Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

November 14th, 2017
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Updated at 1:26 p.m.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police are investigating a hit and run case in which a 71-year-old pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and knocked to the ground just before 6:40 p.m. yesterday at West Main Street and Tower Avenue. The woman, from Oregon, suffered minor head injuries and was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DOMESTIC DISPUTE

• An individual went to the Morton Police Department about noon yesterday to report she and her boyfriend had gotten into an argument near the cemetery on Seventh Street and said he grabbed her by the throat, according to police. She told him to leave and go cool off but to bring the car back, yet after she went to the hospital and waited for an hour for him to return, he did not, according to police. Neither he nor the car had been located as of yesterday afternoon, according to police.

BREAK-IN CENTRALIA

• A business at the 1700 block of Industrial Drive in Centralia reported about 11:50 a.m. yesterday it had been burglarized, according to the Centralia Police Department. Missing were a Johnson 15 hp outboard motor and assorted hand tools

• Centralia police were called about 10:15 a.m. yesterday for a burglary at a home on the 1000 block of North Washington Avenue. Taken sometime during the previous three days were a Ridgid brand air compressor, two nail guns and 50 foot air hose, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VEHICLE THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 2:10 p.m. yesterday to the 1800 block of Harrison Avenue to take a report that a black tandem-axle dump trailer had been stolen  sometime since Saturday. It has a license plate reading  3425XL,  according to the Centralia Police Department.

•  A 1998 Honda Civic that was reported stolen from Chehalis Tribal Police was located at the 1100 block of South Silver Street in Centralia at about 12:45 p.m. yesterday. It was returned to its owner, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A car reported stolen about 2:35 a.m. last Thursday from the 100 block of Second Street in Morton was located the following day outside the city limits by the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Department, according to the Morton Police Department.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called about 9:45 a.m. yesterday to take a report that a PayPal account was hacked and the culprit set up a new account using the victim’s information, in a case associated with the 2200 block of Eureka Avenue.

MORE THEFT

• A vinyl sign for a local business at the 1200 block of Mellen Street in Centralia was stolen overnight, according to a report made to police about 12:20 p.m. yesterday.

CAR PROWL

• A deputy was called about 7:10 p.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of Fieldcrest Avenue in Centralia for a vehicle prowl in which a Lenova laptop computer belonging to a business had been stolen sometime during the previous week while the owner was away. There was no forced entry to the vehicle, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is listed as $1,000, according to the sheriff’s office.

•  A car stereo, cell phone charger and cash were stolen out of an unlocked vehicle parked at the 1000 block of South Pearl Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 7:45 a.m. yesterday.

VANDALISM

• Someone damaged two mailboxes in front of a business at the 1400 block of Kresky Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police just before 9 a.m. yesterday.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor theft, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, disturbance, shoplifting, civil issue, vehicle collision, disorderly conduct, suspicious circumstances … and more among 145 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

November 13th, 2017
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Updated at 2:25 p.m.

K-MART ARSON INVESTIGATION

• Chehalis police are investigating an arson incident at K-Mart in which merchandise on a shelf was found burning. Firefighters were called about 10:13 a.m. on Friday to the 1200 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue found the fire was out when they arrived, according to the Chehalis Fire Department. A customer reported smoke and an employee took a fire extinguisher to it, Fire Investigator Derrick Paul said. Completely burned was  plastic cat carrier, Paul said. There was no ignition source in the area, in the southeast corner of the building near the garden center, he said. The joint investigation includes a detective with the Chehalis Police Department.

