Lewis County Sirens.com

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EMPLOYEE ARRESTED

• Chehalis police arrested a school employee today in connection with an incident reported two weeks ago at R.E. Bennett Elementary School. Police were called on March 14 and told by school staff an employee had hugged a 9-year-old year-old student in an inappropriate manner, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Based on their investigation that included video evidence and witness interviews, police arrested 36-year-old James Denning today for fourth-degree assault, according to police. The Chehalis resident was booked into the Lewis County Jail. Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said he wasn’t sure of Denning’s job title but that he is not a teacher.

AUTO THEFT

• An officer took a report of a stolen 1997 Honda Accord at about 4:30 a.m. today from the 1800 block of North Pearl Street in Centralia. The silver car has a license plate reading 827 XOE, according to the Centralia Police Department..

• An officer on patrol at about 12:30 a.m. today located a vehicle  at the 100 block of West High Street that had been stolen from Hayden, Idaho. It appeared it had been parked there for a while before discovery, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police called about 12:45 a.m. today about a customer who could not pay for his meal at a business on Southwest Interstate Avenue in Chehalis ended up arresting the 25-year-old man from Grass Valley, California for possession of a stolen vehicle. His card had been declined and the 2008 Ford Escape he was driving belonged to the Red Cross, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Wade D. Amesbury was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning that a deputy took a report of the theft of a light blue Honda Civic from the 100 block of Shelly Drive in Centralia. The loss is about $3,000 and the car has a license plate reading AOU 2508, according to the sheriff’s office.

FUNNY MONEY

• A 28-year-old man was arrested yesterday after he allegedly tried to pass a counterfeit $100 bill at a store on the 100 block of West High Street in Centralia. The bill was rejected and he left with it but was stopped by police close by and two counterfeit bills were recovered, according to the Centralia Police Department. Shawn L Weaver, from Monroe, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for forgery, according to police.

• Centralia police took a report about 2:15 p.m. yesterday of a different suspect spending a counterfeit $100 bill at the 100 block of West High Street.

• Centralia officers conducted a search warrant on a room at Motel 6 on Belmont Avenue yesterday afternoon and recovered a printer and partially printed counterfeit $100 bills. The case is under investigation.

OTHER THEFT

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a burglary from a church on the 1100 block of state Route 7 where the missing items included a twin bed, a night stand and a Dewalt generator. It happened sometime between March 19 and Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A 45-year-old Toledo woman was arrested for second-degree theft in connection with an 8 a.m. call on Saturday to the sheriff’s office from the 200 block of Foster Creek Road. The victim said he saw a silver vehicle dragging his piece of equipment – a core liner driller – down the road, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy followed the drag marks and made contact with Jill Todd, according to the sheriff’s office. She was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

• Police yesterday morning too a report of a theft of drill bits from a house under construction at the 1200 block of G Street in Centralia.

• Centralia police were called yesterday morning about lawn ornaments stolen from the 2300 block of Scheuber Ridge Court and also from the 2500 block of Sharon Street in Centralia.

FRAUD

• A 53-year-old Chehalis area man reported to the sheriff’s office that someone took two checks from his checkbook and cashed them for $300 and $500 sometime between Feb. 15 and March 22. There is a suspect, or, person of interest, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said this morning.

CAR PROWL

• An officer was called yesterday afternoon about a vehicle prowl at the 2100 block of North National Avenue in Chehalis.

• Chehalis police were called about 8:15 a.m. yesterday to the 900 block of Southeast Washington Avenue where someone had broken into an unlocked vehicle and stolen a stereo. Another resident at the same address lost a GPS device from a second vehicle there, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DRUGS

• Chehalis police were called about 5:10 p.m. yesterday regarding an individual at 12th Street and McFadden Avenue who was “rocking” someone else’s vehicle and then throwing items out of a shed. Adrian J. Gillespie, 43, of Chehalis, was subsequently arrested for a drug violation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning that a 20-year-old driver was cited for speeds too fast for conditions after a single-vehicle collision about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at the 1300 block of Bunker Creek Road. A deputy determined she failed to negotiate a curve during the heavy rain and struck a tree, according to the sheriff’s office. The female driver sustained cuts to both her hands and a possible head injury, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said. Her 15-year-old passenger had back and neck pain, Brown said. Both were taken to the hospital. The 2009 Chevrolet Impala was totaled, Brown said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrant, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more

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Updated at 4:34 p.m.

