Toddler’s body still at morgue more than five months after death

March 18th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – It was a month ago the Lewis County coroner initiated a civil action, asking a judge to decide which funeral home he can call to pick up the body of a toddler – who died last autumn – from the coroner’s office.

Coroner Warren McLeod felt he was at an impasse because the unmarried parents of 3-year-old Jasper Henderling-Warner couldn’t agree about which mortuary should cremate the child.

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Jasper Henderling-Warner

McLeod yesterday said he’s still waiting, but now it’s for the court system.

“It’s keeping me awake at night,” McLeod said yesterday.

Jasper is the subject of a homicide case, and from his death on October 5 until the end of January, McLeod was not allowed to release his body. The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office had issued a hold order in case lawyers for the accused wanted to get a second autopsy.

Jasper died from what the coroner called chronic battered child syndrome. The Vader couple who were caring for him, Danny and Brenda Wing, remain jailed pending a trial in May.

McLeod hoped the request for a declaratory judgement filed Feb. 11 in Lewis County Superior Court would help move the process along, so Jasper could be laid to rest.

The hope was each parent would be served quickly with a summons and complaint, and respond within the 20 days allowed. And then a judge would hold a hearing and make them agree or make a decision.

However, McLeod yesterday said he learned the legal documents were served by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office not upon the father, Casey Henderling, but upon Henderling’s roommate in Longview. McLeod said he called Henderling’s phone number on Monday, and was told he no longer lived there.

The mother, Nikki Warner, has been calling his office repeatedly, McLeod said.

But it turns out the Clark County Sheriff’s Office is four to six weeks behind getting documents served. It could be another two to three weeks before they get the court papers to Warner who lives in the Vancouver area, he said.

Meanwhile, Jasper’s body continues to be stored at the Lewis County Corner’s Office in Chehalis.

Jasper’s parents do agree they want to split the ashes following cremation, according to McLeod.

He said he realized in December Henderling and Warner didn’t agree on where Japer’s body would be taken care of, and tried to help them resolve the differences. A no-contact order prevents the parents from communication with each other, according to the court documents.

On Jan. 28, McLeod was freed from the prosecutor’s hold on the body, and tried for two weeks to get unified direction from the parents before filing the civil action on Feb. 11.
•••

For background, read “Toddler’s body lingers at morgue more than four months” from Thursday February 19, 2015, here

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Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

March 18th, 2015

Updated at 12:25 p.m.

NECK NICKED WITH CHAINSAW

• A man in his mid-50s was rushed to the Salkum fire station yesterday afternoon with chainsaw injuries to his neck and hand. Fire Chief Duran McDaniel said they were dispatched about 4:40 p.m. but then told the patient was being brought to them. Responders met up with them at the main station on U.S. Highway 12. “A family member drove, his wife held pressure on his neck in the backseat,” he said. McDaniel said he didn’t know the details of what happened, but he suspected a chainsaw may have kicked back. “It caught his hand and nicked his neck,” McDaniel said. “Very lucky.” He was taken by medics to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the chief. McDaniel didn’t know the extent of the hand injuries.

ROAD RAGE

• Chehalis police were called about 3:45 p.m. yesterday after a motorist reportedly followed another driver to his home, got out and punched the victim and then drove off. Officers were told by the 21-year-old man the smaller silverish sport utility-type vehicle had been behind him, driving erratically and passing him in a school zone on Cascade Avenue, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The 21-year-old parked at his residence on Southwest William Avenue and the other man got out, made some not-very-nice remarks including, “What are you doing?” and then hit him, department spokesperson Linda Bailey said. The subject was described only as a white male in his late 20s, with one tooth and wearing a long-sleeved shirt with cartoon characters on it, Bailey said. No hair color was mentioned, she said.

TOOLS TAKEN

• A deputy responded last night to the 100 block of Macomber Road outside Chehalis to a report of a burglary in which tools were stolen. Sometime between 6 p.m. on Monday and 1 p.m. yesterday, somebody made off with an electric staple gun, a Craftsman tool bag and two Makita drills with their batteries and chargers, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The owner is still making a list of what is missing, the sheriff’s office reports. A red pickup truck had been seen in the area but it may or may not have been involved, Cmdr. Dusty Breen said.

