Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

December 18th, 2012

Updated

BREAK-IN AT TRANSALTA

• Someone stole a truck from TransAlta and drove it through a chain link fence there where they made off with four welding leads early yesterday morning, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The $12,000 Ford F350 pickup missing from the power plant off the Big Hanaford Road outside Centralia was subsequently located in an elementary school parking lot in Tacoma, according to the sheriff’s office.

WIRES CUT FROM EQUIPMENT

• A deputy was called about 2 o’clock this morning to Lakeside Industries on the 2000 block of Johnson Road in Centralia after intruders cut heavy gauge wire from a machine, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The night watchman had seen two people wearing dark clothing running away, according to the sheriff’s office.

BUSINESS THEFT

• Centralia police took a report yesterday about the theft of cash deposits last month from a business on the 500 block of Harrision Avenue. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

OFFICE THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 9 a.m. yesterday about an overnight burglary to a locked office building on Main Street near Market Boulevard. Missing were two laptop computers and a briefcase, but the intruder left the cash, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

RESIDENTIAL THEFT

• A deputy was called about 2:45 p.m. yesterday about a burglarized shop building on the 2700 block of Sandra Avenue in Centralia. Numerous items were stolen, including tools and fishing poles, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

POSSIBLE MISSING GUNS

• Chehalis police took a report yesterday about the possible theft of firearms from a storage unit at the 1500 block of North National Avenue. The case is under investigation.

FRAUD

• Centralia police took a report yesterday from a woman who said her credit card was used twice following the theft of her purse from a Centralia tavern on Friday morning. The loss is about $260, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VEHICLE MISSING

• Chehalis police were called about 5:45 p.m. yesterday by a woman who said she was at the Lewis County Mall with her ex-boyfriend and he took her vehicle. An officer was notified this morning by Centralia police they located the vehicle, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

THEFT OF DRUGS

• An officer was called just after 3 p.m. yesterday to the 1000 block of Eckerson Road in Centralia regarding stolen medication.

DRUGS

• Justin R. Smith, 25, of Centralia, was arrested early yesterday for three counts of delivery of a controlled substance, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Tyson J. Anderson, 22, of Centralia, was arrested yesterday for possession of a controlled substance, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DISAGREEMENT LEADS TO ARREST

• A 42-year-old Winlock woman who allegedly damaged a china hutch and bit her estranged husband in the pinky finger was allegedly intoxicated when she was subsequently found in her truck which was stuck in a ditch. It happened around 1 a.m. on Saturday in Winlock and Bambi Jo L. Smith was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. She faces multiple misdemeanor charges.

• Morton police reported yesterday an officer was called to a dispute on Friday afternoon at the 200 block of Main Avenue where the officer warned the parties to settle their differences in a more peaceful manner.

• A Morton officer responding to a dispute just before 3 a.m. on Thursday at the 800 block of Overlook Drive advised those involved to go to bed and sober up, according to the Morton Police Department.

• An officer responding to a complaint of harassment last Tuesday at the 100 block of Main Avenue in Morton advised the parties not to worry about if their neighbors watched them or not while they moved out.

FAKE NAME GETS ARRESTEE IN TROUBLE

• Chehalis police over the weekend concluded a man they arrested earlier this month  for disorderly conduct and malicious mischief in the Wal-Mart parking lot gave police a false name. The man arrested on Dec. 5 after a fight broke out said he was Michael P. Arrants, 23, of Vancouver, Wash., however fingerprints showed he really was 29-year-old Matthew Arrants, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The real Arrants faces potential charges of forgery and identity theft, according to police.

PEDESTRIAN STRUCK IN WAL-MART PARKING LOT

• Chehalis police were called to Wal-Mart about 4:50 p.m. yesterday by a woman who said she was hit by a vehicle. She reported pain to her foot and declined to go to the hospital. No arrest was made. Further details were unavailable.

SCHOOL BUS SLIDES INTO POWER POLE

• Firefighters were called abut 7:20 a.m. yesterday to the end of Martin Road in Glenoma when a school bus turning around slid on the soft shoulder and became wedged against a power pole. A transformer blew and the driver kept all the children on the bus until responders could determine there was no danger from the electric lines, according to White Pass School District Superintendent Rebecca Miner. They were late to school but there were no injuries, according to Miner.

PASSENGER VEHICLE SLIDES INTO RIVER

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports an SUV with two occupants slid off a road and into the Chehalis River last night west of Chehalis. A deputy responded about 11 p.m. to the area near the 100 block of Twin Oaks Road learned the 55-year-old Chehalis man and 41-year-old man from West Linn, Ore. were out of the vehicle and taken to a nearby home, according to the sheriff’s office.

