Lewis County Sirens.com

ALLEGED LOCAL SUPPLIER OF ECSTASY ARRESTED AT LACEY HOME

• Centralia’s drug officers seized three vehicles, cash and drugs including what was described as a quantity of MDMA from a Lacey home yesterday following an investigation into suspected suppliers to numerous local drug dealers. At about 11 a.m., police served a search warrant at the 6400 block of Stephens Court Southeast, assisted by two Washington State Patrol narcotic K-9 teams, and federal officers with ATF and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the Centralia Police Department. A search of the home turned up about two pounds of hallucinogenic mushrooms, about six ounces of suspected hash, about five pounds of packaged marijuana, some prescription pills and less than a pound of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or Molly, according to police. Officers also located a large amount of U.S. currency stored in seal-a-meal packaging, according to Sgt. Jim Shannon of the department’s Anti-Crime team. The three vehicles are suspected to be proceeds of the illegal activity. One of the residents, Jai J. Bhagwandin, 39, was arrested for three counts of unlawful distribution of MDMA as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm, and further charges are expected, according to Shannon. Katie Bhagwandin, also known as Katie Padilla, 29, was also arrested but has been released pending a charging decision, according to police.

INTERRUPTED BURGLARY

• Centralia police were called about 9:15 a.m. yesterday to the 500 block of Hillkress Street when a resident arrived home to find a female inside stealing items and then he was nearly run down when her accomplice backed out of his driveway. The victim had tried to stop them from leaving by standing behind the vehicle, according to police. Suspects have been identified and the case remains under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FIREARMS THEFT

• A 29-year-old Winlock man was arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing four rifles from the 400 block of Russell Road in Winlock last week and then pawning them in Longview. Michael K. Davidson was picked up at his home on the 700 block of Winlock-Vader Road and booked into the Lewis County Jail last night, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Because he is a convicted felon, he faces additional potential charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the sheriff’s office.

SUSPICIOUS DEATH

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a man was found dead inside a vehicle yesterday parked at the 76 gas station and convenience store at state Route 6 and Highway 603. Deputies and aid were called about 1:45 p.m., according to Cmdr. Steve Aust. “Aid worked on him, to no avail,” Aust said. Aust said the car had been there for several hours; a clerk had seen it as early as 9 a.m. Foul play isn’t suspected, he said. He is believed to be a 52-year-old man from the Morton area, according to Aust.

CAR PROWL

• A cell phone was stolen from a vehicle parked at the 2500 block of Mount Vista Road in Centralia, according to a report made to police yesterday evening.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants; responses for disputes, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances, possible phone scam, collisions on city streets … and more.

Updated at 11:51 a.m.

DIG OUT YOUR GALOSHES

• The National Weather Service says continued heavy precipitation over Southwest Washington will push the Newaukum River near Chehalis above flood stage today where it’s expected to remain into early tomorrow morning. The Cowlitz River at Randle is expected to overflow its banks early this evening, according to the weather service. Minor flooding is expected in both areas, impacting farmlands and roads. An increased threat of landslides remains due to the ongoing rainfall.

ANGRY MOM SCARES SCHOOL STAFF

• A parent so upset her child was dropped off by a school bus at the wrong place and her voice mail message to White Pass Elementary School was so alarming, the school went into lockdown this morning for approximately three hours. Deputies responded to the east end school about 7:45 a.m. today and subsequently located the mother driving to the school and arrested her, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said in a news release Cheryl A. Strong, 48, made threats to harm staff in the message left yesterday afternoon. The child had been left at the wrong residence yesterday, after the family had moved to a different address, according to Brown. School employees ordered the lockdown this morning as soon as they heard the message, Brown stated. Strong was detained just before 11 a.m. and arrested for felony harassment, according to Brown.

AUTO THEFT

• A deputy was called early this morning to Vader when a resident on the 900 block of 10th Street woke up and discovered his car missing. The deputy was told his wife parked his silver 1992 Honda Accord in front of the residence about 8:30 p.m. yesterday and by 5 a.m., it was gone, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The four-door car has a spoiler on its trunk, black steel rims and studded snow tires, according to the sheriff’s office.

BURGLARY

• Centralia police responded about 6 o’clock this morning to a report of someone entering a garage on the 400 block of South Gold Street and leaving with several items.

FELON WITH GUN

• A 37-year-old Centralia man was arrested on an outstanding warrant and felon in possession of a firearm yesterday morning at West First and North Pearl streets in Centralia. John M. Lundy booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CRIME IN CENTRALIA

• Centralia Police Department Chief Bob Berg says while property crimes in the city inched up slightly last year, violent crimes dropped significantly to the lowest level in recent memory. Berg’s numbers come from statistics compiled for for the Washington State Association of Sheriff’s and Police Chiefs as part of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program which are forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Last year, there were no murders, fewer aggravated assaults and half as many forcible rapes as the previous year, according to Berg. The trend since 2004 – when Berg was hired – continues downward, according to the chief. Read his analysis here.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants; responses for dispute, misdemeanor theft, collision on city street, protection order violation … and more.

FAILED VEHICLE THEFT

• Chehalis police say a 32-year-old Chehalis man and his friend were unloading his pickup truck at the 200 block of Northeast Washington Avenue last night when a male ran up, jumped behind the wheel and tried to drive away. Officers called about 8:25 p.m. found the truck had struck one of the men and then a tree before they took the keys from the ignition, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Mark F. Dodge, 32, from Bremerton, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for vehicle theft, according to police. Officer Linda Bailey said the victim suffered bruises.

STOLEN SNOWMOBILE

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning a $22,000 custom built snowmobile was stolen on Monday from Skate Creek Road North near Ashford. A deputy responding about 3 p.m. learned the 2012 black and orange Arctic Cat vanished sometime in the previous hour, according to the sheriff’s office.