UNRULY ARRESTEE

• Police arrested a 21-year-old for obstructing and resisting arrest in connection with a warrant arrest about 2:30 p.m. yesterday at the 700 block of Harrison Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department. Tucker W. Bethune, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police. At the same time, a 16-year-old was also arrested for an outstanding warrant and officers are recommending new charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and minor in possession of alcohol.

TRAILER HOME BURNS

• Firefighters got there within two minutes when a fire broke out on a trailer park on the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia late yesterday afternoon but a 20-foot travel trailer is a total loss, according to Riverside Fire Authority. The individual who resided there said he was next door when he was told it was on fire, according to the fire department. The cause is under investigation.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor theft, protection order violation, driving with suspended license; responses for disputes,  hit and run, suspicious circumstances, collisions on city streets … and more.

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Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

March 17th, 2015

Updated at 5:33 p.m.

FISHING BOATS WRECK

• One boat is sunk but nobody drowned after a rear-end collision on the Cowlitz River yesterday afternoon. It happened about 5 p.m. approximately 300 yards downstream from the Blue Creek boat launch. Two men from Bellingham said they were fishing and both jumped into the water to avoid getting struck, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A 45-year-old man from Renton piloting a 19-foot Alumaweld said he and his three passengers were heading upriver and he didn’t see the other  boat until it was too late, according to the sheriff’s office. He said he rescued the two men, Chief Stacy Brown said. The un-named man was cited for reckless boating, Brown said. None were wearing life jackets, according to the sheriff’s office.

TRUCKS STRIPPED OF BATTERIES, FUEL

• Someone siphoned about 100 gallons of diesel fuel from trucks parked in a commercial equipment yard on the 2000 block of Little Hanford Road outside Centralia sometime between Friday and yesterday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The 58-year-old victim said also four six-volt truck batteries were missing, according to the sheriff’s office. Security cameras are going to be installed to prevent a repeat, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said today.

CHAINSAW STOLEN FROM ELDERLY MAN

• A 90-year-old Centralia resident called the sheriff’s office after he discovered his hardly-used Stihl MS 16-inch chainsaw last left on his workbench in a carport shed was gone. The theft occurred on the 3500 block of Harrison Avenue sometime since August but before last Thursday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

BREAK-IN CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 3:50 p.m. yesterday about a burglary at the the 100 block of South Oak Street. The investigation continues, according to the Centralia Police Department.

NO NEED TO PICK POCKET

• Chehalis police were called about 1 p.m. yesterday regarding a wallet that disappeared from a cart when its owner turned away, at the 100 block of Northeast Hampe Way.

STRANGER TAKES PHONE

• Centralia police report a case of third-degree malicious mischief in which an unknown male grabbed an individual’s cell phone and broke it at the the 500 block of Harrison Avenue about 5:30 p.m. yesterday. Further details were not readily available.

TAX FILING FRAUD

• Chehalis police were called yesterday afternoon by an individual trying to file his taxes who discovered his social security number had been used to file a tax return.

CHIMNEY FIRE

• A buildup of creosote on a wood stove door ignited causing a chimney fire at the 300 block of Jefferson Street in Centralia yesterday evening. Firefighters called about 7:40 p.m. report flames were seen at the roof but the fire was contained to the chimney. It had not been cleaned, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

STRANGERS IN CARS

• Winlock schools sent out a letter last week reminding families it’s a good time to talk with children about strangers, following reports of possible attempted child lurings in Pe Ell and also Vader. There’s no reason to think they are related, according to district superintendent Shannon Criss, but warmer weather and more time spent out of doors just around the corner, prompted her to suggest adults should talk with their children about what to do if they feel they may be in danger. Criss said she learned from the high school principal about the Vader incident and asked him to report it to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Stacy Brown yesterday said she learned from Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Dusty Breen that three boys walking home from school in Vader some days earlier said a car stopped and asked if they needed a ride. Brown said the boys gave three different descriptions of the color and kind of car. “It may not have been luring, it may have been someone legitimately asking if they wanted a ride,” Brown said. “We don’t know if it was a nefarious situation.” But, Brown said, parents ought to talk with kids about personal safety. Most youngsters have cell phones, and the first call they should make is to 911, so law enforcement can get in the area quickly to check, and the second call should be to their parents, Brown said. Superintendent Criss offered these tips:

• Tell an adult immediately if they see someone or something that makes them worry or feel uncomfortable.
• Stay with friends and travel in pairs or groups, if possible.
• Avoid short cuts and stay on the main roads where you are visible.
• Always get the teacher’s permission to leave school.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants,  misdemeanor assault, protection order violation, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, disputes, misdemeanor theft, hit and run, suspicious circumstances; girls fighting after getting off a school bus, an individual asking for help getting to a shelter … and more.

