News brief: Driver inattention blamed for I-5 wreck, mess

June 14th, 2016
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Interstate 5 near Lewis-Thurston county line. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The fire department reported two victims with minor injuries in a freeway collision that left a semi on its side with its trailer stuck on the center barrier this morning.

It happened about 9 a.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 north of Centralia.

Almost three hours later when the vehicles were cleared from the roadway, motorists were advised delays would continue because traffic was backed up for at least six miles.

According to the Washington State Patrol, the 55-year-old driver of a 2002 International box truck and trailer failed to slow for a Toyota RAV4 which had slowed for traffic.

They blamed driver inattention.

Craig M. Maxey, of Beaverton, Oregon, was cited for second-degree negligent driving, according to the state patrol. His truck was totaled.

The RAV4 which was struck in its rear, with Annette F. Rose, 55, of Stanwood, behind the wheel, was able to be driven away from the scene, the investigating trooper reports.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

June 14th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 12:44 p.m.

VEHICLE THEFT CENTRALIA

• A dark green 1972 Ford pickup truck parked with a for sale sign on it at the end of a driveway along the 2200 block of Foron Road in Centralia disappeared between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. yesterday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The truck had no grill, according to the sheriff’s office. The loss is $1,500.

BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 11:45 a.m. yesterday about he theft of a computer from an apartment at the 500 block of North Rock Street.

FRAUD CHEHALIS

• A 49-year-old Chehalis man reported he believes an acquaintance who was at his home used his information to obtain a credit card and used it at local businesses, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office reported this morning a deputy has obtained security images showing the 34-year-old woman using the card. So far, they know of a $20.73 charge at a teriyaki shop and $64.28 spent at Sally’s Beauty Supply, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said this morning.

• A Chehalis woman called police yesterday evening to report she’d bought a phone on Craig’s list and when attempting to activate it, learned it had been stolen.

BOAT PROWL

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning another theft victim over the weekend from Taidnapam Park at Riffe Lake. Sometime between 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, someone removed four fishing rods, two fishing reels and other items from a man’s boat while he was sleeping, according to the sheriff’s office. The loss is $1,454.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called at 8 a.m. yesterday to the 700 block of F Street where they were told someone prowled through an unlocked vehicle during the night and stole a radar detector and phone charger.

AND FROM MORTON

• Officers responded to a report of a female that was lying in the road near the 700 block of Davis Lake Road in Morton just before 6 p.m. last Tuesday. Upon arrival, the woman was contacted and she admitted to “taking a nap” in the road, according to the Morton Police Department. While talking with the female she was not a threat to herself or others and was given directions to a bus to assist her on her way, according to police.

• Officers responded to the 200 block of Main Avenue in Morton on Saturday regarding a suspicious person leaving letters in a tip jar.  The suspected individual was contacted and trespassed from the property, according to the Morton Police Department.

• Morton police were called about 11:15 a.m. on Sunday to the 1000 block of Main Avenue on a report of a party that resulted in some fighting. The case is still under investigation, according to the Morton Police Department.

TENINO PORCH FIRE

• Tenino firefighters were called at about 10:15 a.m. yesterday when a resident who was next door saw flames on their back porch. A small deck-type porch at Fifth Avenue and McArthur Street was damaged, according to Thurston County Fire District 12. “They assume, we don’t know fore sure, it was something that smoldered for several hours,” Tina Vanderhoof, administrative chief for the department said. The cause is unknown, she said.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, misdemeanor  assault, collision on city street, suspicious circumstances … and more, among 121 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 5:15 a.m. today.

News brief: Children find dead man at Centralia trestle

June 13th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death after a woman called 911 yesterday to report her kids returned home from a walk and said they’d found a man hanging near the railroad tracks in north Centralia.

Law enforcement responded to the approximately 5:15 p.m. call and were directed to a trestle over the Skookumchuck River south of Reynolds Avenue and east of Interstate 5, according to the sheriff’s office.

Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said there did not initially appear to be foul play involved. The deceased has been tentatively identified as a 58-year-old Centralia resident, Brown said.

