Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

July 27th, 2018
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Updated

BREAK-IN PACKWOOD

• A deputy was called about 4:45 p.m. on Thursday for a burglary at a vacation home on the 100 block of Tunnel Lane in Packwood. Forced entry was made by prying a door and the house was ransacked, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It occurred on or about June 29 and among the items preliminarily found to be missing were alcohol, food and clothing, according to the sheriff’s office.

OTHER THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 9 a.m. on Thursday to take a report of a suspected identity theft associated with the 300 block of South Market Boulevard after a 66-year-old woman received a letter requesting more information regarding her application for a retail store credit card. The victim contacted the business to notify them she had not applied for a card, according to the Chehalis Police Department. About a month earlier, the victim had been contacted by another credit card company telling her that her application had been accepted and charges had been made, according to police. The transactions were cancelled, police said.

• A deputy was called to the 300 block of Winston Creek Road about 10:45 a.m. on Thursday to take a report that sometime on Tuesday night, someone siphoned fuel from a boat and a jet ski.

CAR PROWL

• A vehicle prowl was reported at about 10:35 a.m. on Thursday in which the victim found their vehicle had been rummaged through while parked at the 300 block of Harrison Avenue. Nothing was said to be missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called to the 400 block of West Magnolia Street in Centralia about 8:15 a.m. on Thursday following the discovery several CDs and a document were stolen from an unlocked vehicle.

DRUGS

• Chehalis police called about 9:30 a.m. on Thursday to a store on the 500 block of South Market Boulevard ended up arresting a woman for an outstanding warrant and for possession of a controlled substance. Amanda B. Smith, 25, of Centralia,  was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called to the 10 block of Northeast Park Street about 9:30 a.m. on Thursday following the discovery that someone had vandalized a metal sculpture of a little girl on a bench reading a book by removing the book she held in her hands. The damage to the statue that sits next to the fountain is estimated at $200, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

LOST AND FOUND

• A Kyocera cell phone was turned in as found property to the Centralia Police Department on Thursday, associated with a location on the 100 block of South Silver Street. No contact information was found on the phone, according to police.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, third-degree theft, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence, protection order violation, third-degree domestic malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, misdemeanor theft, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances … and more among 182 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Husband jailed for arson in Winlock house fire

July 27th, 2018

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 32-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fire that destroyed a mobile home on the 300 block of Minkler Road in Winlock earlier this month which was attributed to a marital dispute.

His wife was not home at the time, but lost about $5,000 worth of her belongings in the blaze that occurred on July 13, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

The husband, Jason B. Buchanan, allegedly started the fire between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. that day, according to the sheriff’s office. His wife had been socializing with a 28-year-old male friend who Buchanan allegedly threatened to kill, Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said.

Buchanan was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree arson, felony harassment and for an unrelated case of third-degree malicious mischief, according to Kimsey.

Firefighters responded on July 13 to fully engulfed single-wide mobile home in a trailer park. A fire investigator and sheriff’s detective J.S. Humphrey looked into the cause.

The mobile home, valued at about $15,000, was a total loss, according to Kimsey.

Investigators reportedly found Buchanan made statements to various people about causing the fire, Kimsey stated in a press release.

Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza in a written statement praised the outstanding performance and team work by his detective and the investigator from the Chehalis Fire Department in “solving a crime like this that devastated a family, and could have impacted so many more if the fire had spread to other homes.”

Buchanan is tentatively scheduled to be brought before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

July 26th, 2018
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Updated

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called to a home on the 200 block of West Magnolia Street about 10:10 p.m. on Wednesday where a  door and its lock had been damaged sometime during the daylight hours in what appeared to be an attempt to break in.

THEFT, THEFT, THEFT

• A bicycle was stolen from the 100 block of South Rock Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 8:35 p.m. on Wednesday. The investigation continues, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called to a store on the 700 block of South Market Boulevard about 3:25 p.m. on Wednesday where a woman said her purse had been stolen from a shopping cart while she was away from it for a couple of minutes. Taken was a beige Michael Kors handbag, according to the Chehalis Police Department

• Chehalis police were called about 3:10 p.m. on Wednesday after a pick up truck left a gas station on the 600 block of West Main Street without paying for about $70 worth of fuel.

