Lewis County Sirens.com

STRANGER IN SUV PEPPER SPRAYS WOMAN

• Police are investigating an incident in which a pedestrian was pepper sprayed by someone in an SUV who confronted them about 3 o’clock this morning on on the 900 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia. The 54-year-old woman told police she was walking down the street when the vehicle pulled next to her and a 25-ish male in the passenger seat asked her for help, according to police. She walked closer, was sprayed and the man said something to effect of “How did it feel?” Officer Panco said. Panco said the vehicle was black, possibly a Ford Explorer, which then took off. Medics came and rinsed out the woman’s eyes, he said. Panco said the subject was described as heavy set with short dark hair and black-framed glasses.

TWO JAILED FOR SEEKING UNDERAGE SEX AT CENTRALIA MOTEL

• Centralia police arrested two men yesterday who showed up to a local motel with a promise of a 15-year-old prostitute. Lance A. Oppelt, 42, of Olympia, and Daniel L. Thomas, 28, of Lacey, were arrested separately and booked into the Lewis County Jail for commercial sexual abuse of a minor, according to the Centralia Police Department. Officer John Panco said Centralia detectives placed an escort ad on a website called backpage.com with photos of both an adult female and a  female the men were told was underage when they inquired. Panco said each man showed up with cash and that’s when they were arrested. The ad is no longer posted, but it could be again, Panco said. Police put together operation because they had been working with a person who could help them out, according to Panco. The location of the motel was not disclosed by police, as it agreed to assist if it wasn’t named by police, according to Panco.

CHEHALIS MAN ARRESTED WITH HEROIN, SCALES, CASH

• A 34-year-old Chehalis man was arrested last night for possession of drugs with intent to deliver after he was found passed out in a vehicle parked at Wal-Mart with a small child inside trying to wake him up. Found in his car was a hypodermic needle, suspected heroin, scales and other items including $400 cash that led to his arrest, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Joshua J. Rees was taken to the hospital and subsequently booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Deputy Chief Randy Kaut.

ASSAULT

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday they referred the case of a 44-year-old Packwood man to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office for a possible charge of fourth-degree assault after investigating an incident that occurred at the Randle One-Stop on Sunday. A 32-year-old man and his family were returning home after river rafting when they observed an erratically driven truck and stopped to take down the license plate, according to the sheriff’s office. Words were exchanged and the 32-year-old was punched in the face three times, leaving him with a split lip and a cut on his nose, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said. The victim subsequently identified the Packwood man from a photo, Brown said.

THEFT

• A deputy yesterday took a report of the theft of an estimated $8,000 of timber from property near the 1600 block of South Schueber Road in Chehalis. An employee discovered somebody had been cutting down cedar trees during the past year, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A Honda Accord stolen in Lewis County in 2009 was found on the property,

• Chehalis police were called about 6 p.m. yesterday about someone trying to use bank cards from a wallet stolen in a vehicle prowl. They were used at a local fast food restaurant and bank, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The wallet belonged to a 22-year-old Centralia man, police said.

• Centralia police were called just before 8:15 a.m. yesterday to the 2400 block of Cooks Hill Road about a purse stolen  from a vehicle.

TRESPASS

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday a 25-year-old Centralia man was arrested the day before for second-degree trespassing on property on the 400 block of Centralia-Alpha Road and trying to salvage tires that didn’t belong to him. Michael P. Miller was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown.

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday they asked prosecutors to file trespass charges against four teenagers suspected of going inside Onalaska High School’s gym on a recent Sunday, moving tables and skating. Images were captured on video surveillance cameras, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Police arrested John C. Baker, 68, of Centralia for criminal trespass about 9 p.m. last night in connection with the 1900 block of Johnson Road in Centralia. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department. He was released this afternoon. Further details were not readily available.

