Posts Tagged ‘By Sharyn L. Decker’

News brief: Unoccupied Centralia residence burns

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015
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Centralia’s North Tower Avenue is closed as firefighters extinguish a residential structure fire. / Courtesy photo by David Haladay

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The cause of a fire that heavily damaged a vacant Centralia house yesterday afternoon is under investigation.

Nobody was hurt but the 900 block of North Tower Avenue was closed for an extended time due to fire fighting operations, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

Crews responding to the 2:10 p.m. call found heavy flames from the back of the single-story home, according to the fire department.

Members of the Chehalis Fire Department assisted, to stop the fire from spreading to neighboring residences.

News brief: Fire chief’s former colleagues donate Jaws of Life to Chehalis

Tuesday, December 1st, 2015
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The Chehalis Fire Department’s new Jaws of Life are like these pictured.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Chehalis Fire Department has received a set of Jaws of Life tools from a fire department in San Matteo County.

Fire Chief Ken Cardinale said he got a call a couple of weeks ago, offering the equipment. He picked them up in California and delivered them to his fire station on Thanksgiving.

Cardinale said the donation saved the city about $65,000.

Cardinale spent 29 years with the Palo Alto Fire Department before coming to work in Chehalis in May. He reached out to some of his counterparts in California after taking the new job, he said.

“I had sent out emails and said, we have limited budgets,” he said. “(And said) if you have any useable equipment, let me know.”

A new set of Jaws – the hydraulic tools to help extricate patients from wrecked vehicles – can run as much as $100,000, he said.

The Chehalis Fire Department has one set and now they have a backup set, Cardinale said.

Once they get their new fire engine in June, which they plan to station at the Chehalis Airport, they can keep a set on that truck, he said.

Phone Fraud: Two elderly Thurston County residents cheated out of money

Tuesday, December 1st, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Two senior citizens were tricked out of a large sum of money in Thurston County by someone impersonating a police officer phoning to say their grandchild was in jail.

In both cases, the male caller identified himself with a name and rank and told the targets to go to Safeway and purchase a $3,000 Reloadit Gift Card, and then call a phone number to provide the numbers from the gift card, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

One of the victims lost all $3,000 and the other told the person she could not afford that much so they settled on $500, so she lost that, sheriff’s Lt. Cliff Ziesemer said.

The incidents both occurred during November, according to Ziesemer.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office would like the public to be aware of this phone scam.

“As a general rule, if someone is calling you requesting or demanding money and you do not know who they are, assume that it is a scam and hang up,” Ziesemer said. “You also should never provide personal information to anyone over the phone to anyone who calls you.”

In these incidents, the first caller identified himself as “Sgt. Hunter” but did not indicate which department he was from. The other caller said he was “Capt. Craig Perry” from “Bend Police Dept.”

Anyone who receives phone calls that are requesting money or personal information are asked to please call their local police department or sheriff’s office and file a report.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, December 1st, 2015
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•••

FRAUD, FRAUD, FRAUD

• Centralia police were contacted yesterday morning about a credit card stolen in Thurston County getting used to purchase gasoline in Centralia, in connection with the 1200 block of Mellen Street. Police are investigating to obtain possible suspect information, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were contacted yesterday morning by an individual who reported they nearly got ripped off in a transaction being conducted related to Craigslist. They caught it before they were scammed, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called yesterday morning by a person who discovered someone used their information to remove money from their bank account.

BURGLARY ASHFORD

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning a shop building, pump house and home in the Ashford area were all burglarized and among the missing items are two chainsaws and a quad. A friend of the out-of-state owner reported it and what all was stolen won’t be known until the owner makes a list, according to the sheriff’s office. It happened on property at the 300 block of Skate Creek Road North, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

BURGLARY CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 9:10 a.m. yesterday to the 900 block of G Street where the resident reported someone stole several games and gaming systems during the night, according to the Centralia Police Department. The victim was in the process of moving out and not there when it happened, according to police.

AUTO THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 6:45 p.m. yesterday following the discovery of a vehicle theft from the 300 block of Southeast Valley View Way. Missing is a 2001 Hyundai, with a license plate of ATL 2655, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• A rental truck stolen over the weekend from a business on the 1000 block of South Gold Street in Centralia turned up about 7:40 p.m. yesterday in Chehalis. An officer called to the 100 block of Southeast Sixth Street for a disorderly person wanted on a warrant subsequently contacted David C. Rahnert, 38, from Centralia, and arrested him for first-degree possession of stolen property, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The vehicle was a 2015 Ford van, according to police. Rahnert was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

ASSAULT

• A 44-year-old Longview resident who allegedly kicked an officer after he was placed in the back seat of a patrol car was arrested last night for third-degree assault. Allen Baker was booked into the Lewis County Jail following contact with the officer about 11:20 p.m. at the 200 block of North Buckner Street, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• Centralia police were called about 11:15 a.m. yesterday to the 800 block of Eshom Road where a high school student was allegedly found in possession of marijuana. The case is being referred to juvenile prosecutors for charging, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD

• A 46-year-old log truck driver said an elk came onto the road yesterday morning, causing his load to shift and the trailer to tip over. It happened about 7:25 a.m. along the 1100 block of Fall Road outside Randle, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office  The driver, from Aberdeen, was unhurt and his 2014 Kenworth was not damaged, according to the sheriff’s office. The 2015 trailer sustained minor damage, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, trespassing, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, driving with no license; responses for alarm, hit and run, telephone harassment, parking complaint, suspicious circumstances … and more.