•  A flower pot was reported stolen from the porch of a residence on the 800 block of West First Street in Centralia at about 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday.

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday regarding a theft of a wallet from a vehicle in the parking lot at Ike Kinswa State Park on the 800 block of state Route 122.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called about 12:05 a.m. today for a vehicle that was extensively damaged while parked in the 200 block of East Chestnut Street. A suspect has been identified, according to the Centralia Police Department.

HARASSMENT

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 6:25 p.m. on Wednesday to a report of harassment near an RV park off U.S. Highway 12 south of Chehalis. A notation was made for informational purposes only, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 5:50 p.m. on Wednesday to a report of harassment near a gas station off U.S. Highway 12 south of Chehalis. Further details were not readily available this morning.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 9:07 p.m. on Wednesday to a report of an accident on Riverdance Lane near Packwood. The call turned out to be unfounded, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, trespassing, third-degree theft, attempt to elude, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence, third-degree malicious mischief, driving without required ignition interlock device; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, civil issue, misdemeanor theft, disorderly person, misdemeanor assault, suspicious circumstances, dog alone inside parked vehicle … and more among 156 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Uptick in reports of telephone fraud attempts in Lewis County

July 25th, 2018

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Local law enforcement agencies have recently gotten a large number of reports from members of the public who have received phone calls from scammers attempting to trick people into sending them money or revealing personal information.

The bogus collection calls are coming from numerous long distance phone numbers, according to Centralia Police Department detective Patty Finch.

“The callers are identifying themselves as the IRS or warrant service companies,” Finch stated in a press release yesterday. “In most reports, the callers are telling the victims that a warrant has been issued for their arrest or they are being sued.”

The Centralia Police Department, the Chehalis Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office have all been getting reports from potential victims, Finch said.

Some scammers are requesting peoples’ credit card information over the telephone.

The Internal Revenue Service does not telephone individuals to demand immediate payment and does not require a specific method of payment such as a prepaid debit card, a gift card or a wire transfer. Generally, the federal agency will first mail taxpayers a bill if any taxes are owed.

The IRS will never ask for credit card or debit card numbers over the phone.

Finch cautions members of the public to use caution when speaking with any callers and to never provide bank card information until after independently confirming a request is legitimate.

For more information about various tax scams, check the IRS website, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

July 25th, 2018
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Updated

BREAK-INS

• Chehalis police were called about 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday to a church at the 600 block of Northwest St. Helen’s Avenue after staff arrived and discovered that someone had been inside the building, according to the Chehalis Police Department. A burglary investigation was conducted but further details were unavailable this morning, according to police.

• Centralia police were called to the 600 block of West Cherry Street about 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday after an individual came home to find her back door had been kicked in and her dogs loose in the backyard. Nothing was taken, it is believed that the dogs scared away the would-be burglars, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THEFT, THEFT, THEFT

• Police were called to the 1700 block of South Market Boulevard in Chehalis just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday where sometime during the night, someone stole five fire extinguishers off the walls at an apartment complex.

• Centralia police were called just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday about the theft of a wallet containing a credit card which was stolen and then used at a local store in a case associated with a location on the 900 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia.

• Police were called to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia just before noon on Tuesday where a business reported fraudulent checks passed at their store.

• Centralia police took a report of the fraudulent use of a credit card about 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday in a case associated with the 900 block of Harrison Avenue.

FALSE NAME

• A 24-year-old Castle Rock resident who allegedly attempted to use his brother’s identity to avoid arrest on an outstanding warrant when contacted by police about 11:50 p.m. on Tuesday at the 1500 block of Lewis Street in Centralia was arrested for criminal impersonation, according to the Centralia Police Department. Diego Valdivia-Cano  was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called for a vehicle prowl just before 7 o’clock this morning at the 1300 block of North Scheuber Road in which an older cell phone was taken.

