Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

January 12th, 2016
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ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 16-year-old boy suffered a possible head injury when he lost control of his car on an icy road and collided with a power pole yesterday morning outside Chehalis. A deputy responding to the approximately 6:50 a.m. wreck at the 600 block of Coal Creek Road noted the Chehalis resident had been wearing his seatbelt but was traveling too fast, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. His Ford Focus sustained major damage, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A 16-year-old driver from Winlock escaped injury in a single-vehicle collision about 8:35 a.m. yesterday at the 100 block of Roe Road outside of Winlock. The teen was traveling eastbound, lost control on the icy road and slid into the ditch, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The Ford Taurus sustained major front end damage, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A 52-year-old Packwood man was injured when he lost control of vehicle on Sunday afternoon on an icy stretch of the 400 block of Cannon Road. The Ford Ranger went into a ditch and rolled, coming to rest on its driver’s side, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s office. He was transported by aid to Morton General Hospital with a broken arm and his truck was towed, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants,  malicious mischief, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, car prowl shoplifting, harassment, misdemeanor assault, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

January 11th, 2016
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SCHOOL ASSAULT

• Chehalis police are investigating a fight between two students at W.F West High School on Friday as a possible felony assault. Officers responding about 12:30 p.m. learned an individual who phoned 911 said the 15-year-old girl was kicked in the head, but this morning police say she was hit multiple times, including possibly in the head by a knee. The officer had not yet interviewed the other girl as of this morning, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Detective Sgt. Gary Wilson said he didn’t know the extent of the injuries, but the case is being investigated as a second-degree assault.

SUSPICIOUS BANK CARDS

• Police found several credit cards on a woman arrested for trespassing yesterday after she allegedly went inside an empty home on the 500 block of Yew Street in Centralia. Sara M. Culp, 33, was booked into the Lewis County Jail after the approximately 2 p.m. contact with an officer, also for misdemeanor warrants, according to the Centralia Police Department. The bank cards didn’t have Culp’s name on them, so officers are investigating, according to police.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called about 6:50 p.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 900 block of North Washington Avenue in Centralia. A wallet was stolen from an unlocked vehicle, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called yesterday to the 900 block of F Street where someone had entered a parked and unlocked vehicle sometime since the previous evening. Missing were miscellaneous items, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• Centralia police arrested a 31-year-old man for possession of heroin last night at the 900 block of North Washington Avenue. Jeremiah R Johnson, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 23-year-old man contacted at Wal-Mart for being at the store after previously being “trespassed” from there on Friday night was subsequently arrested for possession of heroin. Nicholas A. Huston was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Police were called about 11 a.m. yesterday regarding someone slashing tires on a vehicle at the 500 block of Railroad Avenue in Centralia.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, disorderly conduct, malicious mischief, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, minor in possession and/or consumption of alcohol; responses for alarm, dispute, shoplifting, suspicious circumstances, parental custody issues, collision on city street … and more.

Children safe after man tries to steal van with them inside it

January 11th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A stranger nearly drove off with a vehicle occupied by four children while their parents were unloading groceries at their Centralia home yesterday evening.

The 28-year-old father jumped into the passenger side of the vehicle and yelled at the man, who apologized and ran off, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

It happened about 4:50 p.m. at the 1600 block of Windsor Avenue, at the north end of town, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

Deputies searched the area and a dog track was conducted, but the subject was not found, Brown said.

According to Brown, the family had just got home from grocery shopping and planned to head to the laundry, so the parents were taking their purchases inside and bringing laundry outside, while the children waited.

The father saw the man and thought he was coming to the door, but saw him get into their van instead and start driving away, Brown said.

He didn’t get very far.

The father ran and caught up to the vehicle and climbed into the passenger seat, she said.

When he asked the man what he was doing, he responded by saying he was not right in the head, and he didn’t want any trouble, Brown said. Then he fled.

The children were not harmed, she said.

The suspect spoke Spanish and was described as heavy set, with a mustache and wearing a hat and blue shirt and probably between 40 to 50 years old.

Brown said it’s not clear if the man was just attempting to steal the van and didn’t realize it had kids in it, or what.

The K-9 track did turn up some evidence, she said The sheriff’s office continues to investigate, she said.

The man is now wanted for attempted vehicle theft and kidnapping, according to Brown.

News brief: Centralia gas station clerk robbed

January 11th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A Centralia gas station was robbed at gunpoint early this morning.

Officers responded to a 5:10 a.m. call to the Chevron at 1000 block of Harrison Avenue, but didn’t find a suspect, according to the Centralia Police Department. No injury has been reported.

