Posts Tagged ‘By Sharyn L. Decker’

On the road: Onalaska girl named statewide Explorer of the year

Wednesday, May 10th, 2017
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Hailee Olsen and Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza, center, with Explorer advisors Deputy Jeremy Almond, left and Deputy Tyson Brown, right.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – She’s just 17, a junior at W.F. High School, but already she’s invested more than two years into preparing for her hoped for career.

Hailee Olsen said she tried sports and didn’t care for that so much.

In her after school time, when she’s not watching her young cousin, or working as a courtesy clerk at Safeway, she’s over at the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office volunteering.

“I help out with office work, I help with a lot of evidence stuff, just various tasks,” Olsen said.

And the Onalaska girl knows what she’s doing, because she joined the sheriff’s office Explorer program when she was 14 and a half.

Members of the post and their advisors meet three times each month at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center in Chehalis. A typical meeting includes an inspection, to make sure their uniforms are nice and clean, she said.

They learn about such things as patrol procedures and do domestic violence classes, she said. They also get to join in with actual deputies’ training, something she especially enjoys.

“We’re in training to be a deputy, pretty much,” Olsen said.

Her uncle, Lewis County sheriff’s Sgt. Dan Riordon, suggested to her when she was 13 years old the program was something she might want to do. But it wasn’t until a friend invited her to an Explorer meeting that she got hooked, she said.

“It was nothing I was expecting when I first walked in,” she said.

It was fun and the Explorers were all so nice, she said.

Olsen said she was bullied a bit in middle school and the program has helped her build up her confidence.

Her dedication led to last year being named the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post #9771 Explorer of the year. And the same honor was bestowed up on her again, at the end of last month.

Advisor Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jeremy Almond in his nomination letter notes she volunteered more than 400 hours last year. She is a sergeant who supervises  squad.

“Many deputies she rode with in 2016 provided excellent feedback about her motivation and professionalism with the public,” he wrote. “Sgt. Olsen, during a patrol physical assessment at the W.F. West High School track, saw a deputy struggling on the run. She circled back around and ran with the deputy providing motivation and encouragement to finish the assessment.”

When Sheriff Rob Snaza presented her with the award at Bethel Church during the volunteer appreciation gathering on April 28, he told how now-Chief Deputy Dusty Breen began his career through the same path.

“This is what the Explorer does, not only just for the individuals who want to be in law enforcement,” Snaza said. “But helps them grow as individuals, as young men and women.”

Olsen is working to turn her experiences into a job in law enforcement.

“I am shooting to be out on the road when I turn 21,” she said. “I’m going to apply, and hopefully get hired on.”

Now, she has been recognized statewide for her dedication.

Border Patrol Agent John Tafolla who came to know the teenager at a 2015 winter academy for Explorers said she proved to be an outstanding student. Tafolla wrote a letter to the Washington Law Enforcement Explorer Advisors group’s nominating Olsen to be Explorer of the year. And they chose her.

“Miss Olsen’s level of dedication to her post and law enforcement in general is rare in youth, even in Explorer’s that I have worked with,” Taffolla wrote.

Olsen will travel to Spokane to accept the award during a luncheon at the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs spring conference at the end of the month.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, May 10th, 2017
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•••

BURGLARY AND THEFT

• Centralia police reported this morning an officer was called for a second-degree burglary at the 900 block of F Street about 12:15 a.m. today.

• A cell phone, wallet and money were reported stolen from a motel room at the 1000 block of Eckerson Road in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 10:30 a.m. yesterday.

• Centralia police were called just after 10 a.m. yesterday to the 2800 block of Russell Road where a resident reported her brother’s wheelchair was stolen after leaving it outside near the front door overnight.

