Lewis County Sirens.com

TEEN LIFE FLIGHTED AFTER RV HITCHING MISHAP

• A 17-year-old boy was airlifted to Harborview Medical in Seattle yesterday after he was crushed between a pickup truck and a fifth-wheel travel trailer in Centralia. Police called about 11:15 p.m. to the 800 block of West Pear Street say the owner was trying to hook the two together when the vehicle rolled back too far and caught the teen. Arriving firefighters found someone else had already moved the truck and the boy had only been pinned briefly, according to Riverside Fire Authority. Centralia police say he was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital to be evaluated for possible injuries. Firefighter-paramedic Jennifer Ternan said he was then flown to the regional trauma center, but she didn’t have any information about his condition. The case remains under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THEFT, THEFT, THEFT, THEFT …

• A 39-year-old Centralia man was arrested for being in possession of a vehicle stolen out of Port Angeles, which had license tabs on it taken off a different vehicle in Port Angeles and was affixed with a license plate stolen from Centralia. Kelly L. Beckley allegedly left the Ford F-150 pickup truck at Wal-Mart, where he stole a bicycle and pedaled over to K-Mart, where he shoplifted a pair of trousers, according to the Chehalis Police Department. He was greeted by an officer after he had changed into the pants in the restroom there, according to police. An employee from Wal-Mart had called 911 about 2:50 p.m. on Thursday to say Beckley was acting suspicious, when he got on the bicycle and rode away, police said. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday that someone broke into a home on the 3700 block of Russell Road in Centralia. A deputy responding there on Thursday learned that sometime between noon and 3 p.m. entered the residence and left with about $600 worth of valuables, including an HP laptop computer and jewelry, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Centralia police were called about 2 p.m. Thursday about someone stealing a purse from a shopping cart at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue.

DRUGS

• A 23-year-old from Forest Grove, Ore. was arrested for possession of methamphetamine after contact with an officer on Thursday night at the 600 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia. Alfredo Mendoza-Martinez, was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FROM THE COURTHOUSE

• There will be no trial next month for the 2010 drive-by shooting at on Southwest William Street in Chehalis. Prosecutors in April brought their suspect back to Lewis County to face charges, from prison where he is serving more than 100 years for a gang-related shooting incident in Yakima County. Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Mark McClain asked a judge on Thursday to dismiss the charges, without prejudice, meaning they could be re-filed at a later time. “I think there’s something else going on here we need to investigate in a different way,” McClain told the judge when he made his request. Andrew Morales-Loberg, now 22, will be headed back to prison, with a release date in the year 2165. Prosecutors had issued a material witness warrant for one of the victims in the case, Rolando Carrillo-Cruz, who McClain said is in Mexico. The judge signed an order quashing that warrant on Thursday.

CANDLES ARE CULPRITS IN VADER HOUSE FIRE

• A fire that chased a family from it’s Vader area home on Thursday evening was caused by candles. Members of Cowlitz-Lewis Fire District 2 responding about 7 p.m. to the single-story house on the 100 block of Enchanted Valley Drive found smoke billowing out from all the back windows and a resident using a fire extinguisher from outside to get at the flames, according to Chief Richard Underdahl. His son had been working on a computer and noticed flames coming from an unusual interior room inside the residence, according to Underdahl. The father closed that door, made sure everyone was outside and helped contain the fire until crews arrived. The original property owner had built the house around a vintage Airstream-type travel trailer which couldn’t be seen from outside, but when one opened one of the interior doors, they found themselves inside the trailer, according to Underdahl. It’s a room one of the pre-teen-age children and friends had been burning a couple of candles in earlier and they were forgotten about, Fire Investigator Ted McCarty said. It’s interior was burned, but the home and its other contents were mostly saved, Underdahl said. Nobody was injured and some of the roughly 20 firefighters, which included adjacent districts, were on the scene until about 11 p.m., he said.