CHS student said doodling on desk wasn’t actual threat

Tuesday, December 1st, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The writing found on a student’s desk early last month – “Ima shoot up the school 11/10.” – that prompted a search of everyone entering Centralia High School the following day was just doodling, according to the 16-year-old girl who subsequently turned herself in to police.

Principal Josue Lowe informed parents over the weekend the incident was solved and the individual responsible had been removed from school.

The Centralia Police Department this morning announced its investigation led to a suspect by comparing school reports and the handwriting on the desk.

She initially denied involvement, but returned later with her parent and confessed, according to police.

The girl told police she was doodling and forgot to erase it, and had no intention of following through with what was taken as a threat.

The 16-year-old student was then arrested, on Nov. 13, for felony harassment and booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center, according to detective Patty Finch.

The day after the message was discovered, officers from several agencies searched all students prior to their entry into the school.

It was less than six weeks earlier that a message discovered on a desk saying a student was planning to kill people at an assembly later in the day, prompted an hours-long lockdown and search at the high school. That threat prompted the postponement of Homecoming activities.

Finch said detectives don’t have any evidence the two incidents are related to one another. They don’t have a suspect in the Oct. 2 incident, she said.

•••

For background, read “Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup – NOTE THREATENING TO SHOOT UP SCHOOL” from Tuesday, November 10, 2015, here

Police: Handgun in Centralia teen’s pocket accidentally fired, wounding girlfriend

Monday, November 30th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Centralia police today said they concluded a 21-year-old gunshot victim was injured when a small caliber pistol in her boyfriend’s pocket accidentally discharged.

The woman was struck in the thigh and has been treated and released from the hospital, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Centralia officers were summoned to the emergency room at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia about 1 o’clock this morning after Olympia police determined an arriving patient was wounded in Centralia.

This morning, police said they didn’t know specifically where in Centralia the incident occurred, and this afternoon detective Sgt. Pat Fitzgerald didn’t offer further detail on a location, noting it is still an active investigation.

Police have said both individuals are Centralia residents.

The 18-year-old boyfriend was arrested this morning for unlawful possession of a firearm, because he is a convicted felon, according to Fitzgerald. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail also for outstanding warrants.

Fitzgerald declined to identify the boyfriend, because he has not yet been criminally charged.

Detectives are continuing to follow up on other information, according to Fitzgerald.
•••

For background, read “Detectives investigating Centralia shooting ” from Monday November 30, 2015, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, November 30th, 2015
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•••

ASSAULT

• Centralia police responded to an approximately 8 p.m. report yesterday from the area near Mellen Street and Airport Road where a victim said he was beat up and his property stolen. He refused however to press charges, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Officers responded to an alleged assault at the 200 block of Fourth Street in Morton at about 10:50 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The case is still under investigation, Morton police reported this morning.

THEFT CENTRALIA

• Police were called about 1:20 p.m. yesterday to the 500 block of West Pine Street in Centralia regarding an air compressor stolen sometime in the previous several days.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called about 2 p.m. yesterday after an individual ran two males out of his backyard on the 600 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue and discovered his truck had been broken into. Missing were a pair of black Oakley sunglasses and a case with several lenses, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• A black digital Fuji camera and a handful of SD cards were stolen from a vehicle parked at the 400 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue, according to a report made to police about 7:30 p.m. last Wednesday. It is a FinePix SD2800 HD Series model, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called about 5:10 p.m. on Wednesday to Chase Bank on the 600 block of South Market Boulevard where someone had shot the ATM with either a BB gun or pellet gun and rendered it unusable, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 9:30 a.m. on Saturday to the 600 block of Northwest Pennsylvania Avenue where someone had egged a vehicle. Several other vehicles in the area were targeted as well, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND FROM MORTON

• Officers responded to a family dispute at the 100 block of Aberdeen Road about 7:30 a.m. yesterday.  The individuals were contacted and transported to a relative’s residence, according to the Morton Police Department.

UPDATE TO CHS THREAT

• Centralia High School’s principal informed parents yesterday that the Nov. 9 incident in which a threatening message was found written on a desk has been solved and “those” involved removed from school and are facing legal consequences for their actions. Unlike a somewhat similar find on Oct. 2 that prompted an hours-long search of students and the campus – and cancellation of a homecoming assembly – classes proceeded on Nov. 10, but all those entering the school were to be searched.

CHIMNEY FIRE

• Firefighters called about 2:15 p.m. yesterday to a fire at the 200 block of Devereese Road outside Chehalis found a chimney fire and extinguished it. The residents returned home to find smoke, according to Lewis County Fire District 6. District spokesperson DJ Hammer said there was no structural damage and it appeared buildup from the old chimney ignited, even though the fireplace and chimney had been re-done.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, no-contact order violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, disorderly person, barking dogs, runaway juvenile, suspicious circumstances, collision on county road … and more.