Posts Tagged ‘By Sharyn L. Decker’

Centralia arson: Teen angry about eviction

Friday, August 18th, 2017
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Kelsey T. Rasmussen, in red, is shown to his seat in Lewis County Superior Court

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – He’s charged with knowingly starting a fire in his own home, the top level of a Centralia duplex.

At first he said he was playing with hand sanitizer that caught fire and he got scared so he left.

But then he admitted to a police detective he started the fire because he was mad he was getting evicted with no reason given on the notice, according to prosecutors.

The 19-year-old Centralia man has no criminal history, but was charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree arson, a felony with a maximum penalty of life in prison. It’s also a strike offense.

Kelsey T. Rasmussen was brought before a judge yesterday afternoon where his bail was set at $50,000.

Temporary defense attorney Rachael Tiller told the judge Rasmussen has no income, at this time, and Judge Andrew Toynbee appointed Centralia lawyer Don Blair to represent him.

Centralia police say they found Rasmussen a short distance away waiting for a taxi as firefighters and police converged around 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the 1200 block of Windsor Avenue where smoke was rising from the roof vents and the second-story windows were blackened.

The first-floor unit was occupied at the time but everyone was able to get out safely without injury, according to authorities. A woman who lived on the ground floor described her upstairs neighbor as the tall, skinny kid with glasses that usually wore a black hoody.

The fire was extinguished, but it caused heavy damage to the upper level of the house which had been converted to a duplex, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

A fire captain told police there was a can of shaving cream in the middle of the bed, which looked like where the fire began, according to charging documents.

The captain said the smoke detectors were found outside sitting on the railing on the porch.

Rasmussen’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
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For background, read “Resident of Centralia duplex arrested following fire there” from Thursday August 17, 2017, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, August 18th, 2017
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UNLAWFUL GUN PLAY

• A deputy responding to a report of a vehicle blocking traffic and a man in the middle of the road firing a rifle towards the woods contacted the individual and found he had a prior conviction that prohibited him from possessing guns. It happened about 7 p.m. yesterday at the 1400 block of Middle Fork Road near Onalaska, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The weapon and several spent rounds were collected for evidence and Anthony C. Burchfield, 41, was arrested, according to the sheriff’s office. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said.

VEHICLE PROWL

• Police were called about 11:15 a.m. yesterday to take a report that shoes and clothing were taken from a car at the 200 block of North King Street in Centralia on Sunday evening.

VANDALISM

• Two windows of a house had rocks thrown through them at the 400 block of Prairie Rose Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police just before 6 p.m. yesterday. The house was also egged, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 11:25 a.m. yesterday to take a report that three mailboxes were pried open sometime during the previous two days at the 100 block of South Silver Street.

• Chehalis police were called just before 11 a.m. yesterday regarding vandalism to a 2017 Jeep at the 1800 block of Bishop Road. There was a hole in its hood, about an inch in size that looked like a tear, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 12:15 p.m. yesterday to take a report of someone “keying” a foul word onto a vehicle.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Firefighters were called about 8:15 a.m. today to a rollover crash on Jackson Highway just north of North Prairie Road, Nobody was transported, according to Lewis County Fire District 5.

• Two vehicles were totaled and one driver hospitalized after the motorist didn’t see the SUV in front of her had stopped for road construction on southbound state Route 7 about 11 miles north of Morton this morning. Troopers called to the scene just after 8 a.m. found the Dodge Dakota pickup struck the rear of a 2017 Audi Q7 sport utility vehicle, according to the Washington State Patrol. Sandra L. Gidley, 39, from Spanaway, was injured and taken to Morton General Hospital, according to the state patrol. James M. Bieker, 41, of Eatonville, was injured but not transported, the investigating trooper indicates. Gidley was to be cited for second-degree negligent driving.

• Chehalis police were called about 1:20 p.m. yesterday when a tow truck and passenger car collided at West Main Street and Cascade Avenue.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, trespassing, resisting arrest, fourth-degree assault, protection order violation; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, harassment, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 149 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

Thursday, August 17th, 2017
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CRAIGSLIST SCAMMER VICTIMIZES CHEHALIS RESIDENT

• Someone pretending to be the owner of a local house and advertising it for rent on Craigslist has tricked one person into sending them money, according to the Chehalis Police Department. A Chehalis woman contacted police yesterday and said after email exchanges, and paying $700, she was waiting for the keys, when the supposed new landlord asked for even more money for a deposit. It turns out the person who took the woman’s money does not own the residence, according to police. “It’s a shame,” Chehalis Police Department spokesperson Linda Bailey said. “People need to be very, very cautious.”

VEHICLE THEFT

• A gray 2013 Honda Pilot was reported stolen from the 400 block of South Buckner Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 1:35 p.m. yesterday. The vehicle has a license plate reading AKE 0476, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 33-year-old resident of Idaho Falls was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle in a case in which a deputy went to the 9000 block of U.S. Highway 12 yesterday afternoon where there was a Honda CRX420 ATV stolen from a Castle Rock woman and subsequently found Spencer C. Kraft walking near Young Road and determined Kraft had been previously operating the ATV, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Kraft was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

OTHER THEFT

• A hydraulic log splitter was reported stolen from a back yard at the 300 block of L Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 8:35 a.m. yesterday

• Two Tacoma residents who allegedly stole clothing from a children’s store at the 1200 block of Lum Road in Centralia and assaulted an employee who tried to stop them from leaving with merchandise were subsequently arrested for second-degree robbery yesterday. Police called just before 5:30 p.m. booked Dasia S. McDaniel, 20, and Ittalyah J. Jackson, 22, into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called yesterday morning to take reports from two victims that rent money was stolen from the 1000 block of North Scheuber Road.

