Archive for November, 2014

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Sunday, November 30th, 2014

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called about 9:40 a.m. yesterday to the 2400 block of Ford Prairie Avenue regarding damage to a residence and property. A possible suspect was identified, according to the Centralia Police Department.

THOSE CENTRALIA COPS ARE SO FUNNY

• The Centralia Police Department is hosting its first ever 5K Ugly Sweater Fun Run next month, an event in which participants don’t necessarily need to be able to run, jog or even walk fast. Judges throughout the crowd will pick out the ugliest sweater, awarding the wearer of the winning garment a scenic Seattle flight for two on Kenmore Air plus a $50 dinner credit for two in Seattle. All proceeds will support Lewis County Special Olympics athletes. It takes place on Saturday Dec. 13 at 5 p.m., with registration starting at 3 p.m. at Washington Park on South Pearl and Main street in Centralia. The entry fee of $30 includes a T-shirt. Entrants can pay $20 and forego the T-shirt. For those whose closets contain only pretty sweaters, but still want to support the cause, a Pluck-a-Duck Raffle will take place before the race. Purchase a rubber duck for $10, and if yours is the one plucked from the pool, you’ll get half the proceeds of the raffle. Registration forms are available on the Centralia Police Department Facebook page and at the office. Race day registration is available; however they cannot guarantee t-shirts. The department is currently looking for sponsors for the run. A $100 sponsor donation received by December 7 will guarantee a business name or logo on the back of the run t-shirt.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrant, driving under the influence … and more.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Saturday, November 29th, 2014

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY

• Police were called about 11:30 a.m. yesterday to the 200 block of East Locust Street in Centralia after a discovery someone had broken in and placed items by the door as though they were going to steal them.

FRAUD

• Centralia police took a report yesterday morning from an individual on the 200 block of West Oakview Avenue who said someone accessed her credit card account and stole money, from a location in Canada.

• Centralia police took a report yesterday morning from an individual on the 800 block of Park Way who told them he discovered the unauthorized use of his account number to make an online purchase.

SLEEPING DRIVER

• An officer responded to to the 500 block of Hamilton Avenue in Centralia about 12:05 a.m. yesterday after a citizen reported a suspicious vehicle parked in front of his driveway. Thirty-seven-year-old Ernesto Monrroy-Hernandez was found passed out in his vehicle and was arrested for being being in physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated, according to the Centralia Police Department. Monrroy-Hernandez was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

WRECKS

• Centralia police responded about 3:30 p.m. yesterday to a vehicle into a ditch on the 700 block of North Gold Street. The cause was driving too fast for conditions, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 28-year-old Chehalis resident was ticketed for following too closely after he ran his Chevrolet Impala into the rear of a Buick LaSabre, which was shoved into the back of a Toyota Camry on Interstate 5 in Chehalis this afternoon. Troopers and aid called about 2:30 p.m. to the northbound lanes near the Main Street onramp found Brandon R. Durham, 28, Chehalis, was not injured, nor was the driver of the Camry. The 58-year-old woman from Edmonds driving the LaSabre was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital with a neck injury, according to responders. Her car was towed and the other two were able to be driven away from the scene, according to the Washington State Patrol. The state patrol blamed the incident on inattention.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrant, misdemeanor assault, protection order violation, making a false statement to a public servant, driving with suspended license; responses for misdemeanor theft, collision on city street … and more.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, November 27th, 2014

Updated

SKOOK RIVER RUNNER GIVES UP

• A 19-year-old Centralia man was jailed last night after he ran from a traffic stop and swam across the Skookumchuck River in Centralia. Police say Ricky L. Blay Jr. gave up after getting too cold and nearly drowning. It began around 10:30 p.m. along the 700 block of Harrison Avenue and ended 15 or 20 minutes later on Denny Way, according to the Centralia Police Department. Sgt. Kurt Reichert said Blay was wanted for warrants, including for driving with a suspended license and fighting in public. He was arrested for obstructing, according to police.

UNLAWFUL SHOPPING

• Centralia police responding about 6:50 p.m. yesterday to the 100 block of West High Street in connection with a shoplifting report ended up arresting three individuals from Burien for organized retail theft. At first the van took off with its headlights shut off but when it was located in another parking lot, officers found about a half dozen bags of stolen merchandise from multiple retailers, including Nike at the Centralia Outlets, according to the Centralia Police Department. They are suspected of targeting clothing stores along the Interstate 5 corridor, according to police. Arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail was Flavio C. Resendiz, 18, also for harassment (threat to kill officers), assault, resisting arrest and obstruction and minor in possession; and Christina A. Resendiz, 21, also for third-degree assault as she reportedly kicked an officer in the chest, malicious mischief as she reportedly kicked out the window of a police car, obstructing and resisting arrest. Booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center was the un-named juvenile male driver also for attempting to elude. The case involving a fourth participant, an un-named juvenile female was referred to prosecutors for the charge of organized retail theft, according to police.

