Posts Tagged ‘news reporter’

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, July 17th, 2017
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Updated at 3:34 p.m.

STRANGER INSIDE HOUSE

• Deputies were called about 5:45 a.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of North Fork Road east of Chehalis where a resident alerted by the family dog found a 45-year-old man standing in his living room, yelling, cussing and demanding keys to their vehicle, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The resident tried to talk with him and calm him down and deputies arriving 10 minutes later arrested Stephen D. Cobb for residential burglary and attempted motor vehicle theft, according to the sheriff’s office. During the ordeal, Cobb had thrown a can of chewing tobacco outside, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. The Onalaska man was booked into the Lewis County Jail, Breen said. Prosecutors evaluated the case for non-felony charges.

FACE INJURED

• Chehalis police were called to the 500 block of Northwest Pacific Avenue about 10 p.m. on Saturday for an assault in which a man was struck and left with facial injuries. The incident is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ROCK THROWING

• The rock was somewhere between the size of a large jaw breaker and a baseball and a 60-year-old Ethel man who allegedly threw it at his nephew, operating a tractor, striking him in the back, was arrested on Saturday afternoon for third-degree assault, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies called about 1:25 p.m. to the 100 block of Tucker Road booked Jerry L. Larson into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

THEFT CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 12:25 a.m. today regarding plants, dishes and cash stolen from a house at the 1500 block of Grand Avenue during the past several days.

• Kimberly R. Terrell, 40 of Chehalis, was arrested and booked for second-degree burglary and an outstanding warrant in an approximately 2 p.m. case yesterday associated with the 100 block of South King Street in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called to the 1000 block of F Street in Centralia about 4:14 p.m. on Friday where an individual reported the theft of money from her bank account. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AUTO THEFT

• A 2007 Kia Rio was reported stolen about 1:25 p.m. yesterday but was recovered later that night in a case associated with the 500 block of South Pearl Street, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 11:05 .m. on Saturday to take a report a gray 1990 Honda Accord had been stolen during the night from the 1100 block of South Pearl Street. It has a license plate reading BFD 5466, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called just before 8 a.m. yesterday about two vehicles prowled during the night at the 100 block of Southwest Fourth Street in which as much as $4,700 of valuables were removed. Among the stolen goods were a stereo, a Kerwood CD player, Milwaukee impact drill and hacksaw, an 8-inch SoundQubed subwoofer, a Rigid cube light package, a Hise light package, two 20-inch Auxbeam LED light bars and a 50-inch Rigid LED light bar, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called just before 6 p.m. on Friday to the parking lot at Wal-Mart after a woman spotted someone reach into her purse she had set in her car while she returned a shopping cart. Two hundred dollars was taken but witnesses got a license plate for a suspect who was subsequently located at the 700 block of South Market Boulevard, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Brandon S. Salice, 33, of Winlock, was for third-degree theft, according to police.

• Centralia police were called about 12:10 p.m. on Friday to take a report that approximately $150 worth of fuel had been stolen from two vehicles that were parked in the area of Grand and Kresky avenues.

• The Morton Police Department reported today they have no suspects in a vehicle prowl reported at 1:36 p.m. last Wednesday at the 200 block of Seventh Street. A backpack and some medications were stolen, according to police.

BRUSH FIRE

• A tree on a power line ignited a brush fire at the 700 block of Silverbrook Road in Randle on Saturday, spreading to about one and a half acres on a steep slope, according to Lewis County Fire District 14.

BATHROOM FIRES

• The Morton Police Department reported today they were informed last week there have been several attempts of someone starting fires in the women’s restroom at Gust Backstrom Park. The case is pending further information, according to police.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 62-year-old Toledo man was arrested for driving under the influence following a two-vehicle collision with minor damage at Antrim and North Military roads in Winlock. Deputies called to the scene about 2 p.m. yesterday found the suspect vehicle at the 700 block of North Military roads and booked Harold E. Reynolds into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Firefighters called about 5:45 p.m. on Saturday when a pickup truck began to smoke and stopped in the roadway off Wallace Road in Chehalis found the vehicle fully involved in flames and extinguished it, according to Lewis County Fire District 6. The truck was a total loss, Firefighter-EMT Mike Goodwillie said.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing, third-degree theft, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license, protection order violation; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, trespassing, misdemeanor theft, disorderly person, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances, barking neighbor dog … and more among 509 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 72-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Chehalis steam train strikes Curtis man’s pickup

Sunday, July 16th, 2017
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Bystanders and pickup truck through window of steam train / Courtesy photo by Maria Castaneda

Updated 5:54 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – An 82-year-old motorist was injured when his pickup truck collided with the steam train in Adna yesterday evening.

The Washington State Patrol reports that Jeremy W. Mullins was traveling eastbound on state Route 6 and didn’t see warning lights that a train was approaching. The train struck the 2003 Chevrolet Silverado, according to the state patrol.

Troopers and medics called to the scene near Twin Oaks Road about 6:40 p.m. found the truck totaled, according to the investigating trooper.

Members of the Chehalis Fire Department arrived first, as Lewis County Fire District 6 was just clearing a vehicle fire. They were joined by personnel from Lewis County Fire District 5.

