News brief: Morton resident injured in Highway 101 wreck in Pacific County

February 17th, 2016

Updated at 4:31 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Morton man was airlifted to a Portland hospital overnight after a single-vehicle crash on Highway 101 about seven miles northwest of Naselle.

Troopers called just before 11:30 p.m. yesterday report the gold 2001 Chevrolet Blazer was southbound when for unknown reasons it left the roadway to the right and struck a tree stump.

The driver, Jeffrey R. Moulton, 28, was injured and transported by air to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, according to the Washington State Patrol. A hospital spokesperson shortly after 8 a.m. said Moulton was still being evaluated but by this afternoon, he was listed in fair condition.

The Blazer was totaled, according to the state patrol.

The investigating trooper reports it’s unknown if Moulton had been wearing a seat belt.

The cause is under investigation, but they suspect alcohol or drugs to be involved.

Gina Schmidt: Still no sign of Centralia resident after 24 months

February 16th, 2016
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Centralia police are hoping for tips on the whereabouts of Gina D. Schmidt.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

It’s been two years and one day since a Centralia woman was last seen, and police are once again reaching out to the public for information that might help them locate her.

Gina D. Schmidt was 48 years old and described as a vulnerable adult when police began looking into her disappearance. She was last seen at 11:45 p.m. on Feb. 15, 2014 when she was dropped off by a taxi at the 300 block of North Tower Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department.

She had just been discharged from Providence Centralia Hospital at Cooks Hill and South Scheuber roads in Centralia.

Schmidt wasn’t reported missing until early May of that year and investigators found the situation at her apartment was her belongings were left as though she fully intended to return.

Schmidt has a history of alcohol abuse and medical issues including seizures, according to polIce.

She is described as a white female who is 5-feet 2-inches tall, weighing about 125 pounds, with graying blond shoulder length hair and blue eyes.

Centralia police say she was last seen dressed in blue sweatpants with a tan and multi-colored long polyester coat, and she had a white tube sock on her arm.

Any information regarding her whereabouts can be forwarded to the Centralia Police Department detective’s division, referencing case number 14A3683.

For those wishing to earn a reward or remain anonymous, they can call Crime Stoppers of Lewis County at 1-800-748-9268.

•••

For background, read “Centralia resident disappears after leaving hospital” from Thursday June 12, 2014, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 16th, 2016
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Updated at 4:42 p.m.

DRUGS

• A 22-year-old Centralia resident was arrested yesterday afternoon for possession of heroin after contact with police at the 100 block of West High Street in Centralia. Mateo A. Miramontes was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office reports this morning that  a Chehalis Tribal Police officer made contact with a 55-year-old Vancouver, Washington man at the End of the Trails gas station near Oakville around 2:30 a.m. today and found him to be in possession of an unspecified illegal drug. The man, un-named, was arrested for a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and transported by deputies to jail where he was booked, according to Chief Deputy Steve Shumate.

• A 41-year-old Shelton man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and other offenses after Chehalis police were called to a report of shoplifting at Wal-Mart at about 10:15 a.m. yesterday. Larry J. Bradley had a warrant and a search of his vehicle allegedly turned up four pipes, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Bradley was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• A 33-year-old Centralia man was arrested for possession of drugs after he was contacted by Chehalis police in connection with alleged attempted shoplifting at Wal-Mart on Saturday afternoon. An officer responding to the Louisiana Avenue retailer found Steven M. Mullins had three outstanding warrants and subsequently located a needle with a clear brown substance as well as small plastic baggie of a white crystal substance, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Mullins was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

BREAK-IN CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 6:40 p.m. yesterday for a burglary at the 400 block of East Pine Street. Missing is a gaming system and a computer tablet, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BREAK-IN ONALASKA

• A 19-year-old Onalaska resident was arrested on Friday morning after deputies reviewed security images from a burglary the night before at a gas station and convenience store on state Route 508 at Jorgensen Road in Onalaska. They were called about 9:40 p.m. last Thursday to find a window was damaged and various property missing, including approximately $200 worth of cigarettes, $200 cash and then $330 worth of glass pipes and other smoking devices, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The images led to a suspect, Joseph M. Neer, who was arrested for second-degree burglary and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