BREAK-IN

• Centralia police took a report of a burglary yesterday morning from the 400 block of West Plum Street. Jewelry was taken sometime during the night, according to the Centralia Police Department.

COLLISIONS

• A 60-year-old Spokane man was arrested yesterday afternoon for hit and run as well as driving under the influence. Booked into the Lewis County Jail after the approximately 2 p.m. incident associated with the 100 block of North Tower Avenue was Ronald T. Chadwick, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A motorist from Bucoda was uninjured when he suffered some unspecified medical issue and collided with a light pole and a tree along the 300 block of North Pearl Street in Centralia. Police and aid responding about 2:40 p.m. to the crash found the front end of his car seriously damaged and the light pole laying on the street. He was not ticketed, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DEADLINE, SHOP WITH COP

• Tomorrow is the deadline to submit nominations of children who might benefit from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office annual Shop with a Cop event. On Dec. 18, deputies will take some 30 youngsters to Wal-Mart to shop for Christmas gifts for their family and then enjoy a pizza and present wrapping party afterward. The program seeks children ages 8 to 18 who live in Lewis County, with a financial need as well as a need for a positive interaction with law enforcement. Applications are available from the United Way website www.lewiscountyuw.com, at their office at 450 N.W. Pacific Avenue in Chehalis or by calling 748-8100. They are also available at the front counter of the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, protection order violation, driving under the influence,  driving with suspended license; responses for dispute, misdemeanor theft, collisions on city streets … and more.  Happy Thanksgiving.

2014.1126.carpolepearl.riverside

The scene outside Centralia City Hall on North Pearl Street. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority

Sheriff-elect Snaza will focus on schools, shedding emergency management function

Wednesday, November 26th, 2014

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Lewis County Sheriff-elect Rob Snaza won’t be sworn in until Dec. 30, but is already busy planning for changes.

According to the results of the election certified and made official yesterday morning, Snaza took 77 percent of the vote. His opponent Brian Green garnered not-quite 23 percent.

2014.0110.rob.snaza.campaign copy

Sheriff-elect Rob Snaza

Snaza, the Napavine area Republican who’s worked at the sheriff’s office about two decades, met with the Lewis County Board of Commissioners before lunchtime, to discuss some of what will be different under his administration.

“Schools are huge, our number one emphasis in 2015,” Snaza said.

He spoke of deputies working more closely with students, and his plans for “active shooter” drills in school buildings.

Specifically, the reason for the meeting was to talk about the transition of the emergency management division out of the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Steve Mansfield is the director of emergency management, and will leave office at the end of the year.

“Some years ago, the board of county commissioners made the sheriff the head of that,” Lewis County Commissioner Lee Grose said. “The thinking has been, we should have a full time manager; and we’re looking for one now.”

The issue of schools came up as they spoke of logistics, and Snaza said he’d need that office space for a new special services sergeant, someone who would oversee a variety of programs.

Snaza told Commissioners Grose and Edna Fund he hoped next month to introduce to them his undersheriff, a captain with the Washington State Patrol he’s known for 20 years.

Snaza began attending the sheriff’s monthly meetings with county commissioners about the same time he was promoted from sergeant to undersheriff in early September.

His campaign for the top law enforcement job began in April of last year.

His only opponent, a musician in a band who ran as an independent and focused on preserving gun rights, took 5,144 votes in the Nov. 4 election. Snaza got 17,546 votes.

Snaza’s twin brother John Snaza was elected Thurston County sheriff in 2010.

Already the two of them have announced a joint event in which they will be “jailed” in a cell in the food court at Capital Mall in Olympia next month, and challenge the public to raise at least $20,000 by “bailing” them out.

The idea is to build awareness of the importance of mentoring
and to raise money to ensure more kids have consistent role models through Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southwest Washington.

The benefits can be seen in the juvenile justice system, according to Sheriff John Snaza.

The average cost to incarcerate a juvenile for a nine to 12 month period is approximately $66,000 to $88,000, according to the Thurston County sheriff.

“Every day I see cases where a child without a trusted role- model wanders down a destructive path,” Sheriff John Snaza stated in a news release yesterday. “What a difference it would make if even one of these youth had a mentor,” continues Snaza.

