Archive for November, 2015

Recently released convicted child molester moves to Centralia, will be restricted to his property

Wednesday, November 25th, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office wants residents to know a level three registered sex offender has moved to north Centralia.

Garth D. Snively, 66, now resides on the 1200 block of Logan Street.

Public notification of where registered sex offenders reside is intended to enhance public safety, according to the sheriff’s office. Level three is the designation for individuals deemed most likely to reoffend.

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Garth D. Snively

Snively is a clear risk to re-offend, according to the sheriff’s office.

Snively served a prison term after his 1994 convictions for two counts of first-degree child molestation and one count of indecent liberties, according to the sheriff’s office. His victim was an 11-year-old boy he met while he was a Sunday school teacher at a church in Snohomish County, according to sheriff’s detective Jamey McGinty. He is not wanted.

He is among a small portion of offenders who, following his release in 2006, was civilly committed to the Special Commitment Center at McNeil Island where authorities retain offenders in custody for treatment until they are found to be no longer dangerous.

The process comes from the Community Protection Act of 1990,

According to information provided by McGinty, Snively admitted to molesting other boys beginning when he was 12 years old, and over the course of the investigation for his case, disclosed more than 30 victims, and once estimated over 100 victims. Some were related to him.

They were all boys between the ages of 5 and 12.

Snively gained access to many of the victims through social outings including through the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, Big Brothers and his position as a Sunday School instructor, according to McGinty.

Snively is among a small number of individuals who have been granted release from McNeil Island.

McGinty said to his knowledge, it’s the first time the county has had someone move here after getting out from the Special Commitment Center.

There are currently more than 500 registered sex offenders living in Lewis County. Twenty-three of them are designated as level threes.

But unlike others, who only have to register their address, following their time with DOC, Snively has numerous strict conditions.

He was granted what’s called a less restricted alternative release, and is allowed to transition to the community, according to McGinty. He is still under the custody of the state Department of Corrections, according to McGinty.

Snively lives in a home he purchased, according to McGinty.

Among his conditions are, Snively is restricted to his property, except for appointments with DOC and his very intensive sex offender treatment.

“He must be escorted, if he gets permission to leave his house, by qualified chaperones,” McGinty stated in an email exchange today.

Further, McGinty said he has been told Snively will have GPS to monitor his his movement. And he will be closely monitored by DOC, visited frequently, according to McGinty.

Snively moved in yesterday, and registered with McGinty yesterday.

Personnel from the Special Commitment Center have been chaperoning him to his appointments, he said.

Snively is described as a white male, 5-feet 9-inches tall and weighing 290 pounds. He has gray hair but is balding and has hazel eyes.

The sheriff’s office flyer for Snively contains the same language as it does for other registered sex offenders:

The notifications are not intended to increase fear, but rather are made because of the belief an informed public is a safer public.

“Using this public information to threaten, intimidate or harass sex offenders will not be tolerated by the law enforcement agencies of Lewis County,” the flyer states. “This abuse could potentially terminate our ability to release this important information to the public.”

For further details about Snively, check the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office website. Those with questions can contact McGinty or Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Chief Bruce Kimsey at 360-748-9286.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, November 25th, 2015
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•••

WINDOW FIRED UPON IN CENTRALIA

• A resident at the 1000 block of South Gold Street reported just before 5 p.m. yesterday her window was damaged by a BB which may have been fired from a passing vehicle. Centralia police indicated this morning they have no suspect information.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were contacted about 7:21 a.m. today regarding a vehicle stolen from the 900 block of North Tower Avenue. No further information was immediately available.

• Chehalis police were called yesterday morning about a 1985 Toyota pickup truck which had been stolen from where it was parked on the 100 block of Northwest State Avenue. The vehicle is multi-colored and has a license plate reading B26104S, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Police were called just before noon yesterday about a vehicle stolen from the parking lot at Wal-Mart in Chehalis, however, it wasn’t.

MASS TOOLS MISSING

• A 53-year-old man yesterday reported a burglary to his shop at the 100 block of Morris Road in Randle, in which numerous high end tools including commercial laser levels were stolen. A list is being compiled, but the victim said multiple complete tool boxes were taken, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Among the missing items are automotive tools and millwright tools, according to the sheriff’s office. The break-in occurred sometime since Oct. 3, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called to the 1300 block of Lum Road in Centralia about 9:20 p.m. yesterday about a vehicle which had been broken into during the day there. A backpack containing school materials was stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called just after 1 p.m. yesterday following the discovery a car’s Les Schwab battery had been removed during the night at the 500 block of South Market Boulevard.