DOMESTIC ASSAULT

• A 37-year-old Winlock man was arrested for felony assault after deputies were told that as his ex-girlfriend during a dispute tried to crawl out a window, she was pulled back in, held down and choked. A deputy responding about 10:25 p.m. on Thursday to a residence on the 100 block of Noble Fir Estates learned he had also punched a hole in a wall inside the bedroom, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Gilberto Contreras Figueroa was contacted booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree assault, according to the sheriff’s office.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

• A 34-year-old Centralia man was arrested for second-degree rape after officers were called just after 3 a.m. on Saturday by a woman who reported she had been raped at a residence near South Pearl and Cherry streets in Centralia. Jeremy L. Francis was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DOWNTOWN NIGHT FIGHTS

• Officers called just before 2 a.m. yesterday to the 100 block of South Tower Avenue arrested a 32-year-old Winlock resident for fighting in public. Jesus A. Canedo was issued a citation and then released, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police called about 1:20 a.m. yesterday to take a report someone assaulted an individual on the sidewalk in front of a drinking establishment at the 100 block of South Tower Avenue learned the suspect had fled in a mini van. A summons for fourth-degree assault is to be issued for Christopher K. Brotherton, 26, of Longview, according to the Centralia Police Department.

HOSPITAL ASSAULTS

• Two people were arrested after several health care facility employees were assaulted at the 900 block of South Scheuber Road in Centralia on Saturday night. Officers called about 9:40 p.m. booked Jason R. Ferris, 32, of Centralia, and Jennifer R. McCarty, 24, a homeless person, into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree assault, according to the Centralia Police Department.

MORE ASSAULT

• A 24-year-old Centralia resident getting arrested for third-degree malicious about 3:45 p.m. on Saturday at the 2600 block of Cooks Hill Road allegedly assaulted the officer trying to detain him. Lucino Mendoza-Farias was then booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree assault, according to the Centralia Police Department.

HARASSMENT

• Chehalis police were called to take a report of harassment at the 1200 block of South Market Boulevard at about 3:50 p.m. on Saturday. Officers are awaiting further information from the victim, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

BURGLARY SILVER CREEK

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports approximately $1,000 worth of valuable were stolen from an unsecured outbuilding at the 100 block of Crater View Drive in Silver Creek sometime between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. Missing are a Milwaukee bandsaw, four Dewalt cordless drills and a Stihl chainsaw, according to the sheriff’s office.

ELECTRONICS MISSING

• Centralia police were called about 7:20 p.m. yesterday to the 900 block of Orton Street to investigate the theft of several electronic items while the homeowner was out of town.

AUTO THEFT

• Chehalis police were called about 7:20 a.m. yesterday regarding a maroon 1994 Honda Accord stolen from the 10 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue sometime since midnight.

• The Chehalis Police Department reports an officer at about 3:45 a.m. yesterday saw a Honda car with its door open sitting on the side of the road at Southwest McFadden Avenue and Eighth Street and then found it had been stolen. The owner who had reported it missing to Chehalis Tribal Police was contacted to pick it up, according to police. Missing though were tools and a bag of clothes, according to police.

• A blue 1977 Chevrolet pickup truck was reported stolen from the 2100 block of North National Avenue at about 8:40 a.m. on Thursday. It had a gray toolbox in the back, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• A beige and gold 1992 Ford F-150 was reported stolen about noon on Friday from Tower Avenue and Pine Street in Centralia. It has license plate reading B82148N, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A white 1994 Honda Civic was reported stolen from the 800 block of West Pear Street in Centralia at about 11:40 a.m. on Friday, according to the Centralia Police Department. Its license plate reads BHB 6926, according to police.

• A white 1991 Honda Civic was reported stolen from the area of Centralia College at about 2:50 p.m. on Thursday. It has a license plate reading AXH 8096, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FRAUD

• A Chehalis resident called police just before 2 p.m. on Saturday to report finding a $6,000 fraudulent charge on her bank card.

• Chehalis police were called about 2:10 p.m. on Saturday to the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue to collect four counterfeit $100 bills the store had received.

MORE THEFT

• A 34-year-old Centralia man was arrested on Saturday on a warrant in connection with the theft of a gun and other items from the Lewis County senior center on the 2500 block of North National Avenue last month. Adam T. Kay’s warrant was for theft of a firearm and second-degree theft, according to the Chehalis Police Department. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• The theft of a set of very specialized keys were reported stolen from the 900 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia at about 10:40 a.m. on Friday. The investigation is ongoing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called to the 1400 block of West Main Street in Centralia on Thursday to take a report that gas had been stolen from there in recent days.