• A Samsung Galaxy Note 5 cell phone was reported stolen from the 500 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia about 9:45 a.m. yesterday.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called just after 4 p.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue where a forged check had been deposited into an individual’s bank account via an ATM. The investigation is ongoing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

GREEN HILL SCHOOL

• Chehalis police were called just before 10 a.m. yesterday to Green Hill School on the 300 block of Southwest 11th Street to take a report that a 17-year-old student-inmate spit on a staff member. The case is being referred to prosecutors for custodial assault, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• The window was broken out of a vehicle parked at the 1600 block of South Gold Street in Centralia in an apparent attempted  prowl, according to a report made to police about 4:50 p.m yesterday .

• A vehicle prowl was reported about 1:35 p.m. yesterday at the 400 block of South Buckner Street in Centralia in which multiple personal items were stolen from the interior of the unlocked vehicle.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A deputy responded to the 1300 block of Highway 603 about 8:45 p.m. yesterday for a single-vehicle collision in which a 1999 Ford F350 pickup was totaled from striking a utility pole. There was no driver around, but two witnesses saw a male leave the area in a white Honda Civic, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

SPARKS SUSPECTED IN I-5 FIRES

• Firefighters in Centralia were called about 11 a.m. yesterday for a brush fire along the shoulder of southbound Interstate 5 near milepost 83. It burned an area about 600 feet long and 10 feet wide, according to Riverside Fire Authority. The fire was easily extinguished, according to Fire Capt. Scott Weinert. According to the Washington State Patrol, it was one of several fires burning along the freeway from the area of Maytown, believed to  have been ignited by a semi truck that was driving on a tire rim, Weinert stated.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving with no license, fourth-degree assault; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, harassment, vehicle collision, shoplifting, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor assault, protection order violation … and more among 176 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.

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Crew extinguishes flames north of Centralia along freeway. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

Police: Impaired motorist drove onto sidewalk, injuring pedestrian near fairgrounds

Thursday, August 17th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 58-year-old Chehalis man is listed in serious condition after getting hit by a car that drove up onto the sidewalk outside the Southwest Washington Fair grounds yesterday; its driver suspected to be under the influence of drugs.

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Wednesday August 16, 2017

Mike Summer was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle following the approximately 12:25 p.m. incident. A hospital spokesperson this morning said Summer’s condition is serious but improving.

Police and firefighters responding to the 1900 block of South Gold Street in Centralia found the pedestrian unconscious but he regained consciousness once medical care began.

The Centralia Police Department says 30-year-old Christian D. Brown was behind the wheel of a 2000 Acura TL and when he was searched, they found heroin.

Brown was arrested for driving under the influence, vehicular assault and possession of heroin, according to police. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

•••

CORRECTION: This has been updated to correctly reflect the age of Mike Summer. His is 58 years old, not 48, but Centralia police initially released the incorrect age.

•••

For background, read “News brief: Man hit by vehicle near SWW fairgrounds” from Wednesday August 16, 2017, here

Teen dies in Grand Mound wreck

Thursday, August 17th, 2017
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Old Highway 99 is shut down for investigation of fatal wreck. / Courtesy photo by Thurston County Sheriff’s Office

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A Rochester teenager was killed yesterday when she pulled onto Old Highway 99 and collided with a semi truck in Grand Mound.

It happened about 2:45 p.m. at Sargent Road Southwest, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.

Kaitlin Darnell, 18, of Rochester, was driving a 2007 Toyota passenger car, according to authorities.

The driver of the red semi tractor is from Rochester as well, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Carla Carter.

The semi had been traveling southbound on Old Highway 99.

Carter said a passenger from the semi was transported to a local hospital with a minor injury.

News brief: Gun, alcohol, plus child leads to arrest in Chehalis

Thursday, August 17th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 40-year-old man was arrested after allegedly firing a gun in a case yesterday evening in which police were asked to check on the well-being of a 4-year-old child at a Chehalis residence.

Nobody was injured by gunfire but officers found the man and a woman were too intoxicated from alcohol to care for the child, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

The 33-year-old Chehalis woman was transported to the hospital for reasons the police department would not disclose. Brian Fink, 40, was booked into the Lewis County Jail.

Officers called at 6:54 p.m. to the home on the 300 block of Southwest 15th Street learned Fink had discharged a firearm while at the residence, according to department spokesperson Linda Bailey.

Bailey said she did not know what if anything was struck, or if it happened indoors or outdoors but said police recovered a casing.

The weapon is believed to be a .45 caliber possibly a Glock, but is currently locked in a safe for which police are seeking a search warrant to open, Bailey said.

The child was released to family members, she said.

Fink was arrested for reckless endangerment and for unlawfully discharging a firearm, Bailey said.

Resident of Centralia duplex arrested following fire there

Thursday, August 17th, 2017
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Windsor Avenue in north Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 19-year-old man was arrested for arson last night after a fire that heavily damaged the upstairs unit of a duplex in north Centralia.

Firefighters called just before 9 p.m. to the 1200 block of Windsor Avenue found smoke rising from the roof vents and blackened second-story windows, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

The first-floor unit was occupied at the time but everyone was able to get out safely without injury, according to authorities.

The fire department describes the structure as a house converted to a duplex.

Centralia police say they found Kyle T. Rasmussen Jr. a short distance away waiting for a taxi. He had recently been living in the duplex, according to the Centralia Police Department.

Firefighters extended a hose line to the upper level via an outside staircase to extinguish the fire, according to Fire Capt. Scott Weinert.

They were assisted by members of the Chehalis Fire Department and were on scene about four hours, according to Weinert.

Centralia police this morning indicate in a brief summary of events they believe Rasmussen  intentionally set the fire. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree arson.