HOME INVASION ROBBERY REPORTED

• Chehalis police are investigating a report from about 11:37 p.m. on Saturday in which a woman on Southwest 10th Street just  just off Market Boulevard in Chehalis said three armed, masked men came in and demanded her valuables. Taken was a Playstation, a 20-inch television, a DVR, a computer, two hard drives and a flash drive, according to the Chehalis Police Department. She was not injured, according to police.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 1:30 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a theft of a 1998 Silver Mitsubishi Mirage from the 700 block of J Street.

• Centralia police were called at noon on Saturday to take a report of the theft of a 1993 GMC pickup truck from the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue. It had a with a license plate reading B91135X,  according to the Centralia Police Department. The truck had a rental trailer attached to it, which was located abandoned in the Federal Way area.

DRUG PARAPHERNALIA STOLEN

• A “water bong” was reported stolen from a room at a motel on the 1000 block of Eckerson Road in Centralia last night after a mutual friend had returned to the room to retrieve his belongings, according to the Centralia Police Department. After the male suspect left the bong was missing, according to police.

OTHER THEFT

• Chehalis police were called on Saturday evening to the 1300 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue about a suspected theft. The case is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 3:45 p.m. yesterday for a vehicle prowl at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue. Taken was a purse and credit cards, according to the Centralia Police Department. The cards had already been used by the suspect, according to police. The case is under investigation.

• Aa vehicle prowl was reported at the 1700 block of North Pearl Street about 11:30 a.m. yesterday in which numerous items were reported missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about a vehicle prowl about 11:10 a.m. on Saturday at the 100 block of Southwest Fifth Street. Taken from the unlocked truck was a Makita cordless screwdriver, a Husky ratchet set and a wallet with its identification, bank cards and cash.

• Police were called on Saturday about an overnight car prowl on the 1000 block of Southwest 20th Street in Chehalis in which a stereo, an amplifier and bag of clothing were stolen. The vehicle had been left unlocked, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called just before 9 a.m. on Saturday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue. Someone broke the car window and stole a purse, according to the Centralia Police Department. The handbag was found in the area minus its cash, according to police.

LITTLE FIRE INSIDE WINLOCK HOME

• Firefighters called at 9:10 p.m. yesterday regarding smoke at the 200 block of Shannon Lewis Lane in Winlock had to force their way into a home and found a small smoldering fire. They turned it over to law enforcement because it was a little suspicious, according to Lewis County Fire District 15. It was so small they didn’t need to use water, but picked it up and took it outside, Firefighter Patrick Jacobson said. It was like wood debris near a fireplace, he said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrant, shoplifting, resisting arrest, misdemeanor domestic assault, protection order violation, driving with suspended license, driving without required interlock device, third-degree malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, misdemeanor  theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more, among 115 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

The hopper smokes at Sound Wood Products Inc. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 6.

INDUSTRIAL PARK FIRE

• A fire broke out yesterday morning at a wood products business in the Chehalis Industrial Park. Nobody was injured. Firefighters called at 9:45 a.m. to the 100 block of Ribelin Road were told a bag house had exploded and flames were visible, according to Lewis County Fire District 6. Arriving crews found  the fire in a newer building on the property which housed a hopper. Fire department spokesperson DJ Hammer said it was separate from the production facility. The fire was confirmed extinguished an hour later, according to Hammer. District 6 was assisted by the Chehalis Fire Department and Newaukum Valley Fire and Rescue. Hammer said Sound Wood Products Inc. is in its fourth year of operation there and manufactures laminate wood and decking products for the construction industry. He said the hopper was damaged but he didn’t know the extent of damage to the building.

