Lewis County Sirens.com

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TIMBER FIRE BURNS NEAR ALDER LAKE

• An approximately 25-acre fire burning just south of Alder Lake yesterday afternoon is unsafe and inaccessible to firefighters because of the steep terrain, according to a public affairs officer with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Helicopters dropping buckets of water have been helpful with the lightning-strike caused timber fire which was reported on Tuesday, according to authorities. The fire is near Elbe and being managed by the Gifford Pinchot and the state Department of Natural Resources. A Type 3 wildland fire management team with approximately 40 firefighters and personnel are assigned, operating at the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. There is no estimate of containment or control. Officials remind the public of restrictions that began on July 1 all through the Gifford Pinchot that prohibit any kind of motorized vehicles on trails, any smoking outside of buildings or enclosed vehicles and any campfires unless they are built inside the provided metal campfire rings or grills in developed recreational sites.

POLICE: DAYTIME OFFICE BURGLAR APPREHENDED

• Centralia police arrested a 37-year-old Morton man on Saturday after they found him inside a closed business on the 1100 block of Kresky Avenue. Officers were called at 1:20 p.m. by a citizen who saw a male throw a rock through the glass door and enter, according to the Centralia Police Department. When police arrived, the subject was rummaging through the office and “squared off” against an officer, according to police.   Joseph C. Tjelde had allegedly stuffed his pockets with various items of no particular street vale, Sgt. Carl Buster said. Tjelde  was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree burglary.

BREAK-IN

• Police were called to the 500 block of North Rock Street about 10:15 a.m. on Saturday regarding the theft of tools from a residence.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called about 8 o’clock on Sunday morning to the 1800 block of Shamrock Drive where an individual reported two credit card accounts were fraudulently opened in their name.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, trespassing, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license, violation of an anti-harassment order, unlawful possession of fireworks; responses for hit and run, misdemeanor theft, collision on city street … and more.

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MOTHER NATURE DANGER

• Firefighters were called at 1 p.m. yesterday when lightning strikes to trees caused two brush fires along Lincoln Creek Road west of Centralia. Firefighters with the state Department of Natural Resources were already on the scene at the 2100 block and both fires were small and contained quickly, according to Riverside Fire Authority. It was fortunate it was continuously raining at the time, preventing anything larger from developing, Capt. Erik Olson indicated. Conditions are still very dry and the fire danger remains high, despite the small amount of rain that fell, according to Olson.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called about 10:25 a.m. yesterday to the 2500 block of Kristine Court in Centralia about a flashlight getting stolen from a vehicle.

FAKE BILL COLLECTOR THREATS

• Police and the Centralia Utilities Center are warning customers of a scam involving bogus collection calls. Authorities have gotten several complaints from customers who reported receiving a phone call from a male who said if they didn’t pay their bill immediately, their utilities would be shut off,  according to the Centralia Police Department. Anyone who gets such a call is urged to hang up and then phone 360-330-7657. Police detective Patty Finch said that is the only valid number for the utilities customer service department. Finch indicates it’s a rare occasion the utility will call a customer, and that would be after both a statement and a past due letter have been sent out.

CRIME STOPPERS

• Crime Stoppers of Lewis County and the Chehalis Police Department are seeking help with a burglary investigation involving some $3,000 worth of Ray-Ban and other brands of sunglasses stolen from an optometry business at the 100 block of Boistfort Street in Chehalis. The break-in occurred between 6 p.m. on July 30 and 4 o’clock the following morning, according to authorities. More than 30 pairs were taken. Crime Stoppers pays up to $1,000 for information leading to the clearance of crimes. Anonymous calls can be made to 1-800-748-6422 or information may be shared online at www.lewiscountycrimestoppers.org

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault; responses for collision on city street, collision on Interstate 5 … and more.

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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.

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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.