FAKE NAME

• Officers responding about 5:25 p.m. yesterday to the 500 block of Woodland Avenue in Centralia about a possible incident of driving under the influence ended up arresting a 32-year-old Centralia resident for allegedly providing a false name and birthdate. Alfonso Francisco-Rodas was booked into the Lewis County Jail for providing false information to a public servant, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 25-year-old Centralia resident was arrested for possession of methamphetamine when he was contacted about 8:15 p.m. yesterday at the 100 block of South Street in connection with the investigation about the recovery of a stolen vehicle. Justin W. Haugen was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called to the 800 block of Eshom Road in Centralia just before 11 a.m. on Thursday to investigate a student suspected of attempting to distribute marijuana brownies.

VEHICLE PROWL

• A 29-year-old Chehalis resident contacted law enforcement about 5:45 a.m. on Friday following the discovery that someone had taken his wallet and 22 caliber rifle out of his unlocked truck while it was parked at the 2500 block of King Road in rural Chehalis.

TRESPASSING

• A police officer came across people under a bridge near the 7700 block of northbound Interstate 5 about 2 a.m. on Friday and asked them to move along, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A driver was injured when his Jeep Grand Cherokee headed north on state Route 7 crossed the oncoming lane, went off the road striking several trees and came to rest about 60 feet off the road. Troopers called about 2:50 p.m. on Saturday to the scene about 14 miles north of Morton indicated the vehicle was totaled. David A. Jones, 67, from Portland, was transported to Morton General Hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol. He had been wearing a seat belt, according to the state patrol. Jones was cited for driving under the influence, for not having a valid license and for wheels off the roadway, the investigating trooper reports.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing, trespassing, misdemeanor theft, resisting arrest, probation violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, protection order violation misdemeanor domestic assault, misdemeanor domestic malicious mischief; responses for alarm, disturbance, shoplifting, civil issue, hit and run, vehicle collision, disorderly conduct, suspicious circumstances, protection order violation, fourth-degree assault, interfering with domestic violence reporting … and more among 545 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 96-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

Caretaker who spent deceased client’s money pleads guilty

November 10th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 34-year-old Winlock woman accused of taking over bank accounts of a woman who was hospitalized and then died has pleaded guilty as charged.

Aurora S. Fulmer, who also uses the last name of Contreras, was arrested in June and after she was charged, was allowed release pending trial on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

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Aurora S. Fulmer

She pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Lewis County Superior Court to one count of second-degree theft (more than $750 but less than $5,000) and three counts of second-degree identity theft.

The situation came to the attention of authorities early this year after the woman’s estranged daughter learned her mother had died and then found Fulmer at her mother’s home on the 100 block of Fircrest Road in Centralia.

Fulmer told investigators she had been the dead woman’s caregiver and that the woman told her she could have her money and her Centralia house, according to court documents.

She produced a power of attorney, with the mother’s partner listed as the agent, but it was crossed or whited out and replaced with Fulmer’s name.

She also left a copy of the will at the deceased woman’s attorney’s office, with her own name handwritten on the documents and initialed with the woman’s initials, but it not certified.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office initially suggested Fulmer wrongfully withdrew more than $43,000 from two of the woman’s accounts. A detective collected documents linking Fulmer to expenditures after the woman’s death such as an $84 piercing in Longview on Jan. 13, a $238 jewelry store purchase three days later and a K-Mart/Western Union money transfer of $540.

Her lawyer Shane O’Rourke said after her court hearing it wasn’t disputed she was the woman’s caregiver, but it was debated if the woman intended to leave her everything.

But that was irrelevant, O’Rourke said, because those things have to go through probate.

“You can’t just start spending it,” O’Rourke said. “She was wrong about that and she knows that now.”

Fulmer is facing a standard sentencing range of 12 to 14 months when she returns to court on Dec. 7.