• A 52-year-old man who left his vehicle at work overnight because it wouldn’t start returned yesterday to discover someone got inside and destroyed its ignition, apparently trying to steal the vehicle. Two tires and 10 lug nuts were missing, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. It happened at the 12000 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Packwood and the tires were subsequently located nearby, according to the sheriff’s office.

IDENTITY THEFT

• An individual called police yesterday morning from a motel on the 200 block of Southwest Interstate Avenue in Chehalis about stolen personal information. The case is being investigated, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

DRUGS

• A 21-year-old Centralia resident arrested about 8:45 a.m. yesterday on an outstanding warrant was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine. Garrett A. Hylton was contacted by an officer at Tower Avenue and Jefferson Street and then booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Centralia police were called about 3:30 p.m. yesterday to the 900 block of South Scheuber Avenue because a 26-year-old woman allegedly damaged breaking items in a hospital room valued at more than $1,000. The case involving the Centralia woman is being forwarded to prosecutors for a potential charge of second-degree malicious mischief, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police responded to a morning report yesterday of tagging in numerous places of a building on the 500 block of North Iron Street. The investigation has been forwarded to detectives to see if it can be linked to a certain individual, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, shoplifting, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, trespassing, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street, complaint that a residence has garbage piling up outside  … and more.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, November 24th, 2015
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•••

Updated at 2:22 p.m.

POLICE: TEEN POINTS GUN, FIRES IT INSIDE FRIEND’S HOME

• A 16-year-old boy was arrested yesterday after he allegedly pointed a gun at his friend’s father and another man inside a Chehalis home and fired at a refrigerator, knocking magnets off its door. Officers called about 2:45 p.m. about the incident at the 900 block of Southwest 21st Avenue were told the teen and the young adult son then left on foot, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Detective Sgt. Gary Wilson said after the suspect was seen at the 1800 block of Snively Avenue near the high school fields, he ran off into some woods and the area was surrounded. A police dog was called but the 16-year-old Chehalis resident was taken into custody before the K-9 was deployed, Wilson said. Police did not find a gun, which the victims said was a 22 pistol, Wilson said. Because the one shot didn’t leave a hole in the refrigerator, it’s possible it was instead a type of air-propelled pellet gun, he said. The teen, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, was arrested for two counts of second-degree assault and booked at the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center, according to Wilson. It wasn’t really clear what might have prompted the gun play, according to Wilson.

TRICKED OUT OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

• An officer was called yesterday morning by a middle-aged woman at the 1400 block of Johnson Road in Centralia who reported she was out several thousand dollars after agreeing over the Internet to receive money from them and send checks out to other people on their behalf. Officer Buddy Croy said he believed it was a typical scam in which the victim received a check or money order or something similar and deposited it, but the funds were not there. “All that money she sent out, she’s now responsible for, to the bank,” Croy said. “Money lures a lot of people.” He repeated the warning that so many have heard before: “If it sounds to good to be true, it is.”

TOOLS STOLEN

• Centralia police were called yesterday to the 1000 block of H Street following the discovery a garage was burglarized. Missing from sometime during the previous two weeks were tools, according to the Centralia Police Department.

COMPUTERS STOLEN

• The Winlock School district reported a burglary yesterday at the Apollo School on the 400 block Arden Street. Somebody entered and removed laptops from the class rooms, according to the Toledo Police Department. They are investigating, according to the police chief.

STOLEN VEHICLE

• Centralia police were called about 8:15 a.m. yesterday to the 1300 block of Logan Street about a stolen vehicle that was later recovered locally, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A deputy responded to an approximately 8:50 a.m. call yesterday about a stolen vehicle discovered at the end of Buckley Road northeast of Toledo. The 2007 Honda Pilot was in good shape and had been missing from Clark County, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called just before 3 p.m. yesterday about an overnight vehicle prowl at the 400 block of East Magnolia Street in Centralia. Taken were documents and unspecified miscellaneous items, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Jacob W. Stute, 29 of Chehalis, was arrested for third-degree malicious mischief after he was seen breaking a window of a vehicle in the parking lot at the 900 block of South Scheuber Road about 11:40 p.m. yesterday. Stute was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ASSAULT AT MEDICAL FACILITY