WRECKS

• A 31-year-old school bus driver was issued a citation after he backed his bus up into an occupied Saturn station wagon on the 100 block of Moon Road west of Chehalis on Thursday afternoon. A deputy responding after the 3:30 p.m. incident found the damage to both vehicles was minor and none of the teenagers on the bus – from Curtis and the Chehalis area – were injured, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday.

• A Tacoma man was injured in a rollover accident overnight on Interstate 5 south of Napavine when he collided with the center barrier causing a rear wheel to come off his car. Troopers responding about 12:40 a.m. to the northbound lanes near Koontz Road found the 1994 Buick four-door was totaled and the detached wheel had traveled to the other side of the freeway where it was was struck by a southbound vehicle, according to the Washington State Patrol. Ernest G. Hartwig, 56, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, the state patrol reports. He was to be cited for wheels off the roadway.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with suspended license, shoplifting merchandise such as liquor and groceries, stealing landscaping rocks; responses for alarms, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor theft, collisions on city streets, graffiti, someone shooting a BB at a car … and more.

A 1994 Buick is prepared for towing after it wrecked on Interstate 5 south of Napavine. / Courtesy photo by Kristal Autumn

Updated at 11:17 a.m.

PUFF PUFF, TAKE THAT

• When a pair of grown brothers who were not getting along called Centralia police to the 1100 block of Cobra Avenue very early this morning, one of them allegedly ripped a cigarette out of his brother’s hand in front of an officer and proceeded to smoke it, prompting his arrest for theft … first-degree, according to the Centralia Police Department. Police say 48-year-old Robeson T. Marvin, from Hoquiam, had earlier been told by police to leave the property and not to return or he would be arrested. However, he went back, confronted his brother and officers responded to a dispute call there at about 2:30 a.m., according to police. Officer John Panco said if one takes something off another person, it is considered theft in the first degree. Unless you use force, then it’s robbery, he said. It’s a a felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and / or a $20,000 fine. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

POLICE PURSUIT CENTRALIA

• Centralia police looking for a person on South Silver Street late yesterday afternoon came across a wanted person who led officers on a short chase around city streets at about 5:30 p.m. Officer John Panco said Jose A. Escamilla is a fugitive with multiple felony and misdemeanor warrants. An officer recognized him in the area and not long after, a pursuit began near South Ash and West Cherry streets, finally being terminated near Summa and Woodland Avenue because of the danger posed to the public, according to the Centralia Police Department. The 19-year-old, also known as Angel, remains at large but now faces a possible charge of eluding, according to police.

TWO SELF STORAGE BUSINESSES HIT WITH THEFT

• A 54-year-old Chehalis man reported yesterday someone got into his unit at Chehalis Mini Storage on the 200 block of Interstate Avenue in Chehalis and stole numerous items, including a compressor, a chainsaw, electric hedge trimmers, a leaf blower and a heater. Forced entry was made and evidence at the scene was collected, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The break-in occurred sometime since last Thursday, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A deputy was called yesterday to Reynolds Avenue where someone had broken into a storage unit and left various valuable property untouched, but made off with paperwork containing financial and personal information. The lock was cut at Centralia Self Storage and no other units were affected, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It happened between 11:30 a.m. on Monday and 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

DRUGS

• A 33-year-old Chehalis resident was arrested yesterday evening or possession of methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Michael R. Chown was booked into the Lewis County Jail after contact with police at the 1200 block of Alder Street in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

MESSAGE ON CAR DRAWS POLICE

• Chehalis police were called about 11:30 a.m. yesterday to the parking lot at the Lewis County Mall on Hampe Way regarding a threatening note left on the windshield of a vehicle. The message included the phrase, ” … karma is a bitc*,” according to police. Police have no firm suspect so a report was taken for informational purposes only, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

THREE-FER

• A Rochester resident and two homeless individuals all wanted on various warrants were arrested last night when they were found hiding in a garage on the 1000 block of South Tower Avenue. Booked into the Lewis County Jail after the approximately 9:15 p.m. discovery were Jacob R. Woods, 39, Alyssa E. Taylor, 26, and then Max A. Lyons, 24, from Rochester, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with suspended license, driving under the influence, resisting arrest; responses for suspicious circumstances, collisions on city streets, to assist a pregnant homeless woman with no place to sleep, to help a pedestrian on a trek long enough there were foot blisters and then a trip to the hospital; complaints of teens smoking pot  … and more.