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Police: Centralia resident tries to rob Titus Will

March 17th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 26-year-old man was arrested this morning for robbery after he allegedly beat up an employee at a Chehalis auto dealership, trying to get vehicles without paying for them.

Police called about 7:15 a.m. to the 2500 block of North National Avenue were told the employee was approached by the man in the parking lot at opening time, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

“He told the employee he wanted three cars, struck the employee, threatened he was going to kill him and struck him a couple more times,” department spokesperson Linda Bailey said.

The suspect was gone when officers arrived, but was subsequently located by Centralia police, Bailey said.

She said she didn’t yet have all the details, but the victim said his assailant didn’t make much sense. The 55-year-old declined aid, Bailey said.

One witness at Titus Will Chevrolet Buick told officers the man mentioned he had a family to feed, she said.

Jonas K. Doyle, 26, from Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree robbery, according to police.

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News brief: Chehalis Golf course restaurant investigating credit card issue

March 16th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Riverside Golf Club’s restaurant in Chehalis has stopped taking credit cards temporarily while they track down a potential breach of their system.

Manager Jena Sorenson said today she was contacted over the weekend by a woman who said her credit card was hacked, after it was used at their establishment.

The woman told her that the charges didn’t go through, but someone attempted to make purchases at Rite Aid three days after a lunch at Riverside, Sorenson said.

The woman posted it on Facebook, and then Sorenson got calls from two others who claimed a similar experience.

Sorenson said at this point, she’s not certain the problem is related to their business, but she’s not taking any chances.

She’s been in touch with their computer software company in case somehow malware has gotten into their system. She’s contacted their credit card processing company, and they’ve started an investigation, she said.

She’s confident it’s not an employee.

She wants to reassure customers nobody is at risk by coming to dine with them, as they just won’t accept credit cards until she’s 100 percent sure it’s safe to pay that way.

Riverside Bistro and Bar is at the golf course on Northwest Airport Road, along the Chehalis River. Her family has owned it for the past nine years, she said.

The golf course uses a different machine and credit card processor, according to Sorenson.

Sorenson was troubled the customer announced her issue on Facebook before even calling the restaurant, and frustrated there wasn’t anything she could do about it over the weekend, she said.

Riverside is as much victims of whatever may have happened, as the customer is, she said. And it can be damaging to a business to have such things shared widely that way, she said.

Credit card companies are pretty good with the protections they provide cardholders and it’s something that’s increasingly common for people in general, according to Sorenson.

“Almost everybody I know has had their credit card compromised,” she said. “This is the age of how people don’t steal your wallet, they steal your credit card (number).”

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Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

March 16th, 2015

BEDROOM BURGLED

• Someone broke into a home on the 3900 block of Jackson Highway south of Chehalis between 3:40 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. on Friday, rifling through a 22-year-old woman’s bedroom. It was the second time within a week it had happened, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was home alone when she heard a knock on the window, and called her roommate who asked a neighbor to check on her, Chief Stacy Brown said. The neighbor took her home and when the roommate returned, he discovered the burglary, Brown said. Missing is $200 worth of quarters, according to Brown.

BREAK-IN CENTRALIA

• A 19-year-old Rochester resident was arrested around 3:30 a.m. today for second-degree burglary in connection with an incident at the 400 block of Kearny Street. Dustin P. McLean was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department. Further details were not immediately available.

• Centralia police took a report of a burglary at the 1400 block of Windsor Avenue yesterday in which someone broke in and took a portable heater. The item was found in the backyard, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BARN BURGLED CHEHALIS

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports this morning that sometime between last Wednesday and Thursday, someone got into a barn on the 800 block of Logan Hill Road in Chehalis and stole a Craftsman two-piece tool box and a heavy-duty four-wheeled wagon. The loss is estimated at $500, according to the sheriff’s office.

SHERIFF: MORTON BURGLARY SOLVED

• A tip on Friday led to the arrest of two individuals for a November break-in in the Morton area in which a 68-year-old resident lost about $5,000 worth of household goods, fishing poles and tools, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning. Deputies were told by someone they had seen the two males with the property and in a subsequent contact by a detective, the suspects admitted involvement in the burglary at the 100 block of Chapman Road, according to the sheriff’s office. Booked into the Lewis County Jail for residential burglary were Ricky D. Osborne Sr. 48, from Morton, and Brian J. Elmore, no age given, also of Morton, Chief Stacy Brown said.

