Archive for March, 2016

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Monday, March 28th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 4:34 p.m.

HOME INVASION ROBBERY REPORTED

• Chehalis police are investigating a report from about 11:37 p.m. on Saturday in which a woman on Southwest 10th Street just  just off Market Boulevard in Chehalis said three armed, masked men came in and demanded her valuables. Taken was a Playstation, a 20-inch television, a DVR, a computer, two hard drives and a flash drive, according to the Chehalis Police Department. She was not injured, according to police.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were called about 1:30 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a theft of a 1998 Silver Mitsubishi Mirage from the 700 block of J Street.

• Centralia police were called at noon on Saturday to take a report of the theft of a 1993 GMC pickup truck from the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue. It had a with a license plate reading B91135X,  according to the Centralia Police Department. The truck had a rental trailer attached to it, which was located abandoned in the Federal Way area.

DRUG PARAPHERNALIA STOLEN

• A “water bong” was reported stolen from a room at a motel on the 1000 block of Eckerson Road in Centralia last night after a mutual friend had returned to the room to retrieve his belongings, according to the Centralia Police Department. After the male suspect left the bong was missing, according to police.

OTHER THEFT

• Chehalis police were called on Saturday evening to the 1300 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue about a suspected theft. The case is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Centralia police were called about 3:45 p.m. yesterday for a vehicle prowl at the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue. Taken was a purse and credit cards, according to the Centralia Police Department. The cards had already been used by the suspect, according to police. The case is under investigation.

• Aa vehicle prowl was reported at the 1700 block of North Pearl Street about 11:30 a.m. yesterday in which numerous items were reported missing, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about a vehicle prowl about 11:10 a.m. on Saturday at the 100 block of Southwest Fifth Street. Taken from the unlocked truck was a Makita cordless screwdriver, a Husky ratchet set and a wallet with its identification, bank cards and cash.

• Police were called on Saturday about an overnight car prowl on the 1000 block of Southwest 20th Street in Chehalis in which a stereo, an amplifier and bag of clothing were stolen. The vehicle had been left unlocked, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called just before 9 a.m. on Saturday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 1000 block of Harrison Avenue. Someone broke the car window and stole a purse, according to the Centralia Police Department. The handbag was found in the area minus its cash, according to police.

LITTLE FIRE INSIDE WINLOCK HOME

• Firefighters called at 9:10 p.m. yesterday regarding smoke at the 200 block of Shannon Lewis Lane in Winlock had to force their way into a home and found a small smoldering fire. They turned it over to law enforcement because it was a little suspicious, according to Lewis County Fire District 15. It was so small they didn’t need to use water, but picked it up and took it outside, Firefighter Patrick Jacobson said. It was like wood debris near a fireplace, he said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrant, shoplifting, resisting arrest, misdemeanor domestic assault, protection order violation, driving with suspended license, driving without required interlock device, third-degree malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, misdemeanor  theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more, among 115 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

Saturday, March 26th, 2016
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The hopper smokes at Sound Wood Products Inc. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 6.

INDUSTRIAL PARK FIRE

• A fire broke out yesterday morning at a wood products business in the Chehalis Industrial Park. Nobody was injured. Firefighters called at 9:45 a.m. to the 100 block of Ribelin Road were told a bag house had exploded and flames were visible, according to Lewis County Fire District 6. Arriving crews found  the fire in a newer building on the property which housed a hopper. Fire department spokesperson DJ Hammer said it was separate from the production facility. The fire was confirmed extinguished an hour later, according to Hammer. District 6 was assisted by the Chehalis Fire Department and Newaukum Valley Fire and Rescue. Hammer said Sound Wood Products Inc. is in its fourth year of operation there and manufactures laminate wood and decking products for the construction industry. He said the hopper was damaged but he didn’t know the extent of damage to the building.

SENIOR HOUSING FIRE

• Chehalis firefighters were called at 2:11 p.m. yesterday to a seniors apartment complex on the 300 block of Southeast Washington Avenue. A loaf of bread had been left on a stove and caught fire but it was extinguished by the manager, according to the Chehalis Fire Department. Fire Capt. Kevin Curfman said there was no damage to the building.

AUTO THEFT

• Centralia police were called at 3:20 a.m. today when a A red Honda Accord was stolen from the 1200 block of North Gold Street. The car has a, license plate reading AXH 7870, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called just after noon yesterday to take a report of A report of an attempt to pass a forged check at the 200 block of North Pearl Street.

VANDALISM

• Police were called just before 2 o’clock this morning to the 100 block of Lum Road in Centralia where a window on a vehicle was smashed out.

• Police were called just after 2 p.m. yesterday to take a report of a window broken out of a car parked at the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue.

• Centralia police took reports yesterday of windows broken at the 100 block of South Tower Avenue and the 1400 block of South Gold Street.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for misdemeanor domestic assault, misdemeanor  theft; responses for alarm, dispute, disorderly person, suspicious circumstances… and more, among 164 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 6:20 a.m. today.