Chehalis Fire Capt. Casey Beck said the patient was conscious and alert.

“His legs were pinned, not crushed, but we had to use the Jaws to relieve pressure and then pop the door open,” Beck said.

Mullins, from Curtis, was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital. He was treated and then transferred, according to hospital spokesperson Chris Thomas.

Beck said there were as many as 70 people on the train, none were hurt and some said they didn’t even feel the collision. The train was traveling about 12 mph, he said.

Both Beck and District 6’s Firefighter-EMT Mike Goodwillie said they were pretty certain the pickup truck had been traveling westbound when it happened.

“I think the sun got in his eyes, and he wasn’t expecting a train there,” Beck said.

The state patrol blamed the wreck on Mullins’ failure to yield the right of way.

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CORRECTION: This news story has been updated to reflect that Jeremy W. Mullins was treated at Providence Centralia Hospital and was not released but was then transferred to an unspecified facility.

News brief: Centralia house fire under investigation

Sunday, July 16th, 2017
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Smoke rises from fire on West Reynolds Avenue. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Nobody was injured but a Centralia home is now uninhabitable after a fire broke out last night.

Firefighters called at 7:52 p.m. to the 1100 block of West Reynolds Avenue saw heavy involvement on the cedar shake roof, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

Crews were joined by members of the Chehalis Fire Department, Lewis County Fire District 6 and West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.

The fire was extinguished and mop up ongoing at 11 p.m., according to Fire Lt. Mark Stahl.

The house was heavily damaged, according to Stahl. The cause is being investigated.

Doty resident killed in wrong-way I-5 crash

Sunday, July 16th, 2017
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Traffic comes to a standstill on northbound Interstate 5 at Chehalis / Courtesy photo by Heather Bouck

Updated at 6:03 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A young man is dead and two others injured after he traveled the wrong way on Interstate 5 in Chehalis last night and hit an oncoming vehicle.

TJ L. Sinnott, 23, from Doty was headed south in the northbound lanes near milepost 77 when his car struck a northbound sport utility vehicle occupied by two women from Oregon, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Chehalis Fire Department Capt. Casey Beck said the engine compartment of the women’s vehicle caught fire.

“They had been pulled out, or self extricated,” Beck said. “It was right next to his car. Unfortunately, he passed right away.”

Chelsea R. Zigler, 24, Clackamas and Carrieann M. Zigler, 24, of Gresham, both were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the state patrol.

Troopers called at 11:12 p.m. to the scene report both vehicles were totaled and impounded.

Sinnott had been driving a 2003 Hyundai Accent and Chelsea Zigler was behind the wheel of a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse.

All had been wearing seat belts. It’s unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved, according to the state patrol.

A hospital spokesperson this morning said Chelsea Zigler is listed in fair condition. Her passenger Carrieann Zigler was treated and has been released.

Washington State Department of Transportation reports the roadway wasn’t cleared until 2:20 a.m.

News brief: Motorcycle wreck victim airlifted from Vader

Saturday, July 15th, 2017
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A LifeFlight helicopter picks up crash victim from post office in Vader. / Courtesy photo by Cowlitz-Lewis Fire District 20

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A motorcyclist in his 20s was injured when he lost control on a curve on state Route 506 west of Vader last night.

Cowlitz-Lewis Fire District 20 was called to the scene near Brim Creek Road just before 8 p.m.

Assistant Chief Ruth Crear said he sustained multiple injuries. No other cars were involved she said.

The patient was flown by LifeFlight to Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, according to Crear.

News brief: Bogus ‘collection’ calls on the rise locally

Friday, July 14th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Local law enforcement is cautioning members of the public not to provide their credit card information to phone callers in light of a large number of reports about scammers.

So many reports came during the month of June to the Centralia Police  Department, the Chehalis Police Department and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office that they jointly issued an advisory.

“The callers are identifying themselves as the IRS or warrant service companies,” Centralia police detective Patty Finch stated. “In most reports, the callers are telling the victims that a warrant has been issued for their arrest or they are being sued.”

They are coming from various long distance numbers and some have asked for credit card information, according to Finch.

The detective shared a statement from the Internal Revenue Service that notes the federal agency “does not threaten taxpayers with lawsuits, imprisonment or other enforcement action” and “will never ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.”

Finch advises people to never provide account information over the phone until after independently confirming it’s a legitimate reason.

News brief: Memorial service announced for Chehalis K-9

Friday, July 14th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A memorial service has been scheduled to honor Reign, the Chehalis police dog who passed away late last month.

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Reign

K-9 Reign died suddenly and unexpectedly while training on duty with partner Officer Warren Ayers in Chehalis the night of June 27.

The dog’s body was taken to Washington State University where an exam was unable to ascertain the cause of death but it’s presumed related to an unknown medical condition, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

He was five years old and served four years with the department.

The service will take place at W.F. West High School beginning at 11 a.m. on July 25.

Any law enforcement wishing to participate in the processional should be to the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds at 9 a.m.

The fairgrounds are located at 2555 N. National Ave., Chehalis. The school is at 342 S.W. 16th Street, Chehalis.
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For background, read “Chehalis police dog passes away unexpectedly” from Wednesday June 28, 2017, here