 Honda Accord was reported stolen about 6:40 a.m. today from the 1200 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia. It has a license plate reading 340 YTX, according to the Centralia Police Department.

PURSE STOLEN FROM SHOPPING CART

• Chehalis police were called to Wal-Mart on the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue about 12:15 p.m. yesterday where a woman said someone took her purse out of her cart while she was shopping. A security person found it in a trash can in the ladies room, minus a credit card, her keys, some medication and $25 cash, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called to the 300 block of Southwest Third Street about 8 p.m. yesterday following the discovery of a vehicle prowl. Someone had rummaged around inside and took the registration, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DRUGS

• Police called by aid when a male was found slumped over inside a vehicle in a parking lot at the 500 block of South Market Boulevard about 2 p.m. on Friday ended up arresting him for possession of methamphetamine, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Jesse J. Hull, 36, from Chehalis, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police. A passerby who allegedly picked up Hull’s wallet off his car and began to walk away was detained, according to police. The woman said she got the wallet from the ground, department spokesperson Linda Bailey said. A search of her turned up an item with a brown residue that is being sent to the lab for testing, Bailey said.

• A 27-year-old Onalaska resident was arrested for a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act after police were called to the 700 block of South Market Boulevard about a suspicious vehicle just before 8 a.m. on Friday. Nicholas B. Decker had an outstanding municipal warrant as well and was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Decker was charged today with possession with intent to deliver as the officer who arrested him allegedly found 3.1 grams of heroin plus two scales and bags for packaging inside the car. His bail was set with a $10,000 unsecured bond.

AND FROM MORTON

• The Morton Police Department reported today they assisted the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office with an incident at about 1:40 a.m. on Thursday of an individual with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg near the 100 block of Forest Road 74.

• An exotic bird was evicted from its home on the 300 block of First Street in Morton, because of continuous noise. An officer responded to a complaint about 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday and could clearly hear the bird for the 20 minutes he was parked outside the residence, according to the Morton Police Department. The owner was given a copy of the city ordinance and given one week to relocate the bird, according to police.

• Officers responded to the 700 block of Main Avenue to several disorderly individuals playing loud music at about 10:35 p.m. on Saturday. One person stepped forward and said he would make sure the campers kept the noise down but later when they didn’t comply with that request, they were asked to leave, according to the Morton Police Department. About 70 individuals vacated the park.

• Police responded to the 700 block of Main Avenue at about 8:25 p.m. on Sunday where an individual had decided not to pay the $15 park stay fee. They were escorted to an ATM and ended up paying the fee, according to the Morton Police Department.

SMALL SUSPICIOUS FIRE

• Police were called by firefighters about 12:20 a.m. on Saturday when they responded to a small pile of smoldering apparent briquettes at the 1200 block of South Market Boulevard in Chehalis.

SLASH IGNITES ON TIMBERLAND

• Firefighters were called about 7:30 p.m. yesterday for a brush fire off King Road west of Winlock. They found slash piles burning on one to two acres of timber company-owned property, according to Lewis County Fire District 15. Personnel from the state Department of Natural Resources were summoned and expected to be out there again today, Assistant Chief Kevin Anderson said.

WEDGED FOOT RESCUE

• Firefighters were called just before 6 p.m. yesterday to rescue a 4-year-old boy whose foot got stuck in a hole in the ground at the 300 block of Northwest Cherry Avenue in Winlock. It was the concrete footing to a former fence post, according to Lewis County Fire District 15. The child was given a blanket, a tablet loaded with movies and a set of ear plugs while an air chisel was used to remove the concrete during an approximately 35 minute operation, Assistant Chief Kevin Anderson said.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Two teenagers were hospitalized after a single-vehicle collision yesterday evening on U.S. Highway 12 about two miles east of Oakville. Troopers called at 7:37 p.m. indicate Violet K. Starr, 18, was traveling westbound when her car crossed over the center line, spun and came to rest in the eastbound ditch. The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer was described as totaled. Starr was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital and her passenger, Roberta R. Youckton, 17, was taken to Summit Pacific Medical Center, according to the Washington State Patrol. Both are from Oakville. The wreck is under investigation, according to the state patrol.