Police were told a man in his 20s entered the business, asked for cigarettes and then displayed a handgun and demanded money. The clerk complied, according to police.

The subject fled on foot and a track by a police dog was conducted but ended at the freeway, according to police.

The suspect was described as a white male with light facial hair, about 5-feet 9-inches tall and weighing about 175 pounds.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

January 10th, 2016
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ATV STOLEN

• A green Polaris quad was missing from a shed on the 400 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia on Friday morning.

PROWLING CONTINUES IN CENTRALIA

• Police were called about 1:30 p.m. yesterday to the 300 block of Lakeshore Drive in Centralia where they were told someone broke the door lock on a work truck and removed a work binder.

• Someone stole $25 in coins and miscellaneous other items from a vehicle parked at the 1600 block of Military Road in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 12:30 p.m. yesterday.

• Police were called about 8:50 a.m. yesterday for a car prowl at the 700 block of South Silver Street. Someone apparently used a large rock to break out a passenger window and then stole a purse, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A bag filled with softball equipment was reported stolen from a vehicle parked at the 500 block of South Ash Street in Centralia just before midnight on Friday.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called on Friday by an individual at he 1300 block of South Gold Street who said several checks were missing from her checkbook and were clearing the bank even though the victim did not issue them.  The investigation is continuing.

ON THE ROAD

• When an officer arrested a 31-year-old Centralia motorist for driving with a suspended license just before 10 p.m. on Friday, his three passengers were all arrested and booked for outstanding warrants. Jeremiah R. Johnson, 31, of Centralia, was arrested and then released after the stop at the 800 block of Harrison Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department. But booked into the Lewis County Jail were Brandi J. Shea, 34, of Chehalis; John L .Lininger, 42, of Centralia; and Toni L. Maier, 44, of Centralia, according to police.

• It was about 4:20 a.m. today when an officer made contact with a woman in a suspicious vehicle at the 900 block of Yew Street, who allegedly gave police a fake name. Officers concluded she was 21-year-old Kristina S. Bailey, who had two outstanding warrants for her arrest, according to the Centralia Police Department. Bailey was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, reckless driving, disorderly conduct, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … go Hawks … and more.

Prison sentencing error allowed convicted Centralia armed burglar out too soon

January 9th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Centralia man who should have been released from prison tomorrow for a nighttime burglary in which he exchanged gunfire with a business owner is among those mistakenly let out early because of a software coding error at the state Department of Corrections.

Todd R. Chissus was 30 years old when he was arrested in April 2004 several days after the break-in at Sunny Valley Sales on South Gold Street in Centralia.

Chissus was released on September 28 – more than three months too soon – but is now back in custody, according to to information released yesterday by the state Department of Corrections.

Last month, Gov. Jay Inslee revealed the discovery that as many as 3,200 offenders may have been released early over the course of 13 years.

The problem affected offenders with sentencing enhancements, who were over-credited with good time.

Early estimates from the governor’s office indicated the median number of days offenders were released from prison was 49 days before their correct release date.

As of yesterday, Chissus was among 77 individuals either apprehended or who turned themselves in and were returned to a correctional facility.

The governor last month ordered a halt to releases of potentially affected inmates, until a hand calculation was done to ensure their correct release date.

Also yesterday, DOC said at least 27 individuals committed new crimes during the time while they should have still been locked up.

Chissus was not on that list.

Eight of those 27 are alleged to have committed new felonies while out, including first-degree murder and vehicular homicide.

So far, prison officials have reviewed releases going back to Dec. 17, 2011. The computer error dates back to 2002.

Chissus was convicted in 2005 in Lewis County Superior Court of first-degree burglary with a firearm enhancement.

Nobody else convicted in Lewis County is shown on the documents currently available from the ongoing review.

DOC first learned there was a problem in 2012 and began the process of a sequencing fix, but for reasons undergoing an independent investigation, the repair was repeatedly delayed.

News brief: Motel pool death victim is 55-year-old local woman

January 9th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The woman found dead at the indoor pool of a Centralia motel was 55-year-old Theresa M. Kemper, according to the Lewis County coroner.

Police, firefighters and medics responding to a reported accidental drowning just after noon time on Thursday at the King Oscar Motel were unable to resuscitate her.

Centralia Police Department detective Patricia Finch said the victim had been living at the motel for about a week, that she and her sister had moved there from the Winlock area.

Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod described Kemper as a Centralia resident.

Finch said the death didn’t appear to be suspicious.

The cause and manner of her death, however, won’t be confirmed by the coroner until he receives the results of toxicology tests.
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For background, read “Centralia police: Woman drowns at motel pool” from Friday January 8, 2016, here