SEX CRIME

• A 20-year-old man was arrested by Centralia police yesterday afternoon at the 100 block of South Oak Street after a 15-year-old girl’s older sister learned of a sexual relationship between him and the teenager. Police say Ian C. Henry is from California, befriended the girl on Facebook and came to town on a Greyhound bus to meet her. Henry is described as transient, having traveled from California to New Mexico and then Colorado, according to the Centralia Police Department. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree rape of a child, according to police.

MISSING PLATE

• Centralia police took a report yesterday morning of a license plate stolen from a utility trailer at the 1300 block of Lum Road. The Washington plate reads 8078UY, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license; responses for shoplifting, suspicious circumstances … and more.

DOMESTIC DISPUTES

• A 41-year-old Centralia man was arrested  after he allegedly choked his estranged wife, threatened her and her 16-year-old son with a baseball bat and smashed out the front window to the home at the 3700 block of Prairie Avenue in Centralia on Saturday night. Deputies called about 9:30 p.m. subsequently located Robby L. Rolly and booked him into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree assault, third degree assault and malicious mischief, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Deputies arrested a 20-year-old Onalaska man yesterday morning for allegedly threatening to kill his estranged girlfriend during an argument. Dylan J. Brossett was booked into the Lewis County Jail for harassment following the alleged incident at the 100 block of Josephine Loop in Onalaska, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. He is to be released without charges pending further investigation.

THEFT AND BURGLARY

• A deputy took a report yesterday from the 100 block of Dieckman Road west of Chehalis yesterday of numerous rings and necklaces stolen from a safe. The loss estimated at almost $2,000, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The case is under investigation with a possible suspect, according to Sgt. Rob Snaza.

• A deputy took a report yesterday afternoon about a break-in to a barn at the 12000 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Randle. Power tools, chain saws and other items were stolen sometime between Saturday and Monday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A deputy was called about 1 a.m. on Sunday to an attempted burglary at a dental clinic at the 200 block of Silverbrook Road in Randle. An alarm sounded, there was damage found on the front door but nothing was stolen, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday someone stole more than $10,000 worth of tools and other items when they broke into a shop and a work vehicle at the 100 block of Templeton Road outside Toledo sometime between last Thursday and Friday.

• Chehalis police took a report on Friday from the 500 block of Jefferson Avenue regarding two discovered wallets stolen while the residents had guests in their home. Missing is at least $900 cash, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Someone stole eight tires and a CD /DVD player from a garage area at the 500 block of West Reynolds Avenue in Centralia sometime between Sunday and Monday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Centralia police responded just before 9 a.m. yesterday to the 600 block of Lakeshore Drive to an attempted burglary in which someone broke a window to a garage.

• Centralia police responded about 4 p.m. yesterday to the 1500 block of Delaware Avenue regarding a stolen credit card.

• Centralia police responded about 7 p.m. on Sunday to the 1200 block of Mellen Street where a male attempted to spend a counterfeit $20 bill, but fled the premises when the clerk noted it was fake.

• Centralia police took another report yesterday of someone’s check cashed for a different amount than it had been written for, having been stolen from a mailbox on the 200 block of Centralia College Boulevard.

• A vehicle stolen about a month ago in Centralia was discovered burned up on Saturday night on a logging road off the Lincoln Creek Road, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

CAR PROWL

• Police took a report of a prowl to an unlocked vehicle yesterday morning at the 700 block of South Gold Street in Centralia.

• An Avon bag was reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle at the 2600 block of Borst Avenue in Centralia on Sunday afternoon.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday someone stole a .22 caliber rifle from a vehicle at the 500 block of Hill Street in Pe Ell sometime between last Thursday and Friday. The gun is valued at $500, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Chehalis police took a report on Friday night of a pistol and some medication stolen from a car while it was parked at Wal-Mart.

CREEPINESS

• Chehalis police took a report about noon yesterday from a woman who said a man was following her around inside Wal-Mart and took a picture of her with his cell phone near the entrance. She reported it to management, Sgt. Gary WIlson said. Taking a picture of a person in public isn’t a crime, but stalking them would be, Wilson said. The incident is being looked into, he said.

UNRULY MAN ARRESTED

• Police arrested a 27-year-old homeless man about 1:30 p.m. yesterday for obstruction after he allegedly tried to start fights with various people at the 200 block of North Railroad Avenue. Timothy R. Swann was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 34-year-old Portland man was arrested for trespassing and possession of methamphetamine after he was discovered hiding on a locomotive Saturday afternoon at the end of Kuper Road in Centralia. Christopher Boulden was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

TODDLER INJURED BY FAMILY DOG

• The sheriff’s office impounded a black lab after it bit a 1-year-old boy yesterday, causing severe lacerations to the child’s face. It happened when the little one was playing with the family dog at the 300 block of East Oakview Avenue in Centralia yesterday morning, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The boy was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital where he is being treated, Sgt. Rob Snaza said.

FIRE

• Fire destroyed a cargo truck on Saturday at the 200 block of Mossyrock Road. Lewis County Fire District 3 Chief Doug Fosburg said the blaze threatened two residences but was extinguished before it could spread.

WRECK

• A 49-year-old Onalaska man suffered an injury to his head when his vehicle struck a tree along the 700 block of Middle Fork Road in Onalaska on Sunday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Randy L. Lincecum was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital after the approximately 12:30 p.m. single-vehicle collision, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault; responses for alarms, shoplifting, suspicious circumstances, protection order violation, collisions on city streets; a report of a hen walking around the Chehalis park and ride lot … and more.

Vehicle versus tree on Middle Fork Road / Courtesy photo by Rhonda Volk