• A 63-year-old Centralia resident who allegedly struck a medical professional at the 900 block of South Scheuber Road yesterday evening was arrested for third-degree assault. Officers called about 5:25 p.m. booked Steven G. Thurman into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

TRESPASSING

• Chehalis police were called to a vacant resident on Northeast Coal Creek Road near North National Avenue yesterday morning after its owner discovered pry marks on a door and muddy shoe prints inside. Northing appeared to be missing, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ANIMAL GUTS

• An officer was called to the 700 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue in Chehalis yesterday morning after a resident found next to their garbage a bag containing “cut up deer.” The officer checked it and it indeed was the leftovers from cleaning a deer, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, misdemeanor assault, driving with suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, vandalism, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances, unfounded report … and more.

Elderly Mossyrock woman dies from hypothermia

Monday, November 23rd, 2015

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Sheriff’s detectives were asked to conduct a death investigation after a 92-year-old Mossyrock woman was found in her closet at her home and transported to Morton General Hospital where she passed away not long after.

Morton Police Chief Dan Mortensen, whose jurisdiction includes the town of Mossyrock, said this afternoon it turned out to be an unfortunate accidental death.

Beulah McMurry was found by a friend on Friday, he said.

“She used a walker, we think she got disoriented and got tangled up in her closet,” Mortensen said. “And was there for a day or more.”

The residence on the 200 block of Hope Street was cordoned off for the investigation.

Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Dusty Breen said it was very chilly inside. The heater and two wood stoves were not producing heat, as she apparently only used an electric blanket in the evenings, according to Breen.

An autopsy today confirmed McMurry died from hypothermia, according to Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod.

Mortensen said he believed she lived alone, but said she obviously had many friends and family.

Rumors that her home had been ransacked and all her medications stolen added to law enforcement’s concern, Mortensen said. But the investigation concluded that wasn’t the case, he said.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, November 23rd, 2015
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•••

Updated at 12:46 p.m.

SMASH AND GRAB

• An officer responding to an alarm at 4:30 a.m. yesterday at a convenience store on the 100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia found someone had smashed out the front door glass and stolen numerous items. The case was referred to detectives for follow up, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Deputies responding to an alarm just after 3:30 a.m. yesterday at a gas station on the 100 block of Mulford Road outside Toledo arrived to find the front glass door broken and merchandise on the ground. Surveillance video showed two males entering the business and then removing items, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The loss is estimated at $1,500 but a list is still being investigated, according to the sheriff’s office. The damage to the door is listed at $1,000, Cmdr. Dusty Breen said. The intruders were wearing dark jackets, blue jeans and gloves and their faves were covered, according to Breen.

RESIDENTIAL THEFT CENTRALIA

• Centralia police were called about 8:30 a.m. yesterday a house on the 600 block of Lakeshore Drive to take a report of a burglary. The victims called police after noticing a container full of coins and a wallet was missing from their bedroom, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Someone stole a package from the front of a residence on the 700 block of G Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 1:20 p.m. on Friday.

RESIDENTIAL THEFT CHEHALIS

• Police were called about 6:15 p.m. on Saturday to a location on Southeast Washington Avenue in Chehalis about possible stolen checks. The case is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

FARM THEFT

• Sometime in the two weeks before Friday, someone stole a large spool of irrigation hose plus two large sprinkler heads from the 100 block of Donahoe Road outside Chehalis. The loss is listed at $4,000, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

AUTO THEFT

• A 48-year-old Centralia man observed by an officer driving a stolen vehicle yesterday about 10:30 a.m. at the 1700 block of Hillview Road in Centralia was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle as well as possession of methamphetamine. Kelly O. Moran was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• An officer was called just after 5 o’clock yesterday morning to the 500 block of Northeast Washington Avenue in Chehalis following the discovery someone stole a tool box from the back of a parked truck.

• Chehalis police were called about 7 p.m. on Saturday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 100 block of North Market Boulevard. Taken was a cell phone left on the front seat of the unlocked vehicle, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Police were called to the 2800 block of Russell Road in Centralia on Saturday about an overnight vehicle prowl. A radio was taken from the pickup truck, according to the Centralia Police Department.