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Chehalis River off Twin Oaks Road. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Sheriff’s Office

News brief: Fire breaks out in Onalaska home, woman taken to hospital

December 17th, 2012
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Firefighters attack flames at an Alpha Way home today. / Courtesy photo by David Jackson, Lewis County Fire District 1

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A large appliance that is unrecognizable after a residential fire in Onalaska today is to blame for burns sustained by the 58-year-old resident.

“The woman tried to push it out the back door, she ended up burning her hands, we had to take her to the hospital,” Lewis County Fire District 1 Chief Mark Conner said.

Firefighters were called just after 12 p.m. to the 200 block of Alpha Way, off Beck Road north of Middle Fork Road when the appliance caught fire.

The single-wide mobile home had been added onto multiple times giving the flames numerous places to move, into the walls and into the ceiling, according to Conner.

He described the structural damage as about 15 percent of the home, and somehow next to no damage to its contents.

“It took a while of digging around to get it all out,” he said.

The mystery appliance was situated in between the living room and the kitchen, and vented outside through a wall, he said.

The woman was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital. Conner didn’t have an update about her condition.

District 1 was joined by neighboring departments from rural Chehalis and Napavine and wrapped up about 2:30 p.m., he said.

A fire investigator is looking into the cause, according to Conner.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

December 17th, 2012
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At the 100 block of Smith Road in Packwood, after the bars close. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Sheriff’s Office

DRIVER CRASHES THROUGH POST OFFICE IN PACKWOOD

• A 52-year-old man was arrested after he drove his car into the Packwood Post Office yesterday morning, at just about 2 a.m. The 1999 Ford Crown Victoria was found “buried into the wall” with the front end completely inside the mail lobby, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. There was minor damage to the car and the driver was not injured, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. The Packwood resident, David R. Morgan, was arrested and booked for driving under the influence, according to Brown.

WHY, GOOD MORNING OFFICER

• A 23-year-old Chehalis man was arrested yesterday morning after an officer woke him up as he sat behind the wheel of his vehicle with the engine running and stopped in the middle of the road at Southwest Third Street and McFadden Avenue in Chehalis. It was just after 8 a.m. when an officer contacted Michael D. Kelly, according to police. A bottle of alcohol was seen laying on the back seat, Officer Linda Bailey said. “The long and the short of it is he was booked for being in physical control (of a vehicle under the influence),” Bailey said.

WHIFF OF MARIJUANA LEADS TO DUI ARREST

• An 18-year-old motorist was arrested for driving under the influence following a traffic stop in which a deputy smelled marijuana at about 10 p.m. on Friday on state Route 505 near Toledo. Michael R. Raphael, of Castle Rock, was taken to the hospital for a blood draw and then booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The case will be referred for a possible charge of possession of marijuana by someone under 21, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

MAN VERSUS WINDOW AT BAR

• Chehalis police were called to Garbe’s Tavern about 1:15 a.m. on Sunday to a report a male “head butted” a window there. The 32-year-old Chehalis man who reportedly sustained minor cuts from the broken glass told an officer he had been punched by someone and said he hit the window to get police there, according to the Chehalis Police Department. No witnesses to that assault could be found, according to police. Carey R. Cosgrove was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for disorderly conduct and third-degree malicious mischief, according to police. The cost to fix the window at the business on the 300 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue will be as much as $700, Officer Linda Bailey said.

POLICE DOG SEARCHES FOR SUSPECT

• Centralia police called about 3:30 p.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl on South Iron Street eventually arrested a 24-year-old suspect after he repeatedly was seen running and hiding in the area. Panther W. Risling, a Centralia resident, was captured by police dog Kayo in the area of the 300 block of Centralia College Boulevard, according to Officer Brian Warren. He was checked out at the hospital for a dog bite and then booked into the Lewis County Jail for an outstanding warrant and possession of methamphetamine, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CLERK GETS BACK STOLEN GOODS

• Chehalis police were called to the Twin City Town Center regarding a shoplifting incident at Hickory Farms at about 5:15 p.m. on Saturday in which the clerk went next door to the Dollar Store and took the merchandise back from the suspect. It was a $17 Hickory Farms box, according to Officer Linda Bailey. “She grabbed it from him, told him she was taking it back from him because he stole and she was going to call police,” Bailey said. Officers arriving to the 1400 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue did not find the subject, according to police.