He is not a person who had been listed as missing, she said.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

June 13th, 2016
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•••

Updated

DOMESTIC ASSAULT WINLOCK

• Jason W. Richendollar, 43, of Winlock, was arrested for second-degree assault, second-degree burglary and violation of a protection order yesterday. A deputy called about 7:10 a.m. to the 500 block of  Rhoades Road was told he’d beaten the 42-year-old resident over the previous two days, having allegedly broken in while she was sleeping, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. She was treated for non-life threatening injuries and has been released from the hospital, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said today. A search warrant for Richendollar’s vehicle and bedroom was obtained and several weapons seized, Brown said. Richendollar was located on Tennessee Road and taken into custody without incident, Brown said. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

DOMESTIC INCIDENT RANDLE

• A deputy called about 8 p.m. yesterday to the 100 block of of Second Avenue South in Randle arrested a 67-year-old resident for allegedly trashing a bedroom, shattering the screen of a flat screen television and threatening to kill her younger roommates. Ginger L. Anderson was reportedly heavily intoxicated and scratched one victim who tried to detain her for law enforcement while the other three ran down the street, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Anderson allegedly threatened to kill a deputy as well, according to the sheriff’s office. She was arrested for harassment, third-degree malicious mischief and fourth-degree assault and booked into the Lewis County Jail, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

BURGLARY AND THEFT

• An estimated $5,000 worth of jewelry from QVC in a large plastic tote was stolen from an unlocked shop at the 1600 block of West Reynolds Avenue in Centralia sometime between Saturday and yesterday, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning.

• Centralia police were called about 2:25 p.m. yesterday to take a report of an overnight burglary at the rifle club on the 900 block of Johnson Road. A projector is missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called yesterday about the theft of cash from a residence on the 600 block of Warsaw Street in Centralia.

• Chehalis police were called just before 2 o’clock this morning to an apartment complex at the 400 block of Northeast Washington Avenue about a break-in to a storage unit.

• Chehalis police took a report on Friday of a package being stolen off a porch on Southwest Fourth Street near Market Boulevard. A pair of $645 boots had been delivered the afternoon before but were gone, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called to a church on the 1000 block of Alder Street about 9:20 a.m. yesterday following the discovery someone tried to pry open a door.

VEHICLE PROWL

• A set of four wheels and tires were stolen off of a vehicle at the 1500 block of Lewis Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 10:30 p.m. yesterday.

• Police were called about noon yesterday to the 400 block of Southwest 18th Street in Chehalis about an overnight vehicle prowl.

• Four fishing poles were stolen from the back of a truck at a campsite at Taidnapam Park at Riffe Lake sometime between midnight and 6 a.m. yesterday. The loss is listed as $1,261, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Chehalis police were called about 11:40 a.m. on Friday about a backpack stolen from a truck at the 500 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue. They are waiting for possible video images, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 42-year-old Centralia man was arrested for a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act after a deputy responded about 7:15 a.m. on Friday to a report of a person dumping garbage at the 1500 block of Little Hanaford Road outside Centralia. A spoon with a dark substance on it was observed on the console of his vehicle, which field-tested positive for heroin, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Justin L. Wilson was booked into the Lewis County Jail, also for a warrant, according to the sheriff’s office.

CREEPER

• A woman was given a warning by police after a man called 911 about 9 p.m. on Saturday from the 200 block of Northwest Center Street in Chehalis and said he was being stalked, that a woman was on the ground, in the bushes across the street staring at him. The officer told the woman her actions were “close” to stalking, according to the Chehalis Police Department. She said she’d had a few glasses of wine, police said.

KIDS IN CAR ALONE

• A 37-year-old woman was given a warning by police after allegedly leaving two small children in her vehicle on Friday while going into a pot shop at the 1500 block of North National Avenue in Chehalis. An individual told her she couldn’t do that so she reportedly had them stand outside the car, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Nobody was hurt but a family from Holland lost everything they were traveling with when their motorhome caught fire yesterday south of Randle. Fire Investigator Derrick Paul said they’d arrived in Canada the day before and bought the RV for a four-week tour. They were headed to the Layser Cave off Forest Road 23, parked and saw smoke, Paul said. “The whole thing burned up,” Paul said.

