Lewis County Sirens.com

A Toyota Prius, of course, can't clear the underside of a flatbed trailer. / Courtesy photo

CAR SLAMS INTO SIDE OF FLATBED TRAILER ON SR 508

• A collision on the east side of the state Route 508 South Fork Newaukum Bridge early yesterday morning destroyed a Toyota Prius that slammed into the side of a trailer being pulled by a dump truck that was turning around on the highway. Aid called about 2:15 a.m. found the impact into the flatbed trailer sheered off much of the driver’s side of the car, according to Lewis County Fire District 1. The driver and his female passenger amazingly suffered only minor injuries, Fire Chief Mark Conner said. Conner said the truck driver realized he was over the weight limit for the bridge and was turning around. The speed limit is 55 mph there. The driver had an injury to his left leg, he said. They were taken to Providence Centralia Hospital. The bridge, about five miles east of Onalaska, was shut down about two weeks ago because of significant corrosion and was reopened with weight limits until it can be repaired.

JUST A LITTLE ROAD RASH ON US HIGHWAY 12

• Lewis County Fire District 3 was called about 11:30 a.m. yesterday to a motorcycle wreck on U.S. Highway 12 about two miles west of Mossyrock. The motorcyclist hit a piece of wood in the roadway, laid his motorcycle down and narrowly missed striking a guardrail, according to Fire Chief Doug Fosburg. His motorcycle was destroyed but he was very lucky, the chief said. “He was able to walk away,” Fosburg said. “He was wearing all the proper safety gear, including a helmet.” The man, who was with a group of riders the chief thought was from Tacoma, declined aid, he said.

POLICE SEEK KNIFE WIELDING BOYFRIEND

• Police are looking for a 52-year-old man who fled his north Centralia home Friday night bleeding after his girlfriend struck him in the head with a  wine bottle. Police were told Gerardo R. Espinosa threatened his live-in girlfriend with a knife at the 1500 block of Windsor Avenue. The bottle to the head gave her time to call 911 but Espinosa left, according to the Centralia Police Department. A track was conducted with a police dog, but Espinosa’s scent was lost about a quarter of a mile away near a friend’s house, Sgt. Stacy Denham said. Police think someone gave him a ride away, Denham said. The 45-year-old girlfriend was not injured, but he is wanted for first-degree assault, according to Denham.

VEHICLE STOLEN AND STRIPPED

• Centralia police were called about 5 p.m. yesterday about a vehicle that was stolen from a home and then subsequently found stripped in connection with an address on the 800 block of Long Road in Centralia.

THEFT

• Police were called yesterday morning about two Stihl chainsaws stolen about 10:30 a.m. from the 700 block of North Pearl Street.

• Police took a report about 12:15 a.m. today that a video camera was stolen from a business on the 800 block of B Street in Centralia.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police took a report from the 300 block of East Pine Street that someone got inside a vehicle and stole the title and an insurance card sometime between last Tuesday and Wednesday.

CHILD FALLS INTO CAMP FIRE

• A 2-year-old boy was hospitalized after he fell into a campfire at Rainbow Falls State Park off state Route 6 west of Chehalis. Lewis County Fire District 11 Chief Michael Krafczyk said aid was called about 7:10 p.m. on Friday to the park. “He burned the palm of his hand and his knee but I don’t know the extent of his burns,” Krafczyk said, noting he did not personally respond to the call. The child was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, the chief said.

Updated at 5:08 p.m.

PE ELL GARAGE BURNS

• Firefighters in Pe Ell had to tear the entire tin roof from a large two-story garage yesterday to extinguish a fire that snuck up a wall into the roofline. Crews from Lewis County Fire Districts 11, 13 and 16 were called about 3:25 p.m. to the building on Pe Ell Avenue near the school, District 11 Chief Michael Krafczyk said. They saved all the contents, which were a little bit wet, Krafczyk said. It appeared to have begun on the exterior, but the cause is undetermined, according to the chief.

ANNOYING HITCHHIKER

• Chehalis police arrested a 25-year-old man last night who witnesses said was rolling around in the street on Chamber of Commerce Way. Officers called just before 11 p.m. were told he was also stopping cars and trying to get inside. Chief Deputy Randy Kaut said it appeared the individual just wanted a ride and his way of doing that was just really aggressive. Donald B. Lindberg, of Chehalis, was arrested and booked for disorderly conduct, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

THEFT

• Chehalis police were called yesterday afternoon to an unoccupied building on Northeast Meridian Street where the owner said someone had been inside and stripped it of an estimated $30,000 worth of copper piping.

• A Mossyrock man called the sheriff’s office yesterday after someone used his PayPal online service to make a purchase that morning of more than $900. The 66-year-old victim was alerted by PayPal and subsequently was able to prevent the iPad from being shipped, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies have suspect information, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.

• Police were called about 10:45 a.m. yesterday to a business on the 400 block of Union Street in Centralia about an overnight burglary. An unspecified amount of cash was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department. Further details were unavailable.

