Posts Tagged ‘By Sharyn L. Decker’

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, August 14th, 2015
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SCREAMING WOMAN

• Centralia police were called last night when a resident at Main and North Buckner streets heard a woman screaming outside and then saw a flatbed truck driving away. The female was saying no, no and her voice seemed to be coming from inside the vehcile, according to the the Centralia Police Department. Arriving officers after the 11:38 p.m. call searched the area and found two items of clothing that seemed out of place, according to police. They broadcast the information and truck’s description to other area law enforcement. Officers were told the truck had a white front cab with a black flat bed and a loud muffler. As of his morning, there are no reports of any missing person, according to police.

GROPING REPORT

• A 14-year-old girl’s parent’s called police yesterday evening after she told of a man near the river near Borst Park who reportedly touched her inappropriately as he helped her up an incline while she and her friend were leaving. According to police, two girls were relaxing by the river when approached by a stranger who made them uncomfortable so they decided to depart the area. “The victim was having trouble climbing back out of where they were so the male suddenly grabbed the female around the waist in an effort to help her up the incline and ended up touching her crotch area on the outside of her clothes,” Centralia police reported in a summary of the incident. She pushed his hand away and told her parents, according to the Centralia Police Department. The man was described as Hispanic- or Indian-looking with very short hair, in his late 20’s to early 30’s and speaking with an unknown accent, according to police. He was wearing blue jeans and a shirt that was striped with red and gray or black, according to the report. An officer checked the area but the man was not located, according to police.

YARD THEFT

• A 1997 Bulldog tilt car trailer was stolen off property at the 800 block of Nevil Road outside Winlock sometime between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. yesterday morning, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is estimated at $2,500, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Someone stole tires and rims from a backyard at the 1400 block of Oxford Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police late yesterday afternoon.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called about 9:40 a.m. yesterday regarding a car window broken at the 2800 block of Russell Road.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, vandalism, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances, rollover accident on Interstate 5 with no injury, dog left alone in presumably too hot parked vehicle, unfounded report of two babies left alone in a vehicle in a parking lot … and more.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, August 13th, 2015
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ASSAULT

• Chehalis police were called about 8 a.m. yesterday to the 500 block of Southeast Washington Avenue about two males fighting, but neither wanted police to pursue charges. An officer was called about 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday to the 500 block of Southeast Washington Avenue where a client wanted to report being assaulted a by another client. The case is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

BREAK-INS CENTRALIA

• Police responded to an approximately 5 p.m. call on Tuesday for a burglary at a home on the 600 block of Yew Street in Centralia. Several electronic devices were taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday for a burglary discovered at a residence on the 600 block of Lakeshore Drive. Money and a purse were missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called at about 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday to the 1000 block of Alder Street about a burglary to a residence. Among the missing property were jewelry, camera, a backpack and food, according to the Centralia Police Department.

MISSING TRUCK FOUND IN MINERAL

• A search around the town of Mineral last night for approximately three hours for a woman with misdemeanor warrants turned up both the woman and a truck stolen out of Tacoma, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were notified Sabrina M. Colwell, 43, had been seen driving the 1990 Chevrolet S10 pickup round the area and eventually located her just before 9 p.m. at the 100 block of Lincoln Avenue, according to the sheriff’s office. Colwell was booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle and for her warrants, Cmdr. Dusty Breen said.

LOST AND FOUND

• Chehalis police were called on Tuesday by a female who said she lost her wallet, she thought around 11 p.m. the night before near Rite Aid on the 500 block of South Market Boulevard. She said the pink wallet contained about $1,000 cash as well as identification, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called about 11:30 a.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 200 block of East Summa Street in Centralia which a battery was stolen.

• A backpack and some medication were reported stolen from a vehicle parked at the 700 block of Harrison Avenue on Tuesday at about 2:30 p.m.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, probation violation, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, harassment, hit and run, misdemeanor theft, fireworks complaint, collision on city street, dog left alone in presumably too hot parked vehicle … and more.

Gish Road Fire: Minimal burning, but work continues with scores of personnel

Thursday, August 13th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  The fire that consumed and scorched 102 acres of private property in Onalaska is considered 70 percent contained this morning.

Since Monday it has been mostly smoldering and smoking, having burned young Douglas fir and alder as well as thick underbrush and leftovers from previous logging.

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Tuesday August 11, 2015

No one has been injured and no structures lost, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

One hundred seventy people are assigned to work the fire today, along with 14 fire engines, three dozers and five water tenders, according to a spokesperson for its incident command team.

A fact sheet issued this morning from Public Information Officer Connie Birkland lists the fire as “human caused, under investigation”. But Birkland said they still don’t know what sparked the blaze on Sunday.

“We’re just making that statement,” Birkland said. “We just know there was no lightning at the time, no obvious evidence (like something from a power line); so we’re assuming it’s human caused.”

Birkland said they have no specific information about what did cause the fire. DNR investigators are responsible for finding that out, she said.