• A 43-year-old Rochester resident was arrested for driving under the influence as well as hit and run yesterday morning in a case associated with Cherry and Pearl streets. Billie T. Orr was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 27-year-old Chehalis man was arrested for driving under the influence after a single-vehicle collision about 6:30 a.m. yesterday at the 400 block of Hart Road east of Winlock. Carlos Garcia-Nambo was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A 24-year-old driver sustained a possible broken nose and his passengers, a 24-year-old woman, a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old boy were all transported to the hospital for pain and to be evaluated after  single-vehicle wreck just before 4:30 p.m. on Saturday along the 3500 block of Jackson Highway in Chehalis. Jose P. Escamilla-Oerllana said he was very tired as he’d only had about three hours sleep and recalled only driving southbound and then waking up after striking a tree, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. He was cited for second-degree negligent driving and not having a valid license, according to the sheriff’s office. The 2008 Ford Escape sustained major damage, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

• A driver in his 80s who attempted to make a U-turn in front of his home this morning north of Tenino was killed when his car was T-boned, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. It happened at the 14100 block of Tilley Road. The other driver was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital with non life threatening injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, hit and run, making a false statement, misdemeanor domestic assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, third-degree theft, collision on city street,  suspicious circumstances, receipt of fraudulent check … and more, among 158 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

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Tilley Road collision. / Courtesy photo by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

June 12th, 2016
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•••

CREEPER CHASED AWAY

• Centralia police were called at 12:07 a.m. yesterday after an unknown person tried to gain entry to a home through a bathroom window on the 300 block of South Silver Street. The potential intruder was scared off by the resident, according to the Centralia Police Department.

STRUGGLE OVER BEER

• A 14- to 16-year-old boy attempted to steal three large malt liquor beverages from the 100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia about 12:35 a.m. yesterday. Police say: The male was confronted by the clerk. The suspect fought with the clerk losing one of the malt liquors. The suspect tripped and dropped the other two in the parking lot before fleeing. Now the teen is wanted for attempted robbery, according to the Centralia Police Department.

MISSING SCOOTER

• A scooter was reported stolen from the 300 block of South Cedar Street in Centralia about 10:30 p.m. yesterday, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Two people were injured when a pickup truck wrecked along state Route 506 about four miles west of Vader on Thursday night, according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers called at 8:20 p.m. report the 1993 Nissan was eastbound when it hit the ditch on its right, and the driver overcorrected sending the truck into the opposite ditch. The vehicle was totaled, according to the state patrol. The driver, Michael T. Noonan Jr., 25, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center, according to the investigating trooper. His passenger, Jason M. Ostrander, 20, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital. Both men are from Spanaway.

• A National Frozen Foods truck driver escaped safely after another motorist pulled along side and pointed out flames beneath the cab on southbound Interstate 5 in Chehalis about 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, according to the Chehalis Fire Department. The driver pulled over, firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire, according to Capt. Casey Beck.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, drugs, hit and run, trespassing, probation violation, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, hit and run, collision on city street, no-contact order violation, suspicious circumstances … and more, among 297 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Chehalis home invasion suspect facing third strike case

June 10th, 2016
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Jesse L. Harkcom sits before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court for his bail hearing this afternoon.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Bail was set at $1 million today for one of three suspects in a Chehalis home invasion robbery.

Jesse L. Harkcom, 34, was arrested in Lacey on drug charges yesterday and transported to the Lewis County Jail to be charged for the March 26 incident.

Charges were filed today in Lewis County Superior Court and Harkcom was brought before a judge this afternoon.

If convicted as charged, it would be a third strike offense, meaning a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Lewis County Intern Deputy Prosecutor Amber Caulfield advised the judge Harkcom has a 1998 conviction for first-degree burglary and a 2011 conviction for second-degree robbery, among his 11 felony convictions.

“At this time, the state would request $1 million,” Caulfield said.

Defense attorney Joely O’Rourke in citing reasons for her request of $25,000 bail, said her client has been a law abiding citizen for the past year and a half, has opened a cleaning service business and has a stable residence in Lacey.

“Given the circumstances, I think the state’s request is reasonable,” Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey said.

According to charging documents, it was just after 11:30 at night when police were called to the victim’s home on Southwest 10th Street just  just off Market Boulevard.

She was living in a shed behind a residence and packing to move out when three males kicked in her door and came inside. They were dressed in black and wearing gloves, she told police.