• An individual reported just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday that someone broke into her vehicle while it was parked at the 100 block of North Tower Avenue in Centralia. “Property” was taken,  according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 12:40 p.m. on Tuesday regarding a purse with a debit card inside stolen in a vehicle prowl and the card subsequently being used at a local store in a case associated with a location on the 1200 block of North Pearl Street. The investigation is ongoing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police responded to the 300 block of North Diamond Street for a call about 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday where an individual allegedly was seen tearing out fencing put in place by the Washington state Department of Transportation and refused an officer’s commands when he was ordered to stop and identify himself. Raymond J. Vanduren, of Longview, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree malicious mischief, obstructing a law enforcement officer and an outstanding felony warrant from the state Department of Corrections, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia and Chehalis police dealt with a case of malicious mischief around noon on Tuesday at the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia.

• An individual reported about 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday that the tires on her vehicle had been slashed at the 600 block of K Street in Centralia.

• Centralia police responded to the 500 block of North Tower Avenue in Centralia about 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday regarding vandalism.

ASSAULT

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 12:44 a.m. today regarding an assault on state Route 6 near milepost 35 outside of Chehalis. Further details were not available this morning.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, probation violation, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence, failure to transfer vehicle title; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, hit and run, civil issue, misdemeanor theft, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances … and more among 181 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

July 24th, 2018
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Updated

SERIAL BEER THIEVES

• Chehalis police were called about 12:20 a.m. today when a male tried to steal a case of Coors Light from a gas station store on the 100 block of Southwest Interstate Avenue and shoved an employee on his way out, but dropped the beer and took off in a black Toyota Tundra with multiple occupants. Twenty minutes later, officers were called to a different gas station store, on the 600 block of West Main Street, where a tall male wearing a light colored hoodie grabbed a case of Modelo beer and ran out to a dark colored Toyota Tundra, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Centralia police responded to a 2:15 a.m. call regarding the theft of beer by a male wearing a light gray hoodie at the 1000 block of Belmont Avenue. A man had also stolen a 12-pack of beer from the 1000 block of Belmont Avenue, according to a report to police about 2 a.m. on Sunday.  The incidents followed a Saturday episode at the West Main Street store in which a male stole a six-pack of beer and left in a dark colored truck, according to police. Also on Saturday night in Centralia, officers took a report of a dark-skinned teenage boy stealing a six-pack of beer from the 400 block of West Main Street, and attempting the same moments earlier at the 1000 block of Belmont Avenue.

VIOLENCE

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 10:39 a.m. on Monday for an assault on Hidden Meadows Drive outside of Chehalis. Further details were not readily available this morning.

• Centralia police began investigating a second-degree assault at the 100 block of South Tower Avenue about 1:40 a.m. on Saturday in which a female sustained a significant injury from another female.

BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• An individual reported about 8:25 p.m. on Monday that someone broke into a residence on the 1100 block of Long Road in Centralia and stole clothing and a personal electronic device, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A table saw was stolen from a shed on the 1900 block of Honeysuckle Lane in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 7:40 p.m. on Saturday.

MORE THEFT

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 8:07 p.m. on Monday for a vehicle theft from Sears Road outside Winlock. Further details were not readily available this morning.

• Centralia police were called about 4:25 p.m. on Monday about the theft of checks in a case associated with the 1000 block of Kresky Avenue.

• A business on the 1300 block of Lum Road in Centralia reported just before 5 p.m. on Monday that an individual stole a men’s Rolex watch. Centralia police describe the suspect only as a black female who fled in a silver car.

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 3:54 p.m. on Monday for theft on Minkler Road outside Winlock. Further details were not readily available this morning.

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 11:57 a.m. on Monday for theft at Toledo High School. Further details were not readily available this morning.

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 10:11 a.m. on Monday for a fraud associated with an address on Ruger Lane outside of Chehalis. Further details were not readily available this morning.

• A Chehalis police officer was dispatched about 10:15 a.m. on Friday to the 1300 block of South Market Boulevard to investigate the discovery of fraudulent checks made out to people in other states totaling about $5,000 in which the city is the victim.