HAZARDOUS LITTLE HEIST

• Someone managed to break into a Lewis County PUD-owned electrical junction box in Randle and pilfer parts while the wiring was still hot. Three adaptors stolen from inside the metal box along the 1300 block of Falls Road are believed to have been removed around 3 a.m. on May 11, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown indicated it is not known how the feat was accomplished – or how it only now came to light –  but the culprit may have possessed special tools. The loss is estimated at $500, Brown said.

HOMEMADE BANK NOTES

• Chehalis police were called about noon yesterday to a bank on the 400 block of North Market Boulevard when a customer trying to cash three money orders for $875 each got “a little belligerent” when he was told they didn’t appear real. He wanted them back, the teller said no and he left, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

HANDBAG TAKEN

• Centralia police took a report about 9 a.m. yesterday of a purse stolen from the 1300 block of Alexander Street.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with suspended license, protection order violation; responses for alarms, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor theft such as tailgate from truck, cell phone; complaints of customers failing to return rented items, chickens wandering loose in their neighbor’s yard, parent late dropping off children to other parent … and more.

MAN HEADS OFF OWN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRIME, SORT OF

• A 32-year-old Centralia resident was so angry, he asked a neighbor to call 911 as he argued with his girlfriend yesterday, but then he brought out a knife. Police responding about 7:35 p.m. to the home on the 1900 block of Honeysuckle Lane learned she had confronted him the night before – something regarding a disagreement about her mother, police said – and then late yesterday they fought about it some more. He was intoxicated, Officer John Panco said. At one point he requested that police be summoned, because “he was about to murder her,” police said. Christopher L. Fee reportedly said he gave up and went inside, only to return to the front yard with a large kitchen knife, pulling it on his girlfriend, her daughter and two others, according to Panco. When officers arrived, Fee turned around and threw down the weapon, Panco said. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for four counts of second-degree assault, according to police.

FAILED ATTEMPT TO STAY OUT OF JAIL

• A 29-year-old Yelm man with outstanding warrants – and suspected drugs on him – declined to pull over yesterday when a Centralia officer tried to stop him for a defective exhaust and a broken windshield, leading to a short pursuit at the north end of town. It happened around noontime and began near North Pearl Avenue and West Sixth Street, according to the Centralia Police Department. When they got to the 1400 block of Crescent Avenue, the driver bailed out leaving his vehicle to roll and bump into another car, Officer John Panco said. “The officer was able to catch him and found some suspected meth, and also (possibly) heroin,” Panco said. Andrew P. Rasmussen was booked into the Lewis County Jail for attempting to elude and possession of methamphetamine, and his warrants, according to police.

DAYTIME BURGLARY IN CENTRALIA

• The front door was found broken and an office ransacked at a building on the 1700 block of Van Wormer Street in Centralia yesterday evening. A responding officer was told it happened between 7:15 a.m. and 6 p.m., according to the Centralia Police Department. It was immediately clear if anything was stolen, Officer John Panco said.

BREAKING GLASS

• Another window to a vehicle was found busted out, this one on the 500 block of North Tower Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police yesterday afternoon.

• Someone shot a BB hole into a window and door of a home on the 1300 block of Rose Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police at noon yesterday.

• Chehalis police were called to a church on the 100 block of South Market Boulevard about 9 o’clock yesterday morning where nearly a dozen second story windows were found shot with BBs. It occurred sometime between Wednesday and Sunday morning, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with suspended license, protection order violation; responses for disputes, collision on city streets, parking lot hit and run, misdemeanor theft such as lawn rocks, a mini bike; complaints of car egged … and more.