• A 47-year-old man from Lakewood was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital after he lost control of his motorcycle as he neared the end of Limmer Road in Winlock, not realizing the pavement ended. It happened about 1:25 p.m. on Saturday. The damage to his motorcycle was minor, but he had cuts to his face and rib pain, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A wreck on U.S. Highway 12 at Park Street in Oakville about 1:40 a.m. on Thursday is being investigated by the Washington State Patrol. David A. Holbrook, 62, of Montesano, was traveling westbound and struck a Western Star tractor-trailer which turned eastbound onto the highway from Park Street, according to the state patrol. Holbrook’s 1996 Chevrolet Corvette was totaled and he was transported to a hospital, the state patrol. The truck driver, Jeremy D. Holbrook, 37, of Tenino, was reportedly uninjured. The roadway was blocked for two hours.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, probation violation, protection order violation, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, vandalism civil issue, suspicious circumstances … and more among 154 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Centralia police Humvee stolen, recovered

August 14th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 28-year-old man is sitting in jail after allegedly stealing the Centralia Police Department’s Humvee and then stalling it along Interstate 5 after traveling about four miles and being detained by passersby.

“These guys stopped to help him and learned he had stolen it, and called police,” Centralia Sgt. Dave Clary said.

It happened about 6 p.m. yesterday

Police say David L. Reser went into the city’s fenced compound on the 1400 block of Mellen Street and drove off with the vehicle, knocking down a light pole along the way.

He headed northbound on the freeway and came to stop just on the north side of the county line, according to police.

Clary said Reser was the one who told the men he’d stolen the Humvee.

The Washington State Patrol processed Reser for driving under the influence, according to Clary. The Centralia resident was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree burglary and theft of motor vehicle.

It was just last week when the Chehalis police chief’s patrol car was stolen, allegedly by a 17-year-old who tried to outrun a trooper on the freeway and left his car at a Chehalis golf course, jumping into the unmarked Chevrolet Impala as law enforcement searched for him.

Clary said the gate was not fully closed to the city’s fenced compound yesterday evening.

“The compound is not quite as secure as we’d like,” he said.

News brief: Olympia motorists hurt by tree in Packwood

August 14th, 2016
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Tree lays along U.S. Highway 12 after roadway is cleared. / Courtesy photo by Bill Serrahn

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Two people were injured when a large tree fell onto their van as they were headed through Packwood on U.S. Highway 12 today.

Troopers called to the scene about 1:45 p.m. report the 2007 Honda Odyssey minivan was totaled.

John E. Lange, 45, and his passenger Stephanie C. Lee, 39, both from Olympia, were transported to Morton General Hospital,  according to the Washington State Patrol.

It happened near near Skate Creek Road. The pair had been traveling westbound, according to the state patrol.

Photos shared by a Packwood area resident show what appears to be a cottonwood laying along the roadway and the van with a crushed roof.

The van was impounded to Beslow’s Towing, according to the patrol.

The state Department of Transportation noted the roadway was cleared shortly after 3 p.m.

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Van is impounded after getting struck by tree. / Courtesy photo by Bill Serrahn

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

August 14th, 2016
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VICTIM BEATEN WITH BATS

• Centralia police reported this morning they are investigating an incident in which multiple people assaulted a man with baseball bats. Officers were called about 10:20 p.m. yesterday to the 800 block of South Tower Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department. The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment, according to police. Sgt. Dave Clary said because there is more investigating to do and the suspects are not in custody, he could not divulge anything further. “It’s a serious felony,” he said.

BREAK-IN CENTRALIA

• Police were called about 2:50 p.m. yesterday about a burglary at the 400 block of North Ash Street. A PlayStation video game console was stolen from a residence, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 12:30 p.m. yesterday after three leaf blowers were stolen from a locked and gated compound at the 100 block of Harrison Avenue.

VEHICLE THEFT

• Centralia police were called at 2:50 p.m. on Friday following the discovery that a trailer and an off road vehicle were stolen from the 2700 block of Colonial Drive. The ORV is described as a new silver Kawasaki Mule, according to the Centralia Police Department. The trailer was later recovered abandoned in Tumwater by the state patrol, according to police.

