Lewis County Sirens.com

Hyundai Accent crashes and burns along state Route 508 / Courtesy photo by Washington State Department of Transportation

Updated

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 16-year-old driver was injured in a single-vehicle crash this morning on state Route 508 about two miles west of Onalaska. Shayna D.  McGovern was traveling eastbound and going too fast when she lost control of her car at a curve, according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers called to the scene just before 10 a.m. report the Onalaska girl’s 2003 Hyundai Accent was totaled. McGovern was issued a citation for second-degree negligent driving, according to the state patrol. She was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital.

ROOMMATE ASSAULT

• A 70-year-old Centralia man who allegedly assaulted his roommate with a board was arrested after police were called to the 2300 block of Sirkka Avenue about 10:50 p.m. yesterday. Edward A. Guntrum was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree assault, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CHEHALIS MAN LOSES APPEAL

• The Washington State Court of Appeals today affirmed the sentence for a rural Chehalis resident convicted in the summer of 2014 after a 19-year-old’s jaw was broken at a Centralia party earlier the same year. Cole T. Rife, who was 18 years old at the time, was sentenced to 19 and one half months in prison for second-degree assault and attempted first-degree burglary. Rife appealed, was remanded for resentencing and was given the same sentence in January of last year. He filed a new appeal on Jan. 4, 2017 and today a three-member panel of the appeals court second division issued its opinion. The justices held that Rife did not receive ineffective assistance when defense counsel failed to request Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey be recused, because the decision may have been strategic; and that Brosey did not fail to to consider Rife’s youth as a mitigating factor in assessing his request for a sentence below the standard range.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, third-degree theft, driving with suspended license, fourth-degree domestic assault; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 131 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

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ARGUMENT WITH KNIFE

• Deputies responding to a 911 hangup call about 1 p.m. yesterday from the 100 block of Bearcat Court in Chehalis found a 65-year-old man laying on the floor who said his step-son had held a knife to his chest and neck before shoving him to the ground and beginning to stomp him, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies found 35-year-old Jonathan B. Ramos sitting on a couch and learned he had removed the batteries from a phone, according to the sheriff’s office. Ramos was arrested for first-degree assault and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

WOMAN CHOKED

• A 27-year-old Randle man who allegedly squeezed the throat of his significant other breaking blood vessels and leaving her with a swollen and bruised lower lip was arrested for second-degree assault yesterday. Deputies arrived to the 700 block of Silverbrook Road about 5:20 p.m. following a 911 call, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Donald T. Lester II was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

ARREST IN BURGLARY

• Information about last Friday’s burglary at the 1500 block of Bishop Road in Chehalis resulted in a search warrant served yesterday afternoon at a nearby property and the recovery of four computer monitors, a 40-inch flat screen, two bags of grass seed, nine bags of fertilizer, cinder blocks and various other items and building materials. Walter J. Hammers, 41, from Chehalis, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree burglary, second-degree theft and second-degree possession of stolen property, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Charges were referred to prosecutors related to a 16-year-old suspect as well, according to the sheriff’s office.

FRAUD

• Chehalis police were called from the 600 block of Northwest Middle Street about 10:45 a.m. yesterday to take a report of fraud.

• Centralia police were called just after 10 a.m. yesterday to take a report of a debit card that was lost in Chehalis being used at a businesses on the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia. Investigation is ongoing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• When a 24-year-old Centralia man was contacted by police just before 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the 1600 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, he allegedly identified himself as a family member and not as himself, he was arrested for identity theft. Joshua A. Loney was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AUTO THEFT

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday that a green 1993 Acura Integra stolen from off the 700 block of Independence Road last month was found stripped on Wednesday evening on Hobson Road Southwest and Smith Road South. The LG tablet and chainsaw which were inside of it are still unaccounted for, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A 1990 four-door Honda Accord was stolen from the 1100 block of Brotherson Road in Centralia during the night, according to a report made to police about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The car has a Washington registration of BFD 5466, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• James L. Mead, 27 of Centralia, was arrested and booked into Lewis County Jail for felony eluding after fleeing from the police in a vehicle at high rates of speed and driving recklessly around 11 p.m. yesterday in an episode associated with South Gold and Chestnut streets, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, trespassing, probation violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, reckless endangerment, fourth-degree assault, third-degree domestic malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, hit and run, vehicle collision, misdemeanor theft, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances … and more among 359 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 48-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