News brief: Suspect in threat with knife, teeth at Chehalis home booked

Friday, March 25th, 2016

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 26-year-old man was brought before a judge yesterday afternoon in connection with an incident in which he allegedly barged into a Chehalis apartment with a knife, blaming the resident for his sister getting beat up.

Talen C.A. Maddux allegedly punched the victim, held the weapon near his chest and throat and said at one point he might bite his ear off.

When police arrived to the home on the 200 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue the evening of Jan. 26, they found Justin Steadham visibly shaken, with a bloody nose, according to court documents.

Maddux is charged with second-degree assault, first-degree burglary and attempted first-degree robbery. Court documents show him with a Chehalis address.

A judge yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court set his bail at $75,000.

The charges were filed on Feb. 29, after the victim and a witness identified Maddux from a photo montage, according to court documents.

Police were told Steadham heard a knock on his door and opened it, thinking it was a friend.

The visitor walked in, continued to hit the victim and pushed him onto a couch, the documents allege.

According to the charging documents, while there, Maddux put the knife down and told the victim to go in the bedroom with him to look for valuables. He fled when another individual arrived at the apartment.

Maddux was arrested and booked on Wednesday. The affidavit of probable cause stated he had two active warrants and multiple assault convictions.

His arraignment is scheduled for next Thursday.

Victimized Chihuahua expected to make full recovery

Friday, March 25th, 2016
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Richard J. Eng waits to be taken back to the jail after his court hearing on Wednesday in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The 29-year-old man accused of throwing a small dog against a table in anger told a deputy he and “Spike” don’t have good rapport.

Richard J. Eng reportedly said when he was leaving the Chehalis area home to get away from an argument with his wife, the Chihuahua mix got aggressive and he wanted to avoid getting bit.

“Therefore he picked up Spike and threw him across the house and fled the scene in his vehicle,” Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Bohm wrote in charging documents.

The incident occurred just before 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the residence on the 500 block of Highway 603 southwest of Chehalis.

The responding deputy described the 8-inch tall dog, wrapped in a blanket and being held by its owner, as whimpering with a swollen and bleeding eye.

Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said this morning the pet is expected to make a full recovery.

The two and a half year old pup was examined and treated at Fords Prairie Animal Clinic, Brown said. Spike was bruised and had trauma to his right eye, but was given medication and returned to its owner, according to Brown.

Eng was arrested that night and charged the following day in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree animal cruelty. The offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Judge James Lawler allowed Eng to be released from jail on a $20,000 signature bond.

Charging documents and the sheriff’s office give the following account of what took place:

A neighbor called 911 and the arriving deputy made contact with Eng’s wife and her mother. A young boy identified as Eng’s son was in the living room crying.

Eng’s mother-in-law said she was sleeping on the couch with her dog when Eng came downstairs, took the dog from her and threw it against a kitchen table.

She said she got up and went outside and was holding her injured pet in the carport.

As Eng was getting ready to leave, he allegedly grabbed it from her arms and tossed it into an outside garbage can.

The deputy located Eng at Wal-Mart and questioned him.

He reportedly told of being woke up by his wife and having a verbal argument, and then leaving.

When asked if anything happened with a dog, Eng said yes and described a bad experience from the past.

He said several months ago he got bit, when he tried to remove a cheeseburger wrapper from the Chihuahua’s mouth while it was choking.

“Therefore he and Spike do not have good rapport,” Prosecutor Bohm wrote of Eng’s description of their relationship.

So when Eng was leaving the house, he was trying not to get bit, he said. He allegedly admitted throwing Spike a second time because it was barking and/or acting aggressive toward him.

His arraignment is scheduled for March 31 in Lewis County Superior Court.
•••

For background, read “News brief: Angry man injures tiny dog” from Wednesday March 23, 2016, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, March 25th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 6:22 p.m.

PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION

• Chehalis police were called at 10:49 a.m. yesterday to the 300 block of Southwest 16th Street and given second-hand information that a student poked another student in the back with a knife. Further information is not yet available, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called yesterday morning by an individual who said her teenage daughter was reportedly struck by someone earlier this week at the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue. The case remains under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR THEFT

• Centralia police were dispatched at 6 o’clock this morning to the 700 block of South Ash Street regarding the theft of a black 1997  Honda Accord. The car has a license plate reading 616 YSB, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Police were called about 6:20 p.m. yesterday to take a report that a window to a vehicle was smashed out at the 1300 block of Lum Road in Centralia.

FRAUD

• Chehalis police were called yesterday afternoon to a credit union on the 1500 block of Southwest Market Boulevard where an individual had allegedly deposited a check from a bank that belonged to someone else. The check or checks came from a recent local burglary and the incident is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

SHOPLIFTING

• A 20-year-old Chehalis resident was arrested overnight after allegedly stealing a cell phone from the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue. Eric J. Stevens was booked into the Lewis County Jail for retail theft with special circumstances – a felony – as he reportedly had something that allowed him to remove a security device, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Prosecutors declined to file the felony charge today.

