Posts Tagged ‘By Sharyn L. Decker’

News brief: Suspicious blaze damages mobile home in Grand Mound

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fire that broke out in a Grand Mound mobile home last night.

Firefighters called about 11 p.m. to the 20300 block of Old Highway 99 Southwest found the backside of the uninhabited single-wide mobile home burning, according to West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.

About a dozen firefighters from four agencies quickly brought the flames under control, Fire Chief Robert Scott said this morning.

He estimated about one-quarter of the structure was damaged.

The mobile home is adjacent to the old Grand Mound Motel, he said.

Nobody was living there and it appeared someone was in the process of tearing it apart, Scott said.

There was no power service to the structure, making it a suspicious fire, according to Scott.

The cause is being looked into by the sheriff’s office and West Thurston fire investigators.

News brief: Heroin dealing investigation leads to Chehalis apartment

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Police seized an estimated quarter-pound of black tar heroin when they searched an apartment last night in Chehalis.

Three people were arrested in what the Centralia Police Department calls the culmination of a month-long narcotics trafficking investigation involving individuals from as far away as Puyallup.

A search warrant was served about 8 p.m. at the 300 block of Southwest Third Street, according to police.

Arrested were Darin L. Miles, 38, of Chehalis; Scott T. Johnson, 44, of Centralia; and Jose G. Estrada-Alva of Puyallup.

Officers collected items such as power tools and sports memorabilia believed to be stolen in various thefts and burglaries in the greater Twin Cities area, according to a new release this morning from  the Centralia Police Department.

Police called the quantity of heroin significant; they also found a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and some pills, according to the news release. The exact weights have not yet been determined, police said.

The street value of a quarter pound of heroin in Washington state, according to tracking by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration  is about $12,800, Officer Chris Fitzgerald said. It sells for about $100 per gram here, she said.

Miles’ girlfriend and two small children were at the home when officers arrived and allowed to leave with a relative, according to police.

The three men were booked into the Lewis County Jail, initially for offenses including possession and delivery of a controlled substance,  as well as unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the news release.

The Centralia Police Anti-Crime Unit was assisted by Chehalis police and members of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Update Thursday June 16, 2011 at 12 p.m.: The amount of heroin turned out to be just a few grams shy of a pound, according to Officer Fitzgerald. Street value: approximately $43,600.

News brief: Much money raised for local Special Olympics athletes

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
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Runners carry the torch through Lewis County on June 3. / Courtesy photo by Jason Baker

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Lewis County Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics  raised more than $2,600, according to organizer Doug Lee.

About 25 people ran on June 3, in a route that began in Winlock and ended in Centralia, according to Lee.

The money will go to local Special Olympics athletes.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

WINNING HORSE RACE TICKET STOLEN

• Centralia police are investigating the theft of a wining horse racing ticket. A man went to the police department yesterday afternoon to report the incident. It occurred on the 100 block of South Tower Avenue, but further details were not readily available, police Sgt. Kurt Reichert said this morning.

ASSAULT ARRESTEE DAMAGES PATROL CAR

• Deputies responding to a dispute about 3:45 this morning on the 600 block of State Street in Centralia arrested a Centralia resident for allegedly assaulting his mother and a 55-year-old man. Christopher J. Draskovich, 23, was detained after throwing what was later found to be a knife sharpener and arrested for fourth-degree assault, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown didn’t identify the nature of the attack, but said the mother told deputies she was not injured and the other victim complained of pain in his ribs. Brown said after Draskovich was placed in the backseat of a patrol vehicle, he partially kicked out a passenger window, adding the offense of first-degree malicious mischief. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

PACKAGE MISSING FROM CENTRALIA PORCH

• Police were called about 6:25 p.m. yesterday about mail and packages being stolen from the front porch of the 400 block of South Iron Street in Centralia.

DRUGS

• A 47-year-old Centralia man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine early this morning, according to police. Robert E. Lansidel was booked into the Lewis County Jail after contact with officers at the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia just before 3 a.m., according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 49-year-old Centralia man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine last night on the 1300 block of Crescent Drive in Centralia. Robert J. Knutz was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

News brief: Two big rigs destroy Volvo, Centralia man survives

Monday, June 13th, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 25-year-old Centralia man escaped serious injury when his car was hit by not one but two semi-trucks on Interstate 5 in Chehalis today.

Tyler C. Mohoric was taken by ambulance to Providence Centralia Hospital with neck and back injuries, according to the Washington State Patrol. His 2009 Volvo was totaled.

Aid and troopers were called about 1:48 p.m. to the southbound lanes just south of Chamber of Commerce Way interchange.

A southbound Freightliner changed lanes and clipped the Volvo, spinning it around sideways into the path of a 1997 International semi truck, according to responders. The car was pushed down the freeway some 300 yards, Chehalis Fire Department Capt. Ted McCarty estimated.

“It was lucky there was nobody in the passenger side, they would have been severely injured,” McCarty said.