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Updated

VEHICLE THEFT

• Centralia police were called just before 5 a.m. today because a green 2000 Ford F-150 pickup was stolen from in front of a residence on the 2900 block of Mount Vista Road.  The vehicle was subsequently recovered abandoned in Thurston County, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Deputies were called about 7 p.m. yesterday when a woman at the 1200 block of Highway 603 in Chehalis saw a little black truck pulling her utility trailer out of her field. A Toledo police officer at southbound Interstate 5 near milepost 62 watched for the suspects, spotted them and pulled them over, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Sarah B. Torneby, 27, and Aaron J. Kiser, 37, both from Bellevue, were arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree burglary and second-degree theft, according to the sheriff’s office. Their vehicle was impounded and the victim’s 2006 Olympic utility trailer was returned, Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said. Kimsey said a padlock on a gate had been cut.

• A 1989 Yamaha XT350 motorcycle reported stolen from the 700 block of Silverbrook Road in Randle on Monday morning was located about 6:15 p.m. yesterday in a forested area behind Silverbrook Road. The bike was undamaged and deputies are still investigating who took it for a joyride, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

JEWELRY THEFT

• A woman contacted Chehalis police about 5:40 p.m. yesterday to report she thought she had misplaced her $8,000 diamond ring, but now believed her ex-boyfriend had pawned it. After investigating, police are referring the case associated with a location on the 300 block of Valley View Way to prosecutors for evaluation of a charge of first-degree theft against the suspect, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called about 3:45 p.m. yesterday by a victim who reported several unauthorized charges on his bank account, in a case associated with a location on the 3300 block of Galvin Road. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called just before 3 p.m. yesterday by a resident who discovered $672 worth of charges on her credit card made by an unknown person. The card was still in the victim’s possession and she was working with her bank on it, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 2:25 p.m. yesterday by an individual who said a red-haired male tried to steal tools from the back of his truck at the 1000 block of North Pearl Street, but he chased the suspect down and recovered his tools. The suspect, believed to be 25 to 30 years old, fled the scene, according to the Centralia Police Department.

HARASSMENT

• An individual contacted Chehalis police at 11:30 a.m. yesterday from the 400 block of North Market Boulevard to report receiving two harassing text messages from an unknown person, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 25-year-old Centralia man contacted for trespassing at a business on the 1000 block of Eckerson Road at about 1:45 a.m. today was arrested for several outstanding warrants and possession of heroin. Benjamin T. Stenberg was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 33-year-old Milwaukee, Oregon man detained for an outstanding warrant was arrested yesterday for violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act as during booking, three bindles of heroin were located in his groin area. A deputy had contacted Mitchell A. Moyer and a female when checking on a vehicle blocking the roadway at the 100 block of Olequa Court in Vader about 8:20 a.m., according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

HUFF AND PUFF DRIVE IN FIRE

• The cause of a fire inside a Randle eatery on Monday night has not yet been determined, but it appears to be unintentional, according to Lewis County Fire District 14. Crews called about 10:39 p.m. arrived to find smoke emitting from the eves of the Huff and Puff Drive In on the 9400 block of U.S. Highway 12, according to Fire Chief Jeff Jaques. There was nobody at the business at the time of the fire, but the owners and bystanders were able to keep the flames contained with a garden hose prior to the fire department’s arrival, according to Jaques. It was quickly extinguished and the damage was confined to the attic and ceiling around the vent/exhaust pipe above the grill and fryer, Jaques said.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, third-degree domestic malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, hit and run, vehicle collision, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances … and more among 151 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

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Updated

BURGLARY

• An 18-foot flatbed trailer loaded with more than 300 pieces of 1-inch by 4-inch cedar lumber as well as a 600-watt generator were discovered missing yesterday from the 100 block of Sidorski Lane in Morton. A deputy contacted yesterday morning learned a rollup door was found open, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The items were stolen sometime after March 30, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Centralia police were contacted about 12:20 p.m. yesterday by a female who reported that while she was in jail, multiple items belonging to her were stolen from her former residence at the 800 block of L Street.