Fulmer is in treatment for chemical dependency and has six children, according to O’Rourke. He is planning to get her screened to find if she is eligible for a parenting sentencing alternative, he said.
•••

For background, read “Daughter found stranger living in her dead mother’s Centralia home” from Monday June 26, 2017, here

Read about Wolfy’s owner’s criminal case wraps up …

November 10th, 2017
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The wandering Bucoda dog’s condition drew widespread attention after its photo circulated on Facebook

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Olympian reports the owner of a Bucoda dog named Wolfy who was neglected, starved and shot dead was sentenced this week to five months in jail.

News reporter Abby Spegman writes that 54-year-old Robert Leatherman was convicted by a jury last month of first-degree animal cruelty as well as bail jumping; and that the friend he asked to put Wolfy down was given 30 days of community service, following his plea of guilty to second-degree animal cruelty.

The canine’s situation was investigated after a photo of the emaciated animal wandering around the south Thurston County town was posted on Facebook more than three years ago by an individual wondering how she could get it help.

Read more about it here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

November 9th, 2017
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Updated

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOUND IN PARKING LOT

• A bank bag containing more than $8,000 cash was lost and then found and returned to its owner in Chehalis yesterday. The item was discovered in a shopping cart by an employee in the Wal-Mart parking lot at the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue, according to a report made to the Chehalis Police Department just before 8 a.m. yesterday. The Rochester man who lost it realized the mistake and was reunited with his property, according to police

STUDENT IN TROUBLE

• Centralia police responding to the 800 block of Eshom Road about 8:45 a.m. yesterday allege a 17-year-old boy was in possession of drug paraphernalia. The case is being referred to prosecutors for charging, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 48-year-old Toledo woman was injured when her vehicle collided with a rear pilot car for an oversize load crossing state Route 505 at Interstate 5 this morning. The 2013 GMC Terrain sport utility vehicle was traveling north and used exit 63 to bypass the overpass but failed to yield to 505 traffic, according to the Washington State Patrol. Lisa Coward-Godbey was driving a 2008 GMC Savana van northbound on state Route 505 and hit the SUV, according to the state patrol. Troopers called to the scene at 9:30 a.m. found both vehicles were damaged but only the van was towed. Coward-Godbey was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, hit and run, probation violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, disturbance, civil issue, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances, threats on Facebook by unknown person … and more among 126 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

Suspect: ‘Everyone was drunk’

November 8th, 2017
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Mark W. Powell heads back to sit down at the end of his hearing this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 46-year-old Centralia man arrested and jailed for second-degree assault on Monday while the victim was hospitalized on life support was ordered to be released today as no charges were filed.

Mark W. Powell was visiting with the 63-year-old man at the man’s home on the  3500 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia on Sunday night when a disagreement broke out, according to authorities. Powell allegedly punched Steven Nystrom in the face, Nystrom fell to the floor and Powell and his wife, or girlfriend, left.

Law enforcement got involved the following afternoon when they learned Nystrom was at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia with a broken nose, a bruised eye and potentially then a stroke as the result, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Powell was brought before a judge yesterday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court where prosecutors asked he be held with no bail for the time being. When he was brought before a judge again this afternoon, Lewis County Chief Deputy Criminal Prosecutor Brad Meagher said he was running up against his 72-hour deadline to file charges.

“Given the information that I have on my desk right now, I’m uncomfortable charging Mr. Powell with a crime,” Meagher told the judge.

Meagher said that could change as his office gets further information. Judge James Lawler ordered Powell’s release, but cautioned him he could be subject to recall.

Nystrom was listed in critical condition as of about 11 a.m. today. Meagher said the latest update he had came after lunch today, and that Nystrom was still alive.

The declaration of probable cause filed yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court shares information from interviews a sheriff’s deputy conducted with friends, family, neighbors and Powell.

The victim’s roommate confirmed the victim brought home Powell and a woman on Sunday evening, but he felt they were trouble, so he stayed in his room.

The roommate recounted hearing a thud as though something had fallen and came out to find Nystrom on the floor. He said he couldn’t wake him up and figured he was drunk, so went back to bed.