The fire scene is on a relatively flat ridge top south of Gish Road.

Birkland said they initially reported it was 103 acres, but revised that down after the individual who measured it said it was really closer to 102 acres.

Crews continue to mop up hot spots within the fire perimeter. Fire is minimal and continues to smolder in stumps and root system.

No new fire growth is expected, a relatively thin fire line was established early on.

They’re expecting slightly cooler weather with a chance of minimal rain and possibly lightning, Birkland said.

“We’re also being told it would take quite a bit of rain to make any difference for the fire,” she said.
•••

For background, read “Gish Road Fire: Smoldering and smoking could continue for weeks” from Tuesday August 11, 2015, here

News brief: Death on the railroad tracks in Centralia

Thursday, August 13th, 2015

Updated at 1:53 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A bicyclist who tried to cross the tracks as a freight train was approaching in downtown Centralia last night fell off his bike and was killed by the train.

Officers dispatched at about 11:22 p.m. found him deceased and laying on the tracks, according to the Centralia Police Department.

It happened near the intersection of Locust and Railroad avenues.

Police learned the man had been pedaling east and continued even though the crossing arms were down.

“Witnesses say the subject fell off his bike and was unable to move off the tracks prior to being hit by the train,” detective Patty Finch said in a news release this morning.

Finch said she believes he is local,  and 72 years old, but detectives are not releasing his name.

Detectives, law enforcement with BNSF and the coroner’s office were on the scene until about 2:30 a.m.

Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod said he may be able to reach out to the likely next-of-kin today, but won’t have a confirmed identity of the individual until after the autopsy tomorrow.

Chehalis police: Stranger tells teen to get in his car

Wednesday, August 12th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  Chehalis police are looking for a blond-haired young man with a silver Ford passenger car after an odd incident at the Twin City Town Center last night.

An individual called 911 about 10:50 p.m. to say he and his 13-year-old grandson were cleaning up the parking lot and the driver pulled up near the young teen.

“He asked the boy where the nearest gas station was, the boy pointed across the parking lot and he told the boy, ‘get in my car’,” Chehalis Police Department spokesperson Linda Bailey said. “The boy replied no and the car drove off.”

A female in the passenger seat reportedly said nothing.

Officers checked the area around the 1400 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue and didn’t locate the car, Bailey said. They broadcast the information to other police departments, she said.

The driver was described as about 20 years old, with a handlebar type mustache, that curled up on its ends, Bailey said.

“We’re looking into the availability of surveillance video and researching possible partial (license) plates,” Bailey said.

News brief: Two hurt in separate motorcycle incidents

Wednesday, August 12th, 2015

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  A motorcyclist was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle today after a wreck along the 100 block of Hewett Road southeast of Chehalis.

Members of Lewis County Fire District 6 responded to the approximately noontime crash to find the motorcycle had left the roadway into the vegetation and the patient had chest injuries, according to a district spokesperson.

The patient was transported by ambulance to a nearby privately owned landing strip where he was transferred to the care of the AirLift Northwest crew, spokesperson Firefighter DJ Hammer indicated.

It happened near Steveson Road. The 64-year-old Chehalis man initially was said to not have been wearing a helmet, but it turned out he was, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Meanwhile a motorcyclist speeding down Interstate 5 last night who laid down his motorcycle before colliding with the underside of a semi truck was listed in satisfactory condition this morning.

Troopers notified about 9:40 p.m. had been chasing the 1998 Honda VTR1000 southbound for an unknown reason, according to the Washington State Patrol.

State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Dave Bourland said the pursuit had been terminated prior to the accident.

It ended near milepost 59 outside of Vader. The southbound lanes were partially closed until 2 o’clock this morning.

Michael B. Hills, 38, of Kelso, was transported to  PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver for treatment, the investigating trooper reports. At midmorning, Hills remained in the intensive care unit, but was in satisfactory condition, a hospital spokesperson said.

Hills is to be arrested for driving under the influence as well as eluding, according to the state patrol.

He was wearing a helmet and did have a motorcycle endorsement, the state patrol reports.

Bourland had no further details such as where the pursuit began or why.
•••

CORRECTION: This news story has been updated to correctly reflect the motorcyclist in the Hewett Road  wreck was wearing a helmet. Incorrect information had been provided by the sheriff’s office.

News brief: Chehalis garage catches fire

Wednesday, August 12th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS –  A motorist spotted smoke and flames just east of Interstate 5 when passing through Chehalis yesterday afternoon, drawing a response from three departments for a structure fire.

Chehalis Fire Department Capt. Casey Beck said they found a detached garage burning next to a vacant home near the 500 block of Maryland Avenue at about 2 p.m.

“We got there, the garage was fully involved,” Beck said. “We pulled a line and got it put out.”

The response involved about a dozen firefighters, he said.

Since the residence was unoccupied, the garage was empty, and now it’s gutted, according to Beck.

“I’m not sure why it caught fire, it’s still under investigation,” he said.