‘EGGIN ON’ THE POLICE

• A 49-year-old man was jailed this morning after he reportedly drove through the Centralia Police Department parking lot, threw a carton of eggs at a patrol car and dared an officer to follow him. According to police, an officer turned on his light and sirens, got behind Steven M. Fullerton on West Main Street, but Fullerton refused to stop; instead traveling the speed limit with his flashers turned on. When Fullerton increased his speed to 60 mph on Harrison Avenue and ran a red light during the morning commute, the pursuit was terminated, according to the Centralia Police Department. A trooper stopped Fullerton on Interstate 5 near Maytown, and the 49-year-old was booked into the Lewis County Jail for eluding, according to police.

POLICE: ONE WOMAN CRIME SPREE

• Chehalis police yesterday arrested a 37-year-old woman after she allegedly stole a small purse from Safeway, shoplifted from at least two stores at the Twin City Town Center and prowled a car in between. Carrie A. Reynolds was found at Wal-Mart with various stolen goods, including a backpack and camera from the victim of the car prowl, according to detective Sgt. Rick McNamara. She was booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree theft, he said. Reynolds told police she had walked away from the ABHS drug and alcohol treatment center in Chehalis, McNamara said.

THEFT

• Detectives followed up on an anonymous phone call yesterday and found two pickup trucks stolen from Centralia out at a residence on the 600 block of Shorey Road in Chehalis yesterday, according to the Centralia Police Department. The case is under investigation.

• A resident of the 400 block of South Iron Street in Centralia reported yesterday afternoon someone climbed through a window and stole prescription medications.

• A stereo and some money were taken from a vehicle on the 1000 block of Roosevelt Avenue in Centralia overnight, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police took a report yesterday that a car prowl occurred in the parking lot at the Twin City Town Center on Aug. 23. The 42-year-old man from Rochester said the doors had been locked but somebody stole more than $1,500 of valuables including his cell phone iPod, money and jewelry, according to the Chehalis.

DRUGS

• Police were called to Chehalis Middle School yesterday where a student had been detained for possession of marijuana. Further details were not readily available.

ASSAULT

• A 40-year-old Centralia man was arrested for second-degree assault after police were called to Providence Centralia Hospital yesterday and found his wife injured. Officers were told Roger L. Estep had repeatedly banged his wife’s head on something, according to Officer John Panco. Estep was arrested at the home on South Gold Street and booked into the Lewis County Jail, Panco said.

A squirrel is electrocuted by Centralia City Light's main substation equipment. / Courtesy photo by Centralia City Light

CRITTER CAUSES WIDESPREAD ELECTRICAL OUTAGE IN CENTRALIA

• A large squirrel got into Centralia City Light’s main substation yesterday afternoon, knocking out power to an estimated 3,000 customers. It began with a loud “boom” about 4:15 p.m. and power was restored by about 5:45 p.m., according to General Manager Ed Williams. Firefighters had to rescue one employee at Cooks Hill Manor from an elevator stuck between floors. Williams said the incident took out about half the substation at North Tower Avenue and Sixth Street, equipment which serves about half the city. The squirrel did not survive.

THEFT

• Police were called just before 6 p.m. yesterday to the 100 block of West First Street in Centralia when a resident returned home after being gone a few minutes and found his front door open and groceries sitting on the floor. No intruder was found, according to Centralia police.

• Prescription medications were reported stolen from the 2500 block of Borst Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 3:45 a.m. today.

MYSTERY MAN JAILED

• Centralia police took a man to jail yesterday morning following a traffic stop in Borst Park in which he allegedly had a falsified trip permit – temporary vehicle license – in the rear window of his truck. The man, who police say is a 51-year-old from Fife, was booked for forgery, and officers will be using fingerprints to determine who he actually is, according to the Centralia Police Department. He presented two pieces of photo identification from two separate states, according to police. He was arrested under the name “Mickey John” also known as Mike White. The truck came to the attention of an officer because it was traveling the wrong way through the park, according to Officer John Panco.