BAD BILLS

• Chehalis police were called to the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue about 9:40 p.m. yesterday after a shopper attempted a purchase with two fake $100 bills. After the clerk alerted him they were counterfeit he left to go get his mother and didn’t return, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Someone spray painted graffiti on a wall at the 100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia, according to  report made to police about 6:30 p.m. yesterday.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, trespassing, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, vehicle collision, third-degree theft, suicidal person, suspicious circumstances … and more among 159 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Chehalis: Homeless family chased from van by fire

Wednesday, May 10th, 2017

Updated at 11:57 a.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A family living out of their vehicle escaped when it caught fire last night in Chehalis although the father sustained severe burns to his hands pulling their child to safety.

Firefighters called about 12:20 a.m. to the end of a street between Wal-Mart and Home Depot found their van fully engulfed in flames, according to the Chehalis Fire Department.

Fire Capt. Casey Beck said the father suffered third-degree burns to his hands moving burning material, grabbing the baby and then threw a small propane cook stove out of the vehicle.

They had been using the portable stove for heat during the night, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

Fire Chief Ken Cardinale said all three were transported to the hospital, the mother and 3-year-old boy for observation and the dad for his injuries.

Red Cross was contacted to assist them, according to police.

Capt. Beck said they have been staying in their vehicle for at least the past couple of weeks. The van was destroyed.

He expected the 37-year-old man was probably transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

A fire investigator will check into the cause of the blaze, Cardinale said.

It’s very dangerous to use items such as a small barbecues or propane-fueled equipment in confined spaces, he said, because they produce carbon monoxide. People can easily be overcome by the colorless, odorless gas, he said.

“So, people don’t know they’re being poisoned by it,” he said. “It takes far too many lives.”

Chehalis: Body in burned car remains a mystery

Tuesday, May 9th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Chehalis Police Department said yesterday the cause of the vehicle fire and cause of the death of an individual found inside it this weekend are being investigated.

Department spokesperson Linda Bailey said there was nothing at the scene to suggest what could have ignited the blaze.

“No, they’re still trying to figure that out,” Bailey said.

Officers were already on the scene off the 1900 block of Northeast Kresky Avenue when firefighters arrived after the 12:56 a.m. call on Saturday.

Bailey in a press release yesterday said officers were unable to get close enough to the 1992 Honda Accord to determine if anybody was inside because of the extreme heat.

Once the fire was extinguished, a firefighter discovered a deceased person the driver’s seat.

The car was situated near a  two-car garage associated with a manufactured home near the southeast corner of the Yard Birds Mall property.

Bailey said the Honda is registered to a female, who authorities have been in contact with since the incident.

Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod indicated this morning the victim appears to be an adult male.

An autopsy is scheduled for today, but McLeod doesn’t expect he will get all his answers today, including any certainty on the identity of the victim.

Bailey asks if any members of the public saw anything or know anything, to give the police department a call.
•••

For background, read “Chehalis: Person found dead in burned car” from Saturday May 6, 2017, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, May 9th, 2017
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•••

ASSAULT

• Police were called at 11:50 a.m. yesterday about a misdemeanor-type assault of a teenager by an unknown person at Long Road and South Street in Centralia. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called t 9:10 a.m. yesterday about graffiti on a fence at the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue.

AND FROM MORTON

• An officer responded to the 100 block of Division Avenue at 3:15 p.m. on Friday to a complaint of a snake in a homeowner’s kitchen behind the stove. The officer retrieved the reptile and released it across the street in a field, according to the Morton Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 43-year-old Morton resident was arrested for eluding near the 700 block of Main Avenue in Morton on Saturday evening. John E. Glenn was also wanted for outstanding warrants and was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Morton Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, reckless driving, resisting arrest, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, vandalism, harassment, vehicle collision, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, dead possum in the roadway … and more among 168 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, May 8th, 2017
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•••

Updated at 2:17 p.m.