VEHICLE THEFT

• A stolen 2000 Ford F350 pickup truck was recovered yesterday at the 100 block of Cedar Lane in Glenoma, according to the the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The owner, who lost it in Lakewood, couldn’t be located so the vehicle was impounded, the sheriff’s office reports.

CAR PROWL

• Two people were arrested about 11 o’clock yesterday morning when a neighbor saw them trying to get into someone else’s vehicle at on the 600 block of Northeast Franklin Avenue in Chehalis. Stacy L. Weighall, 50, was arrested for second-degree vehicle prowl and then released, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Booked into the Lewis County Jail for theft and vehicle prowl was Michael W. Thomas, 29, of Chehalis, according to police.

• Police were called to Wal-Mart in Chehalis about 5:50 p.m. on Friday where someone had gone inside an unlocked vehicle and taken a cell phone.

• Chehalis police were called about 10 a.m. on Friday regarding an overnight vehicle prowl on the 1400 block of Southwest Mills Street. A cell phone charger was among the items stolen from the unlocked vehicle parked in front of its residence, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

IMPOSTOR ARRESTED

• A 33-year-old man who produced a driver’s license that was not his when contacted by an officer about 3 a.m. today along Southwest Interstate Avenue in Chehalis was arrested for possession of another person’s identification, a misdemeanor, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Phillip R. Johnston, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

GRAFFITI ON RESIDENCE

• A resident of the 400 block of Kearny Street in Centralia called police about 5:20 p.m. yesterday to report graffiti left on the outside of his home. It happened sometime during the previous few days,  according to the Centralia Police Department.

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

• A 43-year-old Chehalis man was arrested on Saturday after an incident the night before in which he allegedly slapped and choked his fiancee during an argument, and threatened several times to kill her. Michael G. McBride was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree assault and for harassment, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

SLEEPING IN CHURCH

• A 25-year-old Winlock man found asleep on a pew in a church on the 4200 block of Jackson Highway south of Chehalis yesterday morning was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail. Deputies responding sometime after 8 a.m. learned he wanted a place to get out of the rain, get way from an unsafe place he was staying, and to charge his cell phone, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Matthew R. Istre allegedly broke a glass door to get inside but didn’t take anything, according to the sheriff’s office. He was arrested for first-degree criminal trespass and third-degree malicious mischief, Chief Stacy Brown said.

CHIMNEY FIRE

• Firefighters were called noon yesterday to a chimney fire at the 400 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue in Chehalis. There were flames coming out the chimney, but they used their special nozzle to extinguish it, according to the Chehalis Fire Department. There was no damage, Capt. Casey Beck said.

COLLISION

• A 52-year-old Kelso man and his 52-year-old passenger from Onalaska were uninjured when they crashed a pickup truck into a bridge on the 200 block of Krueger Road in Onalaska on Saturday afternoon, Lewis County Sheriff’s office Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said this morning. A deputy responding about 2:45 p.m. noted the truck sustained major damage and the two appeared intoxicated, Brown said.They were transported by ambulance to Providence Centralia Hospital and an arrest for driving under the influence depends upon the results of a blood test, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, malicious mischief, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, disputes, shoplifting, hit and run, vandalism, suspicious circumstances, possible sexual assault, collision on city street; complaints about a female asking customers for money, a man on a bicycle urinating outdoors … and more.

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News brief: Chehalis police looking for info about possible attempted luring

March 16th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Police are asking the public to contact them if they have any information about a possible attempted child luring incident that took place on Friday evening near the elementary schools on Southwest Third Avenue off Market Boulevard.

Officers were called about 6:15 p.m. on Friday when a 9-year-old girl said she was approached by a male on foot who told her she was cute and asked her to come to his home, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

The girl, who had her bicycle with her, rode away from the individual who didn’t try to follow her, according to a news release issued this afternoon.

He was described as having a darker complexion and acne, possibly of high school or college age, according to police. She also said he was wearing white tennis shoes, blue “skinny” jeans and a gray and black coat, according to police.

Anyone with information on the incident may contact police by calling the non-emergency number at Lewis County dispatch, 360-740-1105.

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