The first male yelled, “Where are the valuables”, the second male stood next to her bed holding a pistol and the third male stepped right back outside where he stood with his arms crossed, according to charging documents. She believed he also had a gun.

The woman, 40 years old, according to police, recognized the first male’s voice as Harkcom, someone she’d known since the previous month, charging documents relate.

She said Harkcom grabbed her Playstation 4, 20-inch monitor, a DVR, laptop computer and miscellaneous property.

Charging documents state she told them she was going to call police and the second male told her “she didn’t want to do that because he didn’t want to have to hurt her,” Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead wrote in the documents.

The woman said she got a small scratch on her leg when Harkcom threw a four-foot long fluorescent light fixture which hit her.

She ran to the residence to tell her roommate what happened and he saw the three get into a dark colored truck and drive away, according to Halstead.

The victim was asked why Harkcom would do something like this and she said he and her boyfriend had traded watches and the watch Harkcom received turned out to be fake.

Charging documents also relate that when Harkcom was booked into the Lewis County Jail, a search turned up a small baggie in his waistband containing two pills and a black tar substance.

Harkcom is charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and possession of heroin.

Centralia lawyer David Arcuri was appointed to represent him. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.

Chehalis police said yesterday the other two suspects are still outstanding.
•••

For background, read “News brief: Chehalis home invasion suspect found, booked” from Thursday June 9, 2016, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

June 10th, 2016
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•••

Updated

MAILBOX THEFT CHEHALIS

• Chehalis police called to the 1500 block of Southwest William Avenue yesterday afternoon where a resident saw a kid on a bicycle stop, open mail and toss it in the resident’s garbage can concluded the young man may have taken mail belonging to at least two people. The suspect had left, with still more mail in his hand, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The case is under investigation, according to police.

PROWLING CENTRALIA

• Police were called about 11:20 a.m. yesterday regarding the theft of a bike that had been locked to a trailer inside a carport at the 500 block of South Cedar Street in Centralia. The Dutch Gravity bicycle is gray with black fenders, a rack, 27-inch tires and two trailer hitches mounted on the rear, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 11:10 a.m. yesterday to take a report that sometime on Tuesday unknown persons stole a package that was delivered to a residence on the 1000 block of Swanson Drive. The package contained a blown glass decoration,  according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 9:15 p.m. yesterday for a vehicle prowl a the 600 block of Centralia College Boulevard. Taken was a GPS device, binoculars and personal papers, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called at 4:50 p.m. yesterday for a vehicle prowl at the 1600 block of South Gold Street in Centralia. Car stereo equipment and tools were missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called yesterday morning to the 300 block of West Pear Street in Centralia where they were told that sometime during the night, someone removed and stole a 50-inch light bar off a vehicle as well as a ratchet tie down strap, according to the Centralia Police Department.

MISSING MOTORIZED CART

• Centralia police were called just before 6 p.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue about the possible theft of a motorized cart from a store. Suspects were located but the cart has not been found, according to the Centralia Police Department. The store is reviewing video to determine if the cart was returned or not.

CHILDREN LEFT ALONE IN CAR

• A 37-year-old mother was given a warning by police yesterday after she “ran in to talk to someone” at a Chehalis business, leaving her 6-year-old and 2-year-old alone in her vehicle. Police were called at 3:55 p.m. to the 500 block of West Main Street by an individual who was outside with the car and kids for about five minutes, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

TEEN SQUATTERS ROUSTED

• A property inspector called Chehalis police just after 11 a.m. yesterday after going in to a vacant house and finding intruders who were sleeping inside. An officer arriving to the 1300 block of Southwest Kelly Avenue contacted an 18-year-old male, a 19-year-old male and 15-year-old female who appeared to have just woken up, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The girl had an outstanding warrant and was transported to the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center, according to police. The others were told not to come back, department spokesperson Linda Bailey said.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• One person was airlifted last night after a single-vehicle collision involving a utility pole about 8:15 p.m. at state Route 506 near Toledo, according to the Washington State Patrol.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing a public servant, driving with suspended license, failure to transfer vehicle title; responses for alarm, dispute, disorderly person, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances … and more, among 134 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 6 a.m. today.