SENIOR HOUSING FIRE

• Chehalis firefighters were called at 2:11 p.m. yesterday to a seniors apartment complex on the 300 block of Southeast Washington Avenue. A loaf of bread had been left on a stove and caught fire but it was extinguished by the manager, according to the Chehalis Fire Department. Fire Capt. Kevin Curfman said there was no damage to the building.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were called at 3:20 a.m. today when a A red Honda Accord was stolen from the 1200 block of North Gold Street. The car has a, license plate reading AXH 7870, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called just after noon yesterday to take a report of A report of an attempt to pass a forged check at the 200 block of North Pearl Street.

VANDALISM

• Police were called just before 2 o’clock this morning to the 100 block of Lum Road in Centralia where a window on a vehicle was smashed out.

• Police were called just after 2 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a window broken out of a car parked at the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue.

• Centralia police took reports yesterday of windows broken at the 100 block of South Tower Avenue and the 1400 block of South Gold Street.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for misdemeanor domestic assault, misdemeanor  theft; responses for alarm, dispute, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances… and more, among 164 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 6:20 a.m. today.

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Updated at 6:22 p.m.

PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION

• Chehalis police were called at 10:49 a.m. yesterday to the 300 block of Southwest 16th Street and given second-hand information that a student poked another student in the back with a knife. Further information is not yet available, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called yesterday morning by an individual who said her teenage daughter was reportedly struck by someone earlier this week at the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue. The case remains under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR THEFT

• Centralia police were dispatched at 6 o’clock this morning to the 700 block of South Ash Street regarding the theft of a black 1997  Honda Accord. The car has a license plate reading 616 YSB, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called about 6:20 p.m. yesterday to take a report that a window to a vehicle was smashed out at the 1300 block of Lum Road in Centralia.

FRAUD

• Chehalis police were called yesterday afternoon to a credit union on the 1500 block of Southwest Market Boulevard where an individual had allegedly deposited a check from a bank that belonged to someone else. The check or checks came from a recent local burglary and the incident is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

SHOPLIFTING

• A 20-year-old Chehalis resident was arrested overnight after allegedly stealing a cell phone from the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue. Eric J. Stevens was booked into the Lewis County Jail for retail theft with special circumstances – a felony – as he reportedly had something that allowed him to remove a security device, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Prosecutors declined to file the felony charge today.

FUNNY MONEY SPENT

• A counterfeit one hundred dollar bill was passed at a business on the 1100 block of View Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police yesterday.

FROM THE COURTHOUSE

• A 22-year-old Silver Creek resident was brought before a judge yesterday afternoon, charged with four counts of possession of child porn. Kenneth E. Allen has a juvenile conviction for first-degree child molestation and is a registered level three sex offender, according to authorities. A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detective and a sergeant visited Allen on Wednesday at his home at the Silver Creek Grange, following up on information received from a detective with the Seattle Internet Crimes Against Children unit. Charging documents show the Seattle detective matching up or connecting Twitter accounts, photos of children, IP addresses, email addresses and cyber tips that led to a suspect. The pictures appeared to be girls younger than 11, prosecutors allege. The specific name of the charge is second-degree possession of depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A Lewis County Superior Court judge set his bail at $50,000.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A bicyclist was struck in the back by the mirror to a large pickup truck at the 2700 block of Borst Avenue in Centralia yesterday morning. An officer called about 9 a.m. reports the driver of the vehicle did not stop.

• Two people were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after their Mitsubishi Eclipse backed out of a driveway into a passing Toyota Camry on the 100 block of Wallace Road near Toledo yesterday afternoon. A deputy called at 4 p.m. to the scene cited the 24-year-old Hoquiam resident for failure to yield. He and his 39-year-old female passenger from Centralia were both transported, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Both car sustained major damage, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for driving under the influence, driving with suspend license driving without required interlock device; responses for alarm, dispute,  possible fraud, runaway juvenile, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor theft; complaint of erratic driver  … and more, among 114 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 6 a.m. today.