When he got up on Monday morning, the roommate found Nystrom still on the floor, so he sought help from a neighbor who phoned 911.

The deputy tracked down Powell and his female companion with information from a taxi service; the driver told the deputy two males came to the taxi and the younger one got in.

The deputy found Powell and his wife, or girlfriend, – Kazi Hartman –  sleeping in a tent in a wooded area between train tracks and the 1000 block of North Gold Street.

Powell told the deputy that on Sunday evening, he was out drinking with Nystrom and Nystrom invited them to come to his house to hang out, they were there about three hours, everyone was drunk.

Powell said Nystrom told Hartman he could take better care of her than Powell could.

Powell told the deputy Nystrom put his hands around his neck and tried to choke him, so he punched him. Powell also told the deputy Nystrom got him in a headlock.

Powell told the deputy after he hit Nystrom, Nystrom fell to the floor and was still on the floor when he left. Hartman said she didn’t remember anything.

The information on Nystrom’s injuries first came on Monday to the sheriff’s office via contact with Nystrom’s step sister. She told the deputy he was in critical care at Providence St. Peter Hospital with the broken nose, bruised eye and that the neurologist said he’d suffered a massive stroke on the right side of his brain.

She thought he would likely not make it through the evening.
•••

For background, read “Centralia man in critical condition after assault” from Tuesday November 7, 2017, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

November 8th, 2017
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AUTO THEFT

• The owner of a red 1997 Honda Civic went outside yesterday morning to go to work and found his two-door car was gone. A deputy called just after 8 a.m. yesterday to the 3100 block of Ives Road in Centralia learned the car had been parked in the lot on Monday evening, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

THEFT, THEFT, THEFT

• A resident at the 1100 block of G Street in Centralia reported about 10:10 a.m. yesterday that numerous items have been stolen from her home over the past several months, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue about 9:25 a.m. yesterday to take a report of three money orders getting stolen and forged from back in October.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 2:10 p.m. yesterday to the 1200 block of North Scheuber Road where sometime during the previous two days, someone had stolen gas out of a small bus parked at a church.

• Centralia police were called about 12:25 p.m. yesterday to the 500 block of North Tower Avenue where a car stereo and fuel had been stolen from two vehicles parked there. It appears the gas has been taken numerous times over the past few months, according to the Centralia Police Department.

HAIR PULLING

• Police are investigating a case of potential fourth-degree assault after being called just before 10 a.m. yesterday to Chehalis Middle School on the 1000 block of Southwest 20th Street. The initial information indicates one student pulled another student’s hair and later the other student pulled the first student’s hair, only a little bit harder, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

UNRULY PATIENT

• Centralia police reported this morning that a 23-year-old Centralia resident arrested for allegedly kicking and spitting on a Centralia police officer who was assisting medics picking him up on Monday night allegedly subsequently kicked a nurse in the stomach once he got to the emergency room at Providence Centralia Hospital. Aid and police had responded to his Centralia home when his parents called for help because he had swallowed a bunch of pills, Officer William Phipps said. Victor A. Lopez Roman was booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree assault, according to police.

DRUGS

• Authorities discovered what appeared to be marijuana rolled up in cigarette paper at the 800 block of Eshom Road in Centralia yesterday. A case involving a 15-year-old boy is to be referred to prosecutors for possession of marijuana, according to the Centralia Police Department.

UNWANTED EXPOSURE

• Chehalis police were called about 12:30 p.m. yesterday by a female who reported a male exposed himself to her while he was inside a store at the 1400 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

• Chehalis police were called at 2:48 p.m. yesterday by an individual who said he had been picking up recyclables beneath an overpass near the park and ride lot on the 800 block of West Main Street and saw a blanket that looked as though it could have had a body rolled up inside of it and been dumped. An officer was unable to locate a body, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

SMALL FIRE

• A small fire was set outside of a former business on the 1200 block of Alder Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 1:10 p.m. yesterday. There was no damage or danger to the building, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, fourth-degree domestic assault, protection order violation; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, hit and run, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor theft … and more among 135 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.