The so-called “Big Bail Out” with the twin sheriffs will take place from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Dec. 2.

Also from the final results of the election:

• Centralia attorney Wade Samuelson was elected Lewis County District Court judge. He ran unopposed for the four-year term and replaces retiring Judge Michael Roewe. Ten-year veteran of the bench, Lewis County DIstrict Court Judge R.W. Buzzard was unopposed and secured another term.

• Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer, (R), unopposed, won a second four-year term.

• Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod, (R), also unopposed, won a second four-year term. McLeod says the board of commissioners have agreed to fund his position full time beginning next year, instead of the traditional part time.

• Lewis County Clerk Kathy Brack, (R), first elected in 2002, ran unopposed and won another four-year term.

• Arny Davis, (R), ran unopposed and will be the new Lewis County treasurer, replacing outgoing Rose Bowman.

• Larry Grove, (R), with 70 percent of the vote, beat Jennifer Slemp, (D), to become Lewis County auditor. Longtime Auditor Gary Zandell is retiring.

• Gary Stamper, (R), took 54 percent of the vote against Rich Bainbridge, (R), to become one of three members of the Lewis County Board of Commissioners, replacing Grose.

• The race for Lewis County assessor is so close, a required hand recount will be conducted on Monday. Incumbent Dianne Dorey, (R), has 10,691 votes, while Candy Hallom, (R), has 10,662.

See all the election results here

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, November 26th, 2014
2014.1125.wreck508gish

State Route 508, about five miles east of Interstate 5. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 1

WOMAN AIRLIFTED AFTER ROLLOVER CRASH ON SR 508

• A 51-year-old Onalaska woman is listed in serious condition in the intensive care unit at a Seattle hospital after a single-vehicle wreck on state Route 508 yesterday evening. Troopers and aid called about 5:40 p.m. to the scene near Gish Road found Donna Marker had been ejected from her car, a 2014 Ford Fusion that was described as totaled. She had been the only occupant in the vehicle, according to Lewis County Fire District 1. According to the Washington State Patrol, Marker was traveling eastbound when her car drifted into the opposite ditch, struck a power pole and rolled. Assistant Fire Chief Rhonda Volk said she understood the patient landed about 30 feet from the vehicle. Life flight was summoned because of suspected internal injuries, according to Volk. Marker was flown to Harbor Medical Center. The state patrol suspects alcohol or drugs were involved, according to the investigating trooper.

BREAK-IN CHEHALIS

• Someone broke into Balmelli Trucking just west of Chehalis and stole keys to all the vehicles as well as various tools, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.  It happened sometime between Monday and Tuesday at the 100 block of Heden Road, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown reports.

HIT AND RUN

• A deputy was called yesterday to the 100 block of River Heights Road northwest of Centralia where a vehicle appeared to have missed a corner and drove into a fence, trees and brush before turning around in a field and hitting more of the fence and then driving away. Damaged was approximately 40 feet of  wood rail fence, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A two-toned blue pickup truck was seen leaving the area, the sheriff’s office reports.

• Centralia police responded to a 1 p.m. call yesterday at the 1100 block of South Gold Street where a vehicle was said to have run into a business’s shrubbery and then drove away. It was described as a maroon colored Chevrolet Blazer, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A case involving a 17-year-old Chehalis boy is being referred to prosecutors for consideration of charges after his grandmother discovered suspected marijuana and pipes in his bedroom and called police yesterday morning.

CRIME STOPPERS

• Lewis County Crime Stoppers is looking for information about a burglary to a shop building on the 400 block of Hart Road near Winlock in which more than $6,500 worth of auto parts an other items were stolen. It happened sometime between Aug. 30 and Sept. 3, according to Crime Stoppers. Someone entered the building through a rollup door and made off with a 54-inch cut Troy-Bilt riding mower, a new red and black portable gas generator, two Ford radiators, two Motorcraft brand Ford Ranger bumpers, four TWW  18-inch tires-wheels as well as numerous other tires with wheels for Toyota, Ford and Dodge. Crime Stoppers pays up to $1,000 for information leading to the clearance of crimes. Anonymous calls can be made to 1-800-748-6422 or information may be shared online at www.lewiscountycrimestoppers.org

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrant, shoplifting, failure to transfer vehicle title, driving with suspended license; responses for alarms, suspicious circumstances, windows broken, collisions on city streets … and more.

Sharyn’s Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, November 25th, 2014

AUTO THEFT

• Reported stolen about 6:45 a.m. today from the 400 block of North Tower Avenue in Centralia was a silver 2001 Honda Civic. The victim stated the keys were in the car and it was unlocked, according to the Centralia Police Department.