NATIVITY SCENE MINUS ONE PLASTIC STATUE

• A plastic statue of Joseph vanished from a nativity scene in a yard on the 100 block of Southeast Westside Drive in Chehalis, according to a report made to police on Saturday morning. It’s an ongoing problem, police were told by the victim who checked the neighborhood and did not find Mary’s husband. Joseph’s address is however taped to the bottom of the statue so if he turns up, he can be returned, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

JEWELRY, MEDS, CASH SWIPED

• A deputy was called about 1:30 p.m. on Saturday regarding a residential burglary on the 500 block of Spencer Road near Toledo. Among the valuables stolen were a safe, prescription medications, a hand-held law enforcement style radio, and jewelry, including a “mother’s ring” with two diamonds, an opal and an emerald, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A woman arrived home about 6 p.m. on Friday to find her residence on the 100 block of Kennicott Road in Chehalis burglarized. It happened sometime after 8:30 a.m., according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Among the missing items are a man’s wedding band, other gold jewelry, pain medication and $62 cash, according to the sheriff’s office.

• A deputy took a report on Friday about a theft that occurred earlier this month at a home on the 600 block of Peters Road in Randle. Missing is a ring and cash and there is a suspect, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police took a report of vehicle prowl on Friday from Southeast Maple Drive. Among the missing items were sunglasses, an iPod and CDs, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called to Southwest Fifth Street on Friday afternoon  regarding spray painted graffiti on at least one garage.

TEEN TALKED TO BY POLICE ABOUT MENTION OF KILLING ON FACEBOOK

• A 17-year-old W.F. West High School student was contacted by police last night and expelled in an emergency action after someone became alarmed about statements he allegedly made on his Facebook page online. Chehalis officers stood by at the school on Southwest 16th Street this morning to make sure everything went smoothly but the boy wasn’t at school and there were no direct threats, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Officer Linda Bailey said the comments in question were: “Everyone will die in a week so lets murder everyone before the earth does, whoohoo.” The boy said he made the statement in jest, according to Bailey. No arrest was made.

ROLLOVER WRECK PINS DRIVER, TOSSES OTHER OCCUPANTS

• Four young men were ejected when a Toyota pickup left the roadway and rolled two to three times coming to rest on its side and pinning the driver early Saturday morning near Winlock, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It happened about 12:40 a.m. on the 300 block of South Military Road. The driver, Baletin Castanada-Gonzales, 22, was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he was treated in the emergency room and discharged later on Saturday, according to a hospital spokesperson. A 19-year-old and a 17-year-old were taken to Providence Centralia Hospital with cuts to their hands and arms while a 16-year-old was unhurt, according to the sheriff’s office. They are all Winlock residents. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said the driver was cited for wheels off the roadway, no insurance and driving without a license. Brown said the 19-year-old admitted he’s been drinking and was cited for that. The truck was destroyed, according to Brown.

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The mail lobby of the Packwood Post Office. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Sheriff’s Office

News brief: Four injured in Rochester head-on crash

December 16th, 2012
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Courtesy photo by WSP

Updated at 7:58 p.m. and on Monday December 17, 2012 at 2:55 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A head-on collision on U.S. Highway 12 at Denmark Street in Rochester this afternoon sent four adults to area hospitals.

A man and a woman in the victim car sustained serious injuries, according to responders. Angela M. Saxon, 40, was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and Eric W. Saxon, 41, was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital, according to West Thurston Regional Fire Authority. Both are from Rochester, according to the Washington State Patrol.

A man and a woman in a van with less serious injuries were taken to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to Fire Lt. Eric Smith.

Washington State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Guy Gill said the van crossed the centerline and hit the car. It happened about 3 p.m.

J. Vidal Dominguez Mireles, 54, was driving a 1993 GMC van eastbound when he went into the oncoming lane to avoid stopped traffic, according to the state patrol.  His passenger was Rita S. Dominguez, 54, of Warden, according to the state patrol.

Both the van and the 2008 Dodge Avenger were described as totaled.

Smith said Rochester-area firefighters were joined by firefighters from Oakville and Centralia because of the number of patients and prolonged extrication work with the Jaws of Life.

Trooper Gill said Eric Saxon was transported to Harborview Medical Center. A news release from the state patrol said he was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital, and the fire lieutenant at the scene said he was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital.

The state patrol blames speed and inattention on the part of Dominguez Mireles.