• Centralia police were called about 1:15 p.m. on Friday regarding the of a theft of a wallet and the unlawful use of a debit card in a case associated with the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue.

• The unlawful issuance of bank checks was reported to Centralia police about 9:25 a.m. on Friday in a case associated with the 1300 block of South Gold Street.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 11 a.m. on Monday by a person who reported someone got into his vehicle while it was parked at the 200 block of L Street and stole prescription sunglasses last Thursday.

• Chehalis police were called about 10:40 a.m. on Sunday about an overnight vehicle prowl at the 200 block of Southeast Adams Avenue in which medication, $40, a state championship ring and a purse were among the items taken.

• Someone rummaged through a vehicle parked in a residential driveway at the 600 block of Northwest Folsom Street and stole various items, according to a report made to Chehalis police just after 8 a.m. on Friday.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called just before 3 p.m. on Monday to the 3400 block of Galvin Road in Centralia where they took a report that a gas line to a vehicle had been cut over the weekend.

DRUGS

• A man was booked into the Lewis County Jail on Monday for a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act in a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office case. David M. Maki, 45, of Winlock, was arrested at Byham and King roads in Winlock for “physical control” and also for possession of methamphetamine, according to sheriff’s office Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 9:46 p.m. on Monday for an accident on Jackson Highway at Plomondon Road near Toledo. Further details were not readily available this morning.

• A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy was called about 1:14 p.m. on Monday for an accident on Jackson Highway. Further details were not readily available this morning.

• Centralia police were called about 7:50 p.m. on Saturday regarding a “road rage” incident on the 800 block of Harrison Avenue in which one participant allegedly threatened the other with a knife. The suspect was not known to the victim and fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called to the 700 block of Euclid Way about 4:20 p.m. on Saturday where a girl was receiving driving instruction on private property when she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the neighbor’s porch and parked vehicle.

• A 2012 Peterbilt tractor and flatbed trailer were totaled and the driver injured when the driver failed to negotiate a curve causing the rig to roll on Friday morning along U.S. Highway 12 about 15 miles east of Packwood. Troopers called to the scene just before 8 a.m. indicate Magdaleno M. Olivarez, 25, from Othello, had been speeding and arrested him for second-degree negligent driving, according to the Washington State Patrol. He was transported to Morton General Hospital.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, trespassing, hit and run, fourth-degree assault, third-degree theft, driving with no license, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, third-degree malicious mischief, interfering with domestic violence reporting; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, hit and run, vandalism, civil issue, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor theft, disorderly person, misdemeanor assault, vehicle collision, suicidal person, protection order violation, dog alone in parked vehicle … and more among hundreds of calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 96-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

July 18th, 2018
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BURGLARY

• A deputy was called to the 100 block of Holcomb Road on Tuesday where sometime since June 8 someone had burglarized a home and a storage building and caused a lot of damage, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Missing are several chainsaws, a riding lawn mower and a refurbished three-wheeler, according to the sheriff’s office. The loss is estimated at as much as $50,000, Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said.

SHOPLIFT GONE BAD

• Centralia police were called to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday on a report that an individual used force to retain a shoplifted bottle of alcohol. This investigation is ongoing and the suspect should be identified soon, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday regarding an overnight vehicle prowl on the 600 block of Northwest Rhode Island Place.

INTRUDER

• Morton police responded to the 200 block of Mossyrock Road West in Mossyrock to a possible female that was trespassing on the property at about 1:50 p.m. on Sunday. The officer was unable to locate the person but the new property owners are having problems with someone prying the locks open, according to the Morton Police Department.

SWINE AT-LARGE

• Police were called about 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday regarding two large pigs found roaming in the area of Bryden Street in Centralia that ended up in a horse stable area. It is unknown who the pigs belonged to at this time, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing,  fourth-degree assault, protection order violation, driving with suspended license, third-degree domestic malicious mischief, interfering with domestic violence reporting; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor theft, vehicle collision … and more among 152 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.