• A pressure washer and battery-powered weed eater were among the items stolen from a covered area at the 2300 block of Eureka Avenue in Centralia sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A Lacey man who allegedly wheeled a shopping cart with two vacuum cleaners out of Wal-Mart without paying fled on foot when an employee tried to stop him yesterday afternoon. Police called about 5:45 p.m. to the retailer on Louisiana Avenue subsequently found Daniel P. Jacobson, 30, and arrested him for third-degree theft, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The cart was ditched before he ran, according to Deputy Chief Randy Kaut. Jacobson was booked into the Lewis County Jail. Kaut said vacuum cleaners continue to be a hot item for shoplifters, perhaps because they are a high-priced product that can be resold or returned at another location.

• A deputy took a report last night that sometime during the past week someone stole a sign from the end of the driveway at the 600 block of Cannon Road in Packwood. The wood sign painted with white lettering reads “Moon Mountain Lodging,” according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A 25-year-old Centralia man was arrested overnight for vehicle prowl after he allegedly removed a fire extinguisher from a large military vehicle that was on a rail car in north Centralia. A officer contacted Matthew T. Owen about 1:50 a.m. on North Delaware Avenue and Fulton Street, according to police. He and a companion, Joshua D. Clark, 22, Centralia, were both also arrested for trespass, according to the Centralia Police Department. They were then released.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called yesterday morning about what looks like gang graffiti spray painted on the side of downtown building that houses the office of criminal defense attorney Bob Schroeter. Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said it appeared someone climbed on a roof to leave their mark up high and visible on the 400 block of North Market Boulevard, but didn’t seem to be targeting anyone specifically.

• Two tires were slashed on a vehicle parked on the 100 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made about 1:40 a.m. today.

WRECKS

• A 2001 International fire truck sustained major damage when a driver-in-training failed to negotiate a curve, lost control and rolled it yesterday afternoon south of Ethel. The crew of three from the state Department of Natural Resources were unhurt, but taken to Morton General Hospital for evaluation, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It happened about 4 p.m. on the 1300 block of Spencer Road, near the fish hatchery, according to responders. Lewis County Fire District 8 Chief Duran McDaniel said the truck was on its top in the ditch but its occupants were out when he arrived. Sheriff’s Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said it appeared the 18-year-old driver missed a gear, causing excessive speed. He was cited for “wheels off the roadway,” she said. The three are from Morton.

• Two drivers escaped serious injuries when their semi-trucks collided overnight on Interstate 5 just south of Vader in Cowlitz County. One of them, a 2007 International truck and trailer, was totaled when the driver dozed off and he ran into the back of a 2006 Mack truck hauling two trailers, according to the Washington State Patrol. They were both southbound about 2:30 a.m. when it happened, the state patrol reported. Harry Minges, 63, of Des Moines suffered leg injuries but declined aid, according to the investigating trooper. He was to be cited for second-degree negligent driving. The other truck was able to be driven from the scene.

• Centralia police say they were called about 12:25 p.m. yesterday when a vehicle ran into a building on the 1200 block of Lum Road and then left. Further details were unavailable.

• Police and aid were called about 9:50 a.m. yesterday when a van drove through a yard and came to rest at the front door of a house on South Gold and East Chestnut streets. The driver reportedly nearly struck an off duty police officer’s vehicle as well, according to Centralia police. Mitchell W. Sinclair, 43, of Chehalis, declined aid and was booked for driving on a suspended license and several outstanding warrants, according to authorities.

Van travels through fence and up to front door in Centralia. / Courtesy photo

POLICE: CENTRALIA MAN TRIES TO FIGHT POLICE

• A 24-year-old man was arrested in Centralia overnight when he recovered from getting Tased and took a swing at a police officer. Police were called about 12:08 a.m. to the 1900 block of Ahlers Avenue about a possible dispute and contacted the man who was quite agitated, Officer Wayne Compton said. Twice the man took up a boxing-type stance and finally an officer used a Taser gun on him, Compton said. The officer ducked the punch and was not injured, according to Compton. Brandon M.J. Blarton was booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree assault, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS STOLEN FROM SILVER CREEK HOME

• Almost $400 worth of prescription drugs were reported stolen from a Silver Creek residence on Tuesday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies called to the home on the 600 block of state Route 122 were told the missing medications included oxycodone, Oxycontin, morphine, Vicodin, lorazepam and diazepam, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. A 29-year-old Onalaska resident was subsequently arrested for burglary, Brown said. Autumn L. Creech was  booked into the Lewis County Jail.

THREAT WITH GUN

• Centralia police were called about 7 p.m. on Tuesday by an 18-year-old Centralia man who said was he was driving on the 400 block of West Summa Street, a male in a red Ford Expedition pulled up near him and pointed a pistol at him. The victim fled to Chehalis before calling police, according to the Centralia Police Department. Officer Wayne Compton said the victim thought he recognized the individual, but then decided wasn’t sure of that.