BREAK-IN CHEHALIS

• Chehalis police were called about 3:15 p.m. on Friday to a church on the 1800 block of Southwest Snively Avenue following the discovery someone had pried open the door to  storage shed and stole property including a table top barbecue and tools.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police took a report about 3 a.m. on Saturday of a vehicle prowl at the 1900 block of South Market Boulevard in which a toolbox was stolen.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called about 8:50 a.m. yesterday to the 500 block of Yew Street regarding the back window of a vehicle broken out, possibly by a BB, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 7:50 p.m. on Sunday to a home on Northwest New York Avenue to take a report that a 21-year-old Centralia man who had been house-sitting destroyed many items in the home. Officer had been to the residence several hours earlier for a suicidal person and he was taken to the hospital, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Officers are forwarding information to prosecutors for a possible charge of first-degree malicious mischief, according to police.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police responded to an approximately 6:30 a.m. call today of a hit and run to a fire hydrant at the 800 block of Elm Street. There is no suspect vehicle information, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual,  other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, harassment, disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, vandalism, misdemeanor theft, employee theft, suspicious circumstances, landlord-tenant problems  … and more, among the 127 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 6:10 a.m. today

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 15th, 2016
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ASSAULTS

• Centralia police were called about 3:20 p.m. yesterday to the 100 block of Virginia Drive where an individual said he answered a knock at the door and was assaulted by multiple males. He was unable to provide a reason for the assault or information on the suspects, according to the Centralia Police Department. Further details were not readily available.

• Police were called just before 10 p.m. on Saturday to the 900 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia where a 65-year-old Winlock woman allegedly assaulted three hospital staff. Bonnie J. Bishop was arrested for third-degree assault and booked into the Lewis County Jail,  according to the Centralia Police Department.

THEFT OF TOOLS

• Centralia police were called about 10:50 p.m. on Saturday regarding a burglary at the 1700 block of Kresky Avenue. Tools and computers were reported stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THEFT OF CAR

• Centralia police took a report of a stolen car from the 300 block of East Pine Street on Saturday afternoon. Missing is a teal-colored 1997 Dodge Neon, according to the Centralia Police Department.

HOUSE FIRE

• A fire in a vacant single-story house in Ryderwood on Friday afternoon was found to be caused by clothing pushed up against a wall heater. Fire Investigator Ted McCarty said he estimated as much as $30,000 damage to the home on the 100 block of Madison Street. The resident had passed away about a week earlier so it was vacant, but relatives had been there cleaning a few days before the fire, McCarty said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, protection order violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, suspicious circumstances … and more, among the 124 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 6:45 a.m. today

News brief: Wood stove at the center of Winlock fire

February 13th, 2016
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The two-story house remains standing, but ruined by the Thursday evening fire. / Courtesy photo by Derrick Paul

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The blaze that destroyed a Winlock home originated around the wood stove, Fire Investigator Derrick Paul said today.

Paul said he didn’t know exactly what happened, whether maybe something was left to close or its pipe failed.

What he does know for sure is a smoke alarm alerted the sleeping occupant, enabling him to get out.

“Without a doubt, it would have been a different story if he did not have working smoke detectors,” Paul said.

The resident had lit his wood stove before going to bed, he works a night shift, according to authorities.

Crews responding to the Thursday evening call at the 200 block of Walter Road found heavy flames at the front of the two-story house.

He was able to escape, but sustained a little bit of smoke inhalation, Paul said. And, he suffered second-degree burns on his feet from walking over melted linoleum on his way out, he said.

Lewis County Fire District 15 Assistant Chief Kevin Anderson said yesterday the residence and its contents are a total loss.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 13th, 2016
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•••

MORE HEROIN ARRESTS

• Three people were arrested when drug detectives served another search warrant at a Chehalis residence this week, this one on the 1900 block of South Market Boulevard, according to Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Paul Masiello. The primary target in the case was 23-year-old Jacob C. Hampton, who was charged yesterday with three deliveries of heroin to informants during the period between Dec. 1 and Thursday when members of the Lewis County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team went to the apartment he shared with 20-year-old Kimberly J. Hicks and their two small children, according to prosecutors. Charging papers say they found a drug kit on the kitchen table, containing digital scales as well as baggies with a brown residue. Located on Hicks’ person was a prescription Suboxone strip, according to the documents. Detectives allegedly persuaded Hicks to contact the person she said was her supplier and ask him to bring her some heroin, according to the documents. When Chehalis resident James M. Barnes, 42, arrived, he was arrested as well. A small amount of heroin was found in his vehicle, as well as a drug kit, and detectives were led to believe Barnes was there to pick up money from Hicks, which he would use to obtain her heroin, according to allegations. Barnes was charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court with attempted delivery of a controlled substance and possession; his bail set at $10,000. Hicks was charged with one count of delivery of heroin, one count of possession and a third count related to possession of the Suboxone; her bail set with a $10,000 unsecured bond. Hampton was additionally charged with heroin possession. Hampton’s bail was set at $20,000. JNET served a search warrant on Wednesday at a house on  Southwest Fourth Street in Chehalis, arresting a 29-year-old man for two alleged sales of heroin previously to confidential informants, as well as other offenses related to their search.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called about 9:20 a.m. yesterday about a vehicle prowl at the 700 block of North Washington Avenue in Centralia. Missing were two debit cards and a stereo, according to the Centralia Police Department.

