Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

December 27th, 2013

CAR STOLEN FROM U.S. TREASURY STOPPED IN CHEHALIS

• Police descended upon the Chehalis Industrial Park area last night after a teenager fled a stolen car pulled over on Interstate 5. Trooper Tara Hicks said it was around 6:20 p.m. when she stopped the northbound vehicle near milepost 73 for failing to keep right except for passing. There were four occupants, but one of them ran away, according to Hicks. A Chehalis police dog and its partner subsequently located the 18-year-old suspect – from Antioch, Calif. – in the area of Jackson Highway and Rush Road, police said. He was taken to the hospital to be treated and was booked into the Lewis County Jail along with two others. A juvenile male was booked at the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center. Hicks said the 2007 Buick Lucerne belonged to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and was listed stolen out of Pittburg, Calif. Prosecutors declined to file charges and the three adults were scheduled to be released from jail this afternoon. Hicks said the investigation is ongoing.

DRUGS

• A 33-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant following contact with an officer about 5 o’clock this morning at the 600 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department. Jesse T. Anderson was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Centralia police took a report yesterday from the 1400 block of Logan Street regarding a car prowl that occurred sometime during the night on Monday. A purse was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Someone poured antifreeze into the gas tank of a car at the 100 block of Mayfield Court near Mossyrock sometime between 5:30 p.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. yesterday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The damage is estimated at $4,000, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Someone broke out the rear window of a car at the 1800 block of North Pearl Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police yesterday morning.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, disorderliness, protection order violation, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances … and more.

Former Tenino teacher, tutor convicted of collecting child porn

December 27th, 2013

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A former Tenino Elementary School teacher who was also a Boy Scout volunteer pleaded guilty today to possession of child pornography following a plea agreement with federal authorities in connection with his arrest earlier this year.

James D. Mobley was arrested when his home was searched last January by law enforcement who turned up 650 images and 45 videos he purchased from a Toronto-based web site billing itself as a provider of naturist films, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Mobley was described by federal authorities as a teacher who was also a private tutor and active as a volunteer with Boy Scouts.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, the 47-year-old will undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation and sexual deviancy treatment, register as a sex offender and be recommended for a four-year prison term, according to spokesperson Emily Langlie.

When he is sentenced on March 21 in U.S. District Court, the judge is free to impose up to the maximum of 20 years, however, according to Langlie.

Mobley is one of 348 people arrested worldwide, so far, as part of what was dubbed Project Spade, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service of the international business Azovfilms.com, according to a news release.

The investigation has resulted in 386 children rescued from direct abuse and exploitation, according to the news release.

When a search of Azovfilms was conducted in March 2011, hundreds of child pornography DVDs and business records were seized. Mobley’s multiple purchases were made between February 2009 and January 2011, according to Langlie.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

December 26th, 2013

Updated at 11:43 a.m.

DOG TRACK AT DRYAD PARK LEADS TO ARREST

• Deputies set up containment around Rainbow Falls State Park west of Chehalis on Tuesday evening while a police dog searched for an individual apparently attempting to avoid being picked up on a warrant from the state Department of Corrections. Centralia Police Department K-9 Kayo located Jamie L. McCarty hiding behind a tree, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning. The 27-year-old Chehalis resident was taken to the hospital to be treated for what the sheriff’s office described as a minor bite on both of his legs before he was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Cmdr. Steve Aust. It began around 6 p.m. when deputies went looking for McCarty at a residence on the 600 block of Leudinghaus Road in Dryad with a warrant and then observed a vehicle associated with him pass by, which they caught up with at the entrance to the park, Aust said. The passenger exited and ran, but was caught; the driver, Jennifer R. Purcell, 20, of Chehalis, was arrested and booked for rendering criminal assistance, according to the sheriff’s office. McCarty was additionally booked for resisting arrest, Aust said.