• Two people were arrested for second-degree burglary after allegedly admitting staying in someone else’s trailer without permission on property on the 4700 block of Galvin Road outside Centralia on Sunday afternoon. Erin R. Hall, 38, from Onalaska, was also arrested for a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Brent W. Robertson, 37, of Toledo, was also arrested for second-degree identity theft for allegedly giving someone else’s name as his own, according to the sheriff’s office. Both were booked into the Lewis County Jail, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

• An individual at the 10 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue in Chehalis reported to police about 3:20 p.m. on Saturday finding beer cans inside their open garage.

• Chehalis police were told someone entered a residence on the 1300 block of Southeast Washington Avenue and cash was missing. The burglary was reported at 3:20 p.m. on Friday, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VEHICLE THEFT

• A deputy was called yesterday to take a report of the theft of a red 1989 Yamaha XT350 motorcycle from the 700 block of Silverbrook Road in Randle. The bike was last seen at midnight but was gone at 7 a.m., according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Centralia police were called just before 7 a.m. yesterday when a witness allegedly interrupted an 18-year-old Chehalis resident trying to steal a vehicle at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue. The suspect ran off from the scene and from police but was subsequently located in the containment area, according to the Centralia Police Department. Deago G. Perez was booked into the Lewis County Jail for attempted vehicle theft, resisting arrest and several warrants, according to police.

• Chehalis police were called about a vehicle theft from the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

FRAUD

• Chehalis police were called yesterday afternoon by the victim of a purse theft – from the Great Wolf Lodge reported earlier this year – who suspected her credit card had been used in Chehalis at Safeway, Texaco and Taco Bell, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT

• Four out-of-towners were arrested and then released yesterday after they were caught allegedly stealing from a retail store and found to have shoplifting tools in their possession in connection with a 4:45 p.m. call to the 1400 block of Lum Road in Centralia. Cases for the suspects ages 22 and 24 from Lakewood, Federal Way, Auburn and Tacoma are being forwarded to prosecutors for charges of organized retail theft and second-degree possession of stolen property, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• A set of keys was stolen in a vehicle prowl at the 100 block of West High Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 8:15 p.m. on Sunday.

• Centralia police were called about 10 a.m. on Friday to the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue where an individual reported they left their car key in the door to their car while packing to leave and an unknown person stole the key.

VANDALISM

• A 20-year-old Toledo man was arrested for allegedly taking a tire iron to the back window of a car belonging to a 21-year-old man at the 100 block of Noble Estates Drive in Winlock on Sunday afternoon. The suspect, Christian C. Rodriguez, tried to run away from a deputy, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree malicious mischief and second-degree escape, according to the sheriff’s office.

• An unknown suspect spray painted graffiti on the victim’s fence at the 900 block of E Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 3:35 p.m. on Saturday.

TAVERN BRAWL

• Anthony D. Thames, 33, of Centralia and Chase P. Underhill, 24, of Renton, were both arrested for fighting in public after they began brawling at the 100 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia just before 2 a.m. yesterday, according to the Centralia Police Department. The two were issued citations and then released, according to police.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 58-year-old Winlock man was arrested for driving under the influence after a deputy responded just after 8 p.m. on Sunday for a collision between a vehicle and a utility pole at the 600 block of Nevil Road in Winlock. The `1992 Ford Aerostar sustained major damage and the driver, Johnson P. Higgins, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital and scheduled to be transferred to another hospital, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Higgins was also arrested for third-degree driving with a suspended license, but was not booked into jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

WASTE WATER PLANT FIRE

• Low water pressure caused by an underground leak from a previously unknown vehicle collision to a fire hydrant meant crews had to get their water by calling in water tenders and laying hose to hydrants by the Chehalis Airport when a fire broke out Sunday morning at the 1100 block of West Shoreline Drive. Smoke was reported just after 5 a.m. and firefighters found an old administration building at the waste water plant was burning, according to the Chehalis Fire Department. Chief Ken Cardinale said in a press release that while the vacant building should not have been occupied, firefighters searched where they could since homeless people have been known to stay there. Four other fire departments were requested to help out, according to the chief. No victims were found and the blaze was contained to the one building, according to Cardinale. The cause is under investigation.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing, trespassing, probation violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, fourth-degree domestic assault, violation of restraining order, third-degree domestic malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, disturbance, civil issue, hit and run, vehicle collision, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances … and more among 515 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 96-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

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Vacant administrative building in Chehalis burns. / Courtesy photo by Courtney Fetters