ASSAULTS

• A 20-year-old woman getting picked up for a warrant at about 8:40 p.m. on Saturday at the 700 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia allegedly kicked an officer as she was resisting arrest. Eternity R.E. Bock, of Centralia, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for third-degree assault, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 22-year-old Chehalis man was arrested for fourth-degree assault after allegedly pepper spraying an individual during a fight at the 200 block of Railroad Avenue in Centralia on Saturday evening. Officers responding about 6:15 p.m. the altercation in front of the train station arrested Tyler A. Reeves, issued him his citation and then released him, according to the Centralia Police Department. A 17-year-old boy involved allegedly tried to physically block an officer from going into the public entrance of an apartment complex, according to police. A case for the teen will be referred to juvenile prosecutors for obstructing, according to police.

DRUGS

• A 19-year-old motorist contacted last night at 11 p.m. on North Gold Street in Centralia was cited for a “trip permit” violation as well as being in possession of marijuana. Police arrested, issued the citation and then released Quinn M. Rector of Chehalis, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 35-year-old Chehalis woman was arrested around 1:10 a.m.  yesterday following contact with an officer at the park and ride lot on the 800 block of West Main Avenue in Chehalis. Inside the vehicle in plain view were suspected drug-related items, including suspected heroin and methamphetamine, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Jennifer R. Brown was arrested for a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, according to police.

• A 26-year-old Chehalis woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant after contact with police just after 8 p.m. on Friday at the 700 block of M Street in Centralia. Alisha A Holmes was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Centralia Police Department.

SUSPICIOUS FIRE

• Detectives were asked to determine if a fire that damaged the exterior of a building in Centralia on Saturday evening was arson or just reckless burning. An officer called about 6:45 p.m. to the 400 block of Centralia College Boulevard reported a neighbor saw flames and smoke and extinguished them before anyone arrived, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called about 8:25 p.m. on Friday to the 1000 block of Southwest McFadden Avenue where someone had slashed tires on a parked vehicle.

ON THE ROAD

• The driver of a Ford Expedition was issued citations for failing to yield to pedestrian and not having insurance after she struck a shopping cart being pushed by an individual and also a child in the parking lot at Wal-Mart at about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Aid and police responding to the scene at the entrance to the store on  Northwest Louisiana Avenue report the 4-year-old fell to the ground and sustained scrapes. The child was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital. The driver said she didn’t see them because the sun was in her eyes, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• A 23-year-old Centralia man was arrested early yesterday morning after allegedly driving into a parked vehicle at the 700 block of South Pearl Street in Centralia and then leaving the scene. An officer responding about 2:15 a.m. booked Bret R. Baker into the Lewis County Jail for driving under the influence and third-degree driving with a suspended license as well as hit and run, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 34-year-old man from Camas is listed in fair condition this morning after an incident on Friday evening in which an allegedly intoxicated driver struck his car on Interstate 5 about three miles south of Tumwater. Troopers responding about 7:25 p.m. to the southbound lanes near milepost 93 report Michael J. Hartung’s disabled Honda Civic was parked on the shoulder when 26-year-old Tyler M. Pendleton’s southbound Subaru drifted to the right, according to the Washington State Patrol. The victim had been standing in front of his car with the hood up, West Thurston Regional Fire Authority Chief Robert Scott said. Hartung was transported to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. The state patrol said his 27-year-old passenger was also injured, but Scott said she just rode along in the ambulance with her friend. The state patrol also reported Pendleton was injured, though Scott said that wasn’t his understanding. Pendleton, from Olympia, is facing a possible charge of driving under the influence, according to the state patrol. Both cars were totaled.

• One student on a school bus playing with a lighter and a leaking aerosol can of deodorant belonging to another student came together on Friday afternoon and ended with a flaming backpack being pushed out the window of the bus. It happened about 1:15 p.m. on Friday along the 100 block of Hewett Road outside Chehalis, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy reports one student sustained a minor finger burn and the case is being referred to juvenile prosecutors for a possible charge of reckless burning. The kids initially tried to put out the fire but weren’t able to, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, obstructing, malicious mischief, misdemeanor assault, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, dispute, tagging, hit and run, misdemeanor theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more.

Vader toddler: Lawyers argue instead of proceeding with sentencing hearing

Saturday, November 21st, 2015
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Jasper’s family waits in the first row for Brenda Wing, far right, to be sentenced in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Though numerous individuals gathered yesterday for the sentencing of Brenda A. Wing regarding the death of the 3-year-old she and her husband were caring for in Vader, that’s not what took place.