BURGLARY IN RANDLE

• Sometime between 6:45 p.m. and 8:40 p.m. on Tuesday, someone entered  home on the 900 block of Silverbrook Road in Randle and made off with two homemade jewelry boxes and their contents, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy responding to the Christmas Eve break-in reports the loss is estimated at $200, according to the sheriff’s office.

DRUGS

• A 30-year-old Centralia woman was arrested for possession of heroin following contact with an officer about 5:20 p.m. yesterday at the 1200 block of Mellen Street in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department. Nicole R. Sellards was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• Police responding at mid-day on Tuesday to the area of Washington Elementary School on the 800 block of Field Avenue in Centralia arrested a 35-year-old Centralia man. Lance J. Myhre was booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and a possible assault charge is pending as he reportedly pushed his girlfriend, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Police responded yesterday to a report of several car tires slashed overnight in the area of the 3000 block of Borst Avenue in Centralia.

• A 21-year-old Centralia woman was arrested  for allegedly cutting the tire on her boyfriends’ car in connection with the 700 block of South Gold Street in Centralia on Tuesday afternoon. Ashley M. Bryant was booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree malicious mischief, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

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

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all

December 25th, 2013

2013.1224.christmascard-001

From Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Marijuana central could be Chehalis Industrial Park

December 24th, 2013

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Who knew Lewis County harbored so many entrepreneurial spirits ready to take a chance on the newly legalized cash crop of cannabis.

The list of those seeking licenses from the state to grow recreational marijuana locally ballooned to more than 40 on Friday, the end of a month-long period for applications.

The state-regulated industry based on the passage of last year’s Initiative 502 contains three types of licenses. One for producers who will cultivate the plants. Another for processors who will prepare it for resale with packaging and may create marijuana-infused products like so-called “edibles”. And a third for retailers.

In Lewis County, just four entities have made requests for a retail license to sell to the public.

But the list of applicants to become processors or producers is long.

Having all three licenses is not permitted under I-502, but a licensee may hold both a producer and a processor license simultaneously. A number of individuals appear to be attempting to go that direction, according to the cumulative list released today by the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

The WSLCB is the agency responsible for issuing the approvals.

While there is a cap on the number of retail licenses that will be given out – seven in Lewis County – the agency says there is no limit on the number of producer and processor licenses it will hand out. To those who are approved.

Information for applicants from the WSLCB says if one’s application is approved, they will receive an electronic billing statement requesting payment of the $1,000 fee.

Reasons for denial are many, for example, among them, failure to meet basic requirements, objection from the local authority, indicators of hidden ownership or based on a persons’s criminal history.

Last week, a spokesperson for the board said they expect it could take them 60 to 90 days to begin issuing the licenses, similar to the wait for liquor licenses.

Some locations on the list have applied for multiple licenses to produce or process. Leading them is 208 Maurin Road, in the Chehalis Industrial Park.

Sixteen entities including those with names such as Emerald Joy and Evergreen Trees are seeking to grow and process marijuana at that location. Some have identified “suites” in their addresses, other have not.

Who are they? Who is their landlord in the large warehouse? And what does the Port of Chehalis think of such neighbors? And, is that property subject to local business licensing from the city, or the county, is it part of an urban growth area with mixed rules?

None of those are questions that could be answered after noon time on Christmas Eve Day. More to come later.

Either way, business is not expected to get underway anytime soon.

Moratoriums are in place regarding such activity in the cities of Chehalis and in unincorporated areas of the county.

Even once they are lifted, Lewis County leaders have already decided to require applicants to provide approval from the U.S. Attorney General or the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

WSLCB spokesperson Mikhail Carpenter has said the agency is aware of the county’s rule, which “for all intents and purposes, is a ban.” And I-502 did not include a provision for cities and counties to opt out, he said.

The agency has asked the state attorney general to offer guidance on the issue, which will more than likely have to be settled in court, amongst interested parties, according to Carpenter.