MYSTERY GUEST

• Centralia police responded to an approximately 12:50 a.m. call today to the 1000 block of Eckerson Road regarding an unknown person staying in a room they hadn’t paid for. No arrest was made, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, collision on state highway … and more, among the 141 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 6:30 a.m. today

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

February 12th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 1:20 p.m.

IN-TOWN ROUNDUP

• A cow being off-loaded at the veterinary hospital on the 1300 block of South Gold Street escaped, leading to a police pursuit that took five police officers about two and a half hours yesterday evening. At one point the animal “bowled over” one individual and also led to the bus garage on South Locust Street, according to the Centralia Police Department. Eventually it was tranquilized and returned to its owner, according to police.

WAL-MART ARRESTS

• A 41-year-old suspected shoplifter reportedly got into a struggle with a police officer in the Wal-Mart parking lot yesterday morning in Chehalis, leading to a minor hand injury for the officer, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Police called just before 8 a.m. to the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue were told he had filled up backpacks with merchandise but dropped them before leaving the building, according to police. It turns out Imra G. Vanwolvelaere and his female companion had arrived to the store in a stolen truck, Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said. He was arrested for third-degree assault and Julia E. Tucker, 35, was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, Kaut said. The Easton-area pair were booked into the Lewis County Jail.

UP IN SMOKE

• A deputy who contacted individuals parked after hours last night at the post office on the 100 block of Gershick Road in Silver Creek recognized from his training the large plume of smoke that exited the passenger window as coming from marijuana, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The keys were in the ignition of the vehicle which was was running and the 19-year-old behind the wheel allegedly failed field sobriety tests, according to the sheriff’s office. Blood was drawn from Tristan B. Watson via warrant at Providence Centralia Hospital and he was arrested, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said. The Mossyrock resident was booked into the Lewis County Jail for being in physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated and minor in possession of marijuana, Brown said.

REPORT OF SCAM

• Centralia police were called at 1 p.m. yesterday by a man at the 300 block of West Pine Street who reported he was convinced to send money overseas to an unknown person via bank transfer. The case is still under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

OTHER THEFT

• Centralia police took a report from an individual who called 911 about 4 p.m. yesterday from the 1200 block of Mellen Street, who said they loaned their cell phone to a stranger and left for a minute and when they returned, both were gone.

NIGHTTIME VISITOR ARRESTED

• A 35-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for third-degree malicious mischief after allegedly throwing a rock and breaking the glass screen door on a residence on the 600 block of Northwest Folson Street in Chehalis. Police called at 1:35 a.m. today booked Carey R. Cosgrove into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Cosgrove and the resident know each other, police said.

COP INTERVENES FOR THERAPEUTIC COMPANION DOG

• Morton police on Tuesday morning were called to the 500 block of Adams Avenue where an individual said he had been turned away from a business because of his therapeutic companion dog. The officer researched the state and federal law regarding service dogs and informed the individuals denying the man access that the man had the proper doctor’s paperwork and approval, according to the Morton Police Department.

FROM THE COURTHOUSE

• Prosecutors charged a 61-year-old Chehalis man yesterday with unlawful use of a building for drug purposes after arresting his grown son for allegedly selling drugs at least once from their shared home on Southwest Fourth Street, off Market Boulevard. Craig A. Godsey, 61, and Michael N. Godsey, 29, were both arrested on Wednesday, the same day a warrant was served at the residence by members of the Lewis County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team. Court documents state that twice since Jan. 1 a confidential informant purchased heroin from the younger Godsey. The father allegedly admitted to police on Wednesday he was a methamphetamine user and told them they would find a pipe in his room. A search of the son’s room allegedly turned up two baggies of suspected meth, a digital scale with a brown substance on its plate and two suspected forged checks written out to Michael Godsey, according to charging documents. Michael Godsey was charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court with two counts of delivery of heroin, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, one count of possession of heroin and two counts of forgery. His bail was set at $20,000. His father’s bail was set with a $10,000 unsecured bond.

SAVING LIVES

• “It was a good day,” Chehalis Fire Department member Derek Pedersen said of his 24-hour shift that ended this morning. Firefighters and medics called at 6:45 p.m. yesterday to a home on Fourth Street for a man who was unconscious were able to revive him with CPR and by “zapping” him twice, Pedersen said. The patient was talking and laughing by the time he got to the hospital, he said. Pedersen called it miraculous, something that doesn’t happen very often.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, disturbance, misdemeanor theft, disorderly persons, suspicious circumstances, cat dishes and ashtrays from back patio being moved to alley … and more, among the 144  calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 6:30 a.m. today