Instead, lawyers on the two sides and the judge spoke for about 15 minutes about three issues: a written motion filed by the prosecutor, whether the defendant lived up to her end of the plea agreement and whether all the requirements of the agreement had yet been met.

Jasper Henderling-Warner died on Oct. 5 of last year from what the coroner called chronic battered child syndrome.

Among the many sitting in benches in Lewis County Superior Court were a handful of Jasper’s supporters who wore matching T-shirts, with an ominous statement across their backs:

“Rot in hell Danny & Brenda Wing; Evil has been seen.”

Danny Wing was sent to prison in September for 34 years and eight months.

Conflicting stories and an inability to figure out just what occurred led to deals with the Wings this past spring which required them to truthfully describe what happened, in exchange for guilty pleas on first-degree manslaughter and third-degree assault, and then recommendations they be locked up for about 16 years.

Danny Wing failed the lie detector test meant to evaluate his honesty, and prosecutors were free, under the terms of the agreement, to seek an exceptionally long sentence.

At issue, in part, yesterday was a passage in the plea agreement between the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office and Brenda Wing’s lawyer John Crowley that required the use of Washington state licensed polygraphers.

Washington state doesn’t license that profession.

That came to light when Danny Wing was sentenced and yesterday the judge repeated his surprise about the wording.

“I find it astonishing that is in there,” Hunt said. “I’ve known we don’t license them since I began practicing.”

According to Crowley and Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead, the plea agreement provided for both the state and the defense to conduct polygraph examinations.

Prosectors had an unlicensed Washington State Patrol polygrapher do theirs. The results for Brenda Wing were inconclusive.

Last month, prosecutors went ahead and got an Oregon-licensed polygrapher to conduct another test with Brenda Wing.

Halstead says she was found to be being deceptive. Crowley said she “supposedly” failed that test.

They are scored on a spectrum, with a gray area in the middle, Crowley said outside the courtroom.

During yesterday’s hearing, Crowley seemed to insinuate to the judge, he hadn’t yet gotten a polygraph done for his client because the agreement calls for a Washington licensed polygrapher, and there is no such kind of person.

Judge Hunt gave him a choice.

They could proceed with sentencing if Crowley would “endorse” the state’s polygraph done by the Oregon polygrapher, or they could return on a later date after Crowley got a licensed polygrapher from any state he chose to do an examination.

Hunt seemed to suggest by his questions that he considered the state’s first and inconclusive polygraph as a non-polygraph.

Crowley consulted briefly with Brenda Wing and then informed the judge they’d like to exercise the second option.

Judge Hunt apologized to the audience for the postponement.

“I want to be clear, the only reason I’m doing this is the stakes are high,” Hunt said.

Unfinished discussions before the hearing ended made clear prosecutors believe Brenda Wing didn’t fulfill her obligations under the plea agreement, because she omitted some information during her interviews. They will be seeking an exceptionally long sentence for her, according to Halstead.

Crowley indicated to the judge he didn’t believe the information she didn’t disclose was material.

Judge Hunt stated Brenda Wing did breach the agreement.

The two sides agreed to return to the courtroom for her sentencing on Dec. 16 at 1:30 p.m.
•••

For background, read, “Vader man gets 34 years for toddler death” from Friday September 25, 2015, here

Centralia: Driver escapes collision with train uninjured

Saturday, November 21st, 2015

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A man in his 70s was shook up but unhurt when his car was T-boned by a train yesterday morning in south Centralia.

It happened about 10:15 a.m. at the 700 block of South Street on the less-frequently used rail line that runs through the center of town, not the main BNSF rails that carry Amtrak and large freight trains.

He was headed eastbound and didn’t hear the train’s horn, according to the Centralia Police Department.

The engine and the handful of tanker cars it was pushing north were traveling only about 4 to 5 mph, Sgt. Kurt Reichert said.

“It was the train equivalent of a fender bender,” Reichert said.

Still, the mid-sized car was shoved 20 to 30 feet up the tracks, damaging the passenger side door, Reichert said.

There was no passenger in the car, Reichert said.

Reichert said the motorist didn’t have to go to the hospital, and his vehicle is likely repairable.

The area where the rail crosses South Street is somewhat overgrown and doesn’t utilize lights and crossing arms like the BNSF lines, according to Reichert.