Meanwhile, below are the applicants who show their address as 208 Maurin Road, Chehalis:

• Alfhild Venutures
• Emerald Joy
• Evergreen Trees LLC
• Gen 3 Growers LLC
• Gig Gardens
• Ground Up Cultivation,
• Holland’s Hope
• MNO
• NXTLVL
• Carrina’s Herbs of Grace, STE A
• Grandma’s Garden, LLC, STE B
• Thomas Tew Tolling, STE B
• Stortebeker Ventures, STE C
• Knivet Enterprises, STE D
• Granuaile Industries, STE E
• Sturdivant Ventures, STE F

To view the entire list of applicants statewide, click Washington State Liquor Control Board’s Frequently Requested Lists, scroll down and find “Marijuana License Applicants, updated Dec. 24, 2013”
•••

For further information, check Washington State Liquor Control Board’s Marijuana License Approval or Denial, here

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

December 24th, 2013

SUSPECTED SLASHER DETAINED

• Officers responding to the Centralia Outlets on the 100 block of West High Street to a report of someone seen slashing car tires yesterday afternoon spoke with a suspect and arrested him for an outstanding warrant. However, the three victims left before police could contact them, Sgt. Brian Warren said. Brett T. Watkins, 36, from Hoodsport, was booked into the Lewis County Jail. Police are asking anyone who found their tires cut around 3 p.m. yesterday in that area to contact the police department.

SLAPPER IN TROUBLE

• A 16-year-old student-inmate at Green Hill School for boys is facing a possible charge of custodial assault for allegedly slapping the bottom of a corrections officer, according to the Chehalis Police Department. An officer was called on Friday to the juvenile incarceration facility on the 300 block of Southwest 11th Street to investigate the incident, according to police.

BURGLARY

• Chehalis police were called on Sunday to the 700 block of Northwest Ohio Avenue regarding the theft of a mini bike, a motorcycle frame and an air compressor.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Centralia police responded about 10 a.m. yesterday to a car prowl at the 300 block of West Summa Street where someone rifled through an unlocked vehicle, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A pink purse was stolen and a car window broken during a vehicle prowl in the parking lot at Wal-Mart reported to Chehalis police about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called to Garbe’s Tavern about 2 o’clock Sunday morning after someone threw a rock through the window,  according to the Chehalis Police Department. The loss is estimated at $700, according to police.

WHAT’S THAT NOISE?

• Chehalis police were called about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday to the area of Southwest Fifth Street regarding two explosions heard. An officer was unable to locate the source of the sound, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license, violation of protection order; responses for alarms, shoplifting and other misdemeanor theft, disorderliness, child biting a sibling, rear end collisions, parking lot hit and runs, car lost in the parking lot at Twin City Town Center in Chehalis; complaints of boys tearing down Christmas lights, congestion at the traffic signal at Northwest Chamber of Commerce Way and Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis … and more.

Truck plunges into Winlock stream, minus driver

December 23rd, 2013
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A Ford pickup rolled through a pedestrian fence along Byham Road and came to rest in Wallers Creek.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

WINLOCK – If a truck falls in the trees and no one sees it, does it make a sound?

Yes it does.

“We all heard a crash and didn’t know what it was, so we went back to what we were doing,” Winlock resident Jennifer Brown said.

On the other side of Byham Road and beyond Wallers Creek, Bonnie Givens heard a noise she described as a boom and wondered if something hit her shed.

Moments later, a firefighter and deputy were knocking on her door, asking if they could cut through her backyard to look in the creek.

It was about 2:40 p.m. and responders found a red Ford F250 on its top, in the water, below an approximately 30 foot eroded bank, according to Winlock Police Department Chief Terry Williams. It was unoccupied.

“They said no one was in it, I felt so good finding that out,” Givens said.

At about the same time, Brown’s neighbor came to tell her that her truck had left her driveway, crossed Byham Road, plowed through a chain link fence and fallen.

It happened about 100 yards west of the Tennessee Road Bridge at the very northeast corner of town.

Williams said once a tow truck is able to recover the vehicle, he will be able to figure out if it slipped out of park, or what happened.