Firefighters were already at the scene nearby of a two-vehicle crash on Chamber Way and Louisiana Avenue and Police Chief Glenn Schaffer was stopped for a third wreck on one of the ramps, McCarty said.

The International was driven by a 57-year-old Portland man who was reportedly unhurt, but his truck sustained an estimated $6,000 damage and was towed, according to the state patrol.

Troopers blamed the driver of the Freightliner – a 44-year-old Sacramento man – for inattention and an unsafe lane change. His truck was able to be driven from the scene. He too was reportedly uninjured.

Update Tuesday June 14, 2011 at 9:30 a.m.: Mohoric has been treated and released from the hospital.

Registered sex offender notice: New home in Winlock

Monday, June 13th, 2011

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office announced a level three registered sex offender moved to a new address in Winlock.

Kenneth N. Rock, 22, is registered as living on the 100 block of Nelson Road.

He is not wanted by law enforcement, but notification to the community is meant to inform the public and enhance public safety, according to the sheriff’s office.

Rock was convicted at age 15 of first-degree child rape and molestation involving a 3-year-old boy he knew, according to sheriff’s detective Jamey McGinty. He was released from custody in early 2007.

The sheriff’s office designated him as a level three sex offender, meaning they believe he is a high risk to the community, according to McGinty.

Rock is described as 6 feet tall and weighing 250 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

To see more details from the bulletin and a photo of Rock, visit the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office web site level three sex offender page, here.

Questions? The sheriff’s office says call 360-748-9286 for detective McGinty or Chief Criminal Deputy Gene Seiber.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, June 13th, 2011

DEPUTY STOPS FOR BARE BUTT

• A 46-year-old man was arrested after he showed off his bare backside to a passing deputy yesterday morning on the 100 block of state Route 505 in Winlock. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports Donald Craig Johnson was walking along the sidewalk just after 9 a.m. and as the marked patrol car drove by, he turned his back and pushed the waistband of his pants down. Johnson was booked into the Lewis County Jail for indecent exposure, according to Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown.

WRECK IN THE WOODS

• Four people sustained minor injuries when their vehicle went off the road and struck a tree on Forest Service Road 23 in East Lewis County yesterday evening. A deputy on patrol came across the tree in the road and saw smoke coming from an embankment at about 6 p.m., according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy provided first aid until the fire department arrived and three were taken to Morton General Hospital with various cuts, according to the sheriff’s office. They were transients ages 20,19, and 18, along with a 15-year-old runaway from Oregon, the sheriff’s office reported. Three were cited for being minors in possession of alcohol and the driver’s case will be referred for a possible charge of driving under the influence, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said this morning.

ASSAULT

• A 31-year-old Chehalis man was arrested for second-degree assault after he reportedly choked his wife leaving bruises on her neck. A deputy took a report on Friday afternoon in Chehalis and subsequently went to where the assault occurred and took Mario Luna Lara into custody and booked him into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A 21-year-old Morton-area woman was arrested in the emergency room at Morton General Hospital after she allegedly fought with law enforcement officers, scratching a Morton police officer and spitting on a sheriff’s deputy  late Friday night. Police responded to a call about a suspicious person in the area of Second Street and Westlake Avenue in Morton and Laura J. Shiprack was subsequently taken to the hospital to be evaluated, according to the Morton Police Department. She became combative and subsequently was booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree assault, Chief Dan Mortensen said.

TEXT THREAT PUTS MAN IN JAIL

• A 45-year-old Chehalis was arrested and booked Friday night after allegedly sending a text message to his wife saying, “I will shoot you both.” James J. Hall was booked into the Lewis County Jail but has since been released.

THEFT

• Somebody broke into a home on the 600 block of U.S. Highway 12 outside Chehalis and made off with a flat screen television, jewelry and five antique dolls, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning. It happened sometime between June 3 and Friday, the victim told a deputy.

• A yellow and black 2008 Suzuki dirt bike was stolen from where it was left temporarily on a trail off the Forest Service Road 23 near the North Fork Campground yesterday afternoon. A Randle man and his daughter out riding parked it briefly when it began to rain and rode to his truck before returning to retrieve it, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is estimated at $1,500.

• Somebody pried open a window and stole a GPS device from a vehicle on the 800 block of J Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 6 p.m. yesterday.

DRUGS

• Centralia police arrested two people for possession of methamphetamine after contact at the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue in Centralia yesterday afternoon. Booked for possession and also for warrants were Jose F. Lopez, 34, of Longview, and Alisha M. Rowley, 27, of Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

MAN WITH HOSE HOLDS BACK HOUSE FIRE

• Fire burned a covered porch and began to burn the backside of a house before it was extinguished in Centralia on Saturday afternoon. Riverside Fire Authority was called to 700 block of Chestnut Street where a quick-thinking neighbor had already gotten to work with a garden hose, according to fire Capt. Casey McCarthy. Nobody was injured; and McCarthy described the amount of damage as moderate. A shed also burned, McCarthy said. Authorities believe a 9-year-old boy was playing with matches or a lighter, according to police.