BURGLARY

• A deputy took a report yesterday of a break-in to a residence on the 100 block of Crescent Beach Drive in Packwood that took place between Nov. 15 and last Tuesday in which various tools and a riding mower were stolen, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Centralia police were called about 10 a.m. yesterday to the 1400 block of Lum Road regarding a burglary to a garage. Various tools were missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

OTHER THEFT

• Centralia police took a report about 8:50 a.m. yesterday of a gas-powered scooter stolen from the 1100 block of F Street.

• Chehalis police were called yesterday to the 200 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue regarding more than $1,200 charges made on a credit card that shouldn’t have been made.

GUN OFFENSES

• Spencer R. Barney, 26, of Centralia, was arrested about 8:25 p.m. yesterday for an outstanding warrant and being a felon in possession of  firearm, according to the Centralia Police Department. Barney was contacted along the 200 block of East Summa Street and then booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• A 31-year-old Olympia resident was arrested about 2 o’clock this morning at the 1800 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia for driving under the influence and possession of a stolen gun. Booked into the Lewis County Jail was Byron T. Bullard, according to the Centralia Police Department. He was released without charges pending further investigation.

ENGINE FIRE

• A fire that started in the engine compartment of a car in the parking lot at Providence Centralia Hospital yesterday evening is believed to have begun in the electrical system, according to Riverside Fire Authority. Firefighters called about 5:30 p.m. to the 900 block of South Schueber Road extinguished the flames that were confined to the 1994 Ford Thunderbird, according to Capt. Erik Olson. The car’s owner was present and said she’d had some electrical problems, according to Olson.

DRIVING OFFENSES

• Police say a 24-year-old Centralia man fled from them on a motorcycle yesterday traveling through yards and on the railroad tracks to evade capture. It happened around 1:20 p.m. in the area of Downing Road in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department. Ronald A. Yeager Jr., is wanted for felony eluding, according to police.

• A 29-year-old Kelso man was injured when his car left the roadway off Interstate 5 this morning near Napavine, crossing the offramp at Rush Road and coming to rest in a grassy field. Chad R. Fredricks was traveling southbound and attempting a lane change when he wrecked, according to the Washington State Patrol. Troopers responding  about 6:24 a.m. describe his Subaru Legacy as totaled. The investigating trooper blamed inattention and reports Fredricks was to be cited for second-degree negligent driving. He was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, according to the state patrol.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarms, disorderly person, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances, request for an officer to remove a house guest who’s worn out his welcome,  request for an officer to get an ex-girlfriend to stop calling … and more.

Flood warning issued for Randle, and downstream

Tuesday, November 25th, 2014

Updated

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the Cowlitz River at Randle, and at least one other river on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains.

Heavy rain overnight and today will drive the river over its banks this afternoon and the water will continue to rise until about 10 o’clock tonight, according to the weather service’s current forecast.

Moderate flooding is expected.

The area in Randle and downstream through Riffe Lake can expect to see many farmlands and even U.S. Highway 12 inundated with water, according to the weather service.

The weather service advises the public to be alert for rapid changes and monitor developments by listening to NOAA Weather Radio or other local media.

Flood stage at Randle is 18 feet, and the river is forecast to crest at 21.5 feet.

Sheriff Steve Mansfield cautions that water at that level would affect Highway 131, Skinner Road, Peters Road and could even cross Highway 12 in downtown Randle.

The sheriff’s office, emergency management and the Randle Fire Department are monitoring the situation, according to Mansfield.

At about 10 a.m. today, when the flood warning was issued, the level was measured at just under 10 feet.

Mansfield notes that large flooding events in the Randle area in the past were in excess of 22 feet; the flood of record in 2006 recorded at 25.2 feet.

A flood warning is also in place for the Nisqually River near National, with minor flooding expected.

Early this afternoon, authorities advised all visitors on the west side of Mount Rainier National Park to leave, as heavy rains at higher elevations caused dangerous conditions. The Nisqually entrance was temporarily closed because of flooding in the Kautz Creek area.

“This ‘rain on snow’ event is similar to conditions that were present when the historic flood occurred in November 2006,” Mount Rainier Acting Superintendent Tracy Swartout stated in a news release just after the lunch hour.

The sheriff suggested it is a good time for members of the public to review their emergency action plans. He urges people to not drive through flooded areas, as that is the number cause of deaths related to floods in Washington.

•••

Check for weather alerts here and follow river levels here. (These same links can always be found on the right hand sidebar of this news site, under the heading, “Other useful web links”)