ASSAULT AT GREEN HILL SCHOOL FOR BOYS

• A 16-year-old Green Hill resident is in trouble with a possible charge of second-degree assault after he allegedly struck another inmate in the head – knocking him out briefly – and then stomped on his head while he was on the ground. Police were called to the state juvenile detention center in Chehalis just before 9 a.m. on Tuesday to investigate. Chehalis Police Department Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said the 15-year-old victim was taken to the hospital with a possible concussion and a dislocated shoulder.

DRUGS

• Centralia police arrested a 36-year-old Centralia man for driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana following a traffic stop about 12:35 p.m. yesterday at Seward Avenue and East Carson Street. Officer Wayne Compton said a passenger, Karrie D. Delafield, 22, of Centralia, was arrested at the same for possession of methamphetamine when a pipe with residue was found. Both were booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department. Delafield will be released without charges pending further investigation.

• Genevieve J.M. Purser, 29, of Centralia, was arrested about 2:30 p.m. yesterday at South Washington Avenue and West Cherry Street in Centralia because she was wanted by the Chehalis police for a previous drug violation, according to police When she was searched, a pipe with suspected methamphetamine reside was found, Officer Wayne Compton said. She was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VEHICLE VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called yesterday just before 3 p.m. to slashed tires on a vehicle at the 1100 block of North Tower Avenue and then again on the 900 block of Marion Street. At about 5:40 a.m., an officer took a report at the 300 block of South Diamond Street that someone smashed out the rear window of a vehicle with a brick.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is looking for information about who it was that slashed a Glenoma man’s truck tire and left an ominous note stating, “Your truck won’t be this pretty next time.” The 66-year-old man called the sheriff’s office late Tuesday night and said he’d parked his truck off the 200 block of Anderson Road in Glenoma when he went for a walk up a logging road, and returned to find the note, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Police were called just before 1 p.m. yesterday to the 1300 block of Johnson Road in Centralia to a complaint kids were throwing eggs at a residence. Just before 9 p.m., a 15-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly throwing eggs at a parked car in the same area, causing damage, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FIREWORKS IN PORTABLE TOILET

• An apparent fireworks explosion damaged a portable bathroom at the Seminary Hill Nature Park on the 600 block of East Locust Avenue in Centralia. Officers called just before midnight on Tuesday have suspect “leads,” according to the Centralia Police Department.

FIREWORKS OUT CAR WINDOW

• Firefighters in Winlock were called to two small grass fires about 3:30 p.m. yesterday, the first at the 700 block of North Military Road and the second about a mile away on the 300 block of Sargent Road. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy learned three teenage boys had thrown lit fireworks from a vehicle and then stopped on Sargent Road to light off some more. The case, involving an 18-year-old and two 17-year-old Winlock residents was referred to the prosecutors office for possible charges, in part because the youths said they were fireworks purchased from the Chehalis Reservation and not legal to discharge in the area, according to the sheriff’s office.

FIREWORKS IN TREE

• Centralia firefighters were called just before 10 p.m. yesterday when a lit lantern-type firework floated into a tree on the 900 block of L Street. It more or less burned itself out but they put water on it, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

NUMEROUS ASSAULT CHARGES POSSIBLE FOR CENTRALIA MAN WHO ALLEGED INJURED TROOPER

• A 23-year-old Centralia man is set to go before a judge this afternoon on a possible charge of third-degree assault for allegedly giving a trooper a black eye and breaking his nose in Chehalis on Tuesday evening. The trooper contacted Don K. Gonzales who was walking up the southbound Interstate 5 off ramp at Main Street carrying two sticks just before 6:30 p.m., according to Chehalis police. At some point Gonzales apparently tried to open up a pocket knife, and Trooper Rob Moore may have attempted to use his Taser gun, according to authorities. Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said Gonzales threw the lug nut at Moore’s face and a fight ensued. Passing motorists, including a Centralia police detective, jumped in and restrained Gonzales, according to Kaut. Gonzales was booked into the Lewis County Jail for two counts of third-degree assault, according to police. The department will also suggest two misdemeanor assault charges for Gonzales related to the pair of men who helped – a 24-year-old from Chehalis and a 25-year-old from Napavine, Kaut said. A suspected marijuana pipe was found in the suspect’s pocket, according to Kaut. The deputy chief said he did not know why Gonzales was walking on the freeway. Washington State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Ryan Tanner said this morning Trooper Moore is currently off work and resting at home.

RAFTERS STUCK ON COWLITZ RIVER IN PACKWOOD

• Deputies assisted a Colorado man and four children yesterday evening who were stranded on an island in the Cowlitz River off Alderwood Drive in Packwood with a raft. The 43-year-old man and the kids – ages 6 to 12 – had been rafting and were unable to cross back because of the swift current, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Rescuers arriving shortly after 5:15 p.m. were able to raft the group down river and out of the water, according to Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown. Brown did not say how long the rafters had been stranded, but thought someone who lives nearby may have made the call for help sometime before 4 o’clock.