HATCHET WIELDING SUSPECT FLEES

• Chehalis police are investigating an incident in which an employee of Yard Birds said he was investigating a possible break-in during the night when he was confronted by a male wearing a mask who swung a hatchet at him before running out of the store. Nobody was hurt, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The victim contacted officers about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday to describe what had occurred, according to police. He said he found a lock to one of the businesses inside Yard Birds had been cut and went inside to discover the intruder, according to police. The business owner has told police jewelry and coins may have been taken, according to police department spokesperson Linda Bailey. The investigation will include reviewing video footage, according to Bailey.

SMOKES SNAGGED IN BREAK-IN

• Centralia police report they were called about 8:40 p.m. yesterday for a burglary to a residence on the 300 block of East Magnolia Street in which two packs of cigarettes were taken.

QUADS STOLEN

• Someone cut a padlock from a door to a pole barn at the 100 block of Hagen Road outside Mossyrock and stole four ATV’s sometime between Wednesday and Friday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Missing are a red 50cc children’s quad, a Blue Yamaha 250 Blaster and two yellow Honda TRX 250’s, according to the sheriff’s office.

AUTO THEFT

• A vehicle that had previously been reported as stolen to the Centralia Police Department was found abandoned and returned to the owner on Friday morning in a case associated with the 1100 block of West Pear Street.

• Chehalis police were called about 10:40 a.m. on Friday by an individual who said their 1994 Saturn was missing from where they had left it in the area of the 300 block of Northwest Front Street.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called regarding a vehicle prowl about 9:45 p.m. on Friday at the 300 block of North Tower Avenue. Two back packs were taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• Two people were arrested after contact with police about 6:20 p.m. yesterday at the 100 block of High Street in Centralia, one for a warrant and the other for possession of methamphetamine. Kendal T Hokama 26 of Winlock, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for the meth, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 34-year-old Centralia woman detained for suspected shoplifting at the 1700 block of North National Avenue in Chehalis shortly after 2 p.m. yesterday was subsequently arrested for possession of methamphetamine. Sherri L. Scott was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 26-year-old Chehalis resident allegedly at first said his 1994 Toyota pickup had been stolen but then admitted he had been driving when it wrecked early yesterday morning at the intersection of Chilvers and Brockway roads west of Chehalis, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. When a deputy arrived to the approximately 1:15 a.m. rollover accident, there was nobody around, according to the sheriff’s office. Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey said Christopher W. Hanson returned to the scene smelling of intoxicants and was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for driving under the influence.

• The driver of a Honda Civic was injured when he was stopped along state Route 6 to turn left onto Twin Oaks Road and was struck in the rear by a Dodge Challenger driven by a 21-year-old Chehalis resident on Friday afternoon, according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers called about 4:25 p.m. indicate Thomas W. Kerr, 55, of Chehalis, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital. The other driver, Jesse L. Croy-Wilson, 21, of Chehalis, was cited for following too closely, according to the state patrol. The Challenger was described as totaled.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, eluding,  third-degree theft, misdemeanor domestic assault, reckless endangerment, probation violation, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, misdemeanor domestic malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, hit and run, civil issue, vehicle collision, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances, dogs killing chicken … and more among 501 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Elderly Chehalis man found dead in woods near home

Sunday, May 7th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The missing 87-year-old rural Chehalis man was found dead by search and rescue personnel late yesterday afternoon in a wooded area near his home.

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Warren Neal

The location, just over a mile northwest of his residence, was along a trail Warren Neal would frequent on his walks, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

The cause and manner of Neal’s death are still being investigated by the sheriff’s office and the Lewis County coroner, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen stated.

The sheriff’s office asked for the public’s help with information on Friday afternoon, after being notified by his family in the early morning hours that day. Neal had last been seen.on Wednesday evening, according to Breen.

Neal was known for often taking walks in the areas around his home, on the 100 block of Fircrest Road, south of Chehalis and east of Napavine.

Anyone with information that might be helpful to the investigation is requested to contact sheriff’s detective Jeff Humphrey at 360-740-2738.
•••

For background, read “Elderly Chehalis man missing since late Wednesday” from Saturday May 6, 2017, here