The roadway was blocked with a detour in place until about 6:45 p.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

Update at 2:55 p.m. on Monday December 17, 2012:  Angela M. Saxon was listed in critical condition at mid-day today at Harborview, according to a hospital spokesperson. Eric Saxon was listed in good condition this morning at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.

Rita S. Dominguez was still at Providence Centralia Hospital this morning in fair condition. J. Vidal Dominguez Mireles was treated at Providence Centralia and then transferred to another unspecified hospital.

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Courtesy photo by WSP

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

December 16th, 2012

PARTY BROKEN UP BY POLICE

• Nine individuals between the ages of 16 and 20 were arrested early yesterday morning when police were called just after 3 a.m. about a dispute at an underage drinking party on the 500 block of North Iron Street in Centralia. The subjects from Centralia, Tumwater, Lacey and Olympia were arrested for minor in possession of alcohol and then released, according to the Centralia Police Department. All but two of them were 18 or older, according to police.  A 23-year-old Olympia man was booked for an outstanding warrant, according to police.

STOLEN HONDA CAR

• Centralia police took a report about 4:25 a.m. yesterday about a 1987 Honda car stolen from the 300 block of Noel Avenue.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called about 11:40 p.m. yesterday to the 700 block of West Pine Street regarding the theft of a debit card that was subsequently used in the Olympia area. Officers have suspect information and are investigating, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police took a report of a vehicle prowl yesterday from the 1300 block of Kayu Lane where a Clarion stereo and Alpine subwoofer were taken overnight. There was no sign of forced entry, according to the Centralia Police Department.

TOW TRUCK DRIVER CHEATED

• A local tow company called 911 about 6 a.m. today after they responded to help a motorist who had run out of gas on Interstate 5 and the motorist fled the scene without paying for the services, according to the Centralia Police Department. The suspect was driving a black Toyota Scion with Montana plates and was last seen traveling southbound from Centralia, according to police. The loss is $100, according to police.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MARIJUANA

• A 27-year-old Centralia man was arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana about 9:15 p.m. on Friday after contact with an officer at East Main and North Diamond streets in Centralia. Dalton N. Thompson was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Centralia drug deal leads to robbery, gunfire

December 15th, 2012
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Centralia police are diagraming the scene on Van Buren Street after several gunshots were fired following the robbery of a man’s marijuana today.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CENTRALIA – An advertisement on Craigslist by a Centralia man of medical marijuana for sale led to an armed robbery and then several shots being fired in front of his house before the suspects fled.

Two suspects were subsequently arrested in Lacey.

Police called about 12:40 p.m. today to the 200 block of East Van Buren Street learned the 28-year-old Centralia man placed an online ad indicating he had some “extra quality meds” up for donation for medical marijuana patients, according to Centralia police. He listed the price as $125 per ounce, according to police.

When the buyers arrived to Van Buren Street, the seller got in their car and was ordered at gunpoint to hand over the marijuana, according to police. A short struggle ensued, he was struck in the side of the face with a handgun but then escaped their white Hyundai, according to police.

The 28-year-old man then fired several shots at the fleeing vehicle, striking it numerous times, according to police.

The man’s injuries are described as minor; his name has not been released.

Centralia Police Department detective Sgt. Pat Fitzgerald said the victim claims to be a medical marijuana provider and it is illegal to sell it to anyone, but that’s not the focus of the investigation tonight.

Two teenagers from Tacoma were taken into custody in a parking lot off Pacific Avenue in Lacey after their car was spotted by a trooper this afternoon, according to Officer John Panco. The car was impounded and will be searched on Monday, Fitzgerald said.

Booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree robbery were Yahdriel E. Jones, 18, and Howard E. Ross 19, according to the Centralia Police Department.

 

Breaking news: Shots fired, individual robbed in Centralia neighborhood

December 15th, 2012
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Centralia police set evidence markers out on Van Buren Avenue following a robbery.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CENTRALIA – Police are investigating a robbery in a south Centralia neighborhood that neighbors say included multiple gunshots.

The victim suffered a minor injury, not from being shot but from being hit, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Officers were called about 12:40 p.m. today to the 200 block of East Van Buren Street, just off South Gold.

Detectives are at the scene, where multiple yellow evidence markers have been placed on the street.

Around-the-corner neighbor Jay Jones was decorating his Christmas tree with his girlfriend when he heard multiple gunshots.

The first couple were distinct, but the “pops” that followed came so fast he couldn’t count them, Jones said.

Police Sgt. Kurt Reichert said further details would be released when an officer is available.

More to come.