• Centralia police took a report about 10 a.m. on Friday from the 500 block of East Summa Street about a rental car previously not returned that had been recovered.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called just before 3 p.m. yesterday for a report of a vehicle prowl at the 400 block of East Magnolia Street. A checkbook was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police investigated a five vehicle, minor injury collision at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue about 6 p.m. on Friday.  The causing driver was issued a notice of infraction for speed too fast for conditions, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, probation violation, protection order violation, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, vandalism, civil issue, disorderly person, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more among 354 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

August 12th, 2016
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Honda Accord went airborne over the median into the oncoming lanes. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 5

POLICE PURSUITS

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports yesterday morning’s accident on Interstate 5 that left a motorist with head and neck injuries occurred during a police pursuit that began just south of Chehalis. Just after 5:30 a.m., a deputy observed a 2004 Honda Accord cutting in and out of traffic and passing on the shoulder well over the speed limit, according to the sheriff’s office. As they approached the U.S. Highway 12 interchange, the Honda hit a log truck’s trailer and went airborne and landed on its side, Cmdr. Dusty Breen said. The driver, 34-year-old Vince R. Chargualas, of Vancouver, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital and then transferred to a Vancouver hospital, Breen said. The case is being referred to prosecutors for charges of attempting to elude and reckless driving, Breen said.

• A motorcyclist that took off following a traffic stop overnight at the 2300 block of Cooks Hill Road in Centralia wrecked at a corner, fled on foot into a wooded area and wasn’t found. It was just before 1 a.m. when a deputy stopped two motorcycles and then one of them hollered, “go, go, go,” according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. He was not located but investigation revealed he was 25-year-old Christopher B. Gill, whose license was suspended, according to the sheriff’s office. The case is being referred to prosecutors for charges, Cmdr. Dusty Breen said this morning.

BREAK-IN CENTRALIA

• Police were called about 6:20 p.m. yesterday to the 700 block of Pioneer Way in Centralia following the discovery someone had forced their way into a storage shed. Items were moved, but it wasn’t immediately known if anything was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BREAK-IN CHEHALIS

• A deputy was called yesterday for a break-in of a pole barn at the 100 block of Rogers Road in Chehalis, in which numerous valuables were stolen from a 91-year-old victim. Sometime between 3 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. on Monday, someone pried a lock and made off with an air compressor, a skill saw, 30 antique cow bells, 20 antique milk bottles and tools, some of which were antiques, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Also missing is a metal “Pet Milk” sign, according to the sheriff’s office.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police came upon a suspicious vehicle just before 11 p.m. yesterday and after contacting its owner, learned it had just been stolen. The case is associated with an address on the 900 block of North Tower Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department. The vehicle was returned to the owner, according to police.

• Centralia police were called to the 100 block of Virginia Drive about 12:15 p.m. yesterday regarding a red 2006 Hyundai Elantra stolen sometime since Monday.

• Centralia police were called about 12:15 p.m. yesterday about a vehicle stolen from the 1300 block of Lum Road. The car had been loaned to an acquaintance and not returned, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called about 10:45 a.m. yesterday to the 1300 block of Johnson Road where sometime within the previous half an hour, a white 1992 Honda Accord was stolen from in front of the owner’s home. It has a license plate reading AIT 5832, according to the Centralia Police Department.

WHAT NOT TO DO

• A 28-year-old woman who allegedly assaulted her boyfriend in front of a police officer just before 2 a.m. today at the 300 block of North Tower Avenue in Centralia was arrested. The victim’s injuries were minor, according to the Centralia Police Department. Winona F. Gladue, 28 of Chehalis, was booked in to the Lewis County Jail for fourth-degree assault, according to police.

CUT AND RUN

• Centralia police were called to the 1600 block of South Gold Street at 2:30 p.m. yesterday on a report a female customer walked out of the business without paying for a haircut and coloring. The incident is being investigated as a third-degree theft, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 41-year-old man arrested about 3:40 p.m. yesterday for a warrant at the 1600 block of Bishop Road in Chehalis was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine and paraphernalia, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Richard L. Coryell, of Chehalis, was booked in to the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, probation violation, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, misdemeanor assault, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more among 163 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.