FUNNY MONEY SPENT

• A counterfeit one hundred dollar bill was passed at a business on the 1100 block of View Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police yesterday.

FROM THE COURTHOUSE

• A 22-year-old Silver Creek resident was brought before a judge yesterday afternoon, charged with four counts of possession of child porn. Kenneth E. Allen has a juvenile conviction for first-degree child molestation and is a registered level three sex offender, according to authorities. A Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detective and a sergeant visited Allen on Wednesday at his home at the Silver Creek Grange, following up on information received from a detective with the Seattle Internet Crimes Against Children unit. Charging documents show the Seattle detective matching up or connecting Twitter accounts, photos of children, IP addresses, email addresses and cyber tips that led to a suspect. The pictures appeared to be girls younger than 11, prosecutors allege. The specific name of the charge is second-degree possession of depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A Lewis County Superior Court judge set his bail at $50,000.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A bicyclist was struck in the back by the mirror to a large pickup truck at the 2700 block of Borst Avenue in Centralia yesterday morning. An officer called about 9 a.m. reports the driver of the vehicle did not stop.

• Two people were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries after their Mitsubishi Eclipse backed out of a driveway into a passing Toyota Camry on the 100 block of Wallace Road near Toledo yesterday afternoon. A deputy called at 4 p.m. to the scene cited the 24-year-old Hoquiam resident for failure to yield. He and his 39-year-old female passenger from Centralia were both transported, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Both car sustained major damage, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for driving under the influence, driving with suspend license driving without required interlock device; responses for alarm, dispute,  possible fraud, runaway juvenile, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor theft; complaint of erratic driver  … and more, among 114 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 6 a.m. today.

Remembrance for Ben, Maddy and Sam Tower

Thursday, March 24th, 2016
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More than 400 people came together at the Northwest Sports Hub in Centralia last night to remember Ben, Maddy and Sam Tower.

Wednesday March 23, 2016, Centralia

Watch “Celebration of Life honors Centralia siblings who died in fire” from KING 5 News

And watch “Memorial held for 3 children who died in Centralia house fire” from Q13 Fox News

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“Less than three weeks ago they went to sleep, and they woke up in heaven,” Cyndi Pollard, principal of Evergreen Christian School in Olympia.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, March 24th, 2016
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•••

Updated at 1 p.m.

BURGLARY

• The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning a residence on the 2600 block of Bennett Road outside Centralia was burglarized of three firearms and other valuables totaling more than $4,000. Also missing are three cloth gun cases, a laptop computer, tax information and $1,900 cash, as well as a Nikon camera and lens, according to the sheriff’s office.

• Sometime between 10 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday someone broke into a home on the 200 block of Holcomb Road south of Chehalis and stole more than $5,000 worth of valuables. Missing was a 22 rifle with scope, keys to a car and house, $150 cash and a wooden jewelry box with its contents, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• A deputy was called about 8 a.m. yesterday to investigate break-ins at two Toledo area restaurants. Nothing appeared to be missing but the entry lock systems were damaged at both Mrs. Beesley’s Burgers and Country Kitchen, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office has a suspect, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

AUTO THEFT

• Chehalis police were called just before 5 p.m. yesterday by an individual who said his gray 1999 Volkswagen Jetta disappeared from the 700 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue while it was warming up. The same car apparently had been involved in a hit and run collision 45 minutes earlier at South Pearl and West Pear streets in Centralia, and left its bumper behind, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called about 7:40 a.m. yesterday when a car was discovered missing from the 200 block of Southwest 13th Street. Taken sometime after 7 p.m. on Tuesday was a 1993 four-door Honda Civic described as faded black with chipped paint and a spoiler on its back, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• A black 1992 Honda Prelude, with purple wheels, was stolen from the 800 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia sometime between Monday evening and early Tuesday morning, police reported yesterday. The vehicle was locked and no keys were inside, according to the Centralia Police Department. The car has a license plate reading ASJ 7259, according to police.

CAR PROWL

• A small amount of change was stolen from inside a parked and unoccupied vehicle at the 700 block of Marsh Street in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 12:05 a.m. today.

• Centralia police were called about 8:40 a.m. yesterday regarding a vehicle prowl at the 1400 block of West Main Street. Taken was cash and an identification card, according to the Centralia Police Department.

FRAUD

• Centralia police were called about 8:10 a.m. yesterday to the 200 block of North Pearl Street to take a report of fraudulent activity on a bank account.

• A deputy was called Tuesday afternoon to the 100 block of Harley Road south of Chehalis where an individual said someone had stolen a check from his mailbox, forged his signature and deposited it into a local bank. The loss is $900, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

OTHER THEFT

• Officers took a report of a theft of a lock box that contained money and prescriptions from the 1000 block of Scammon Creek Road in Centralia on Tuesday. This case is still under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Police were called about 11 a.m. on Tuesday to a business on the 200 block of South Pearl Street in Centralia to take a report that two display signs and a clock were stolen. It is not known when the theft occurred, according to the Centralia Police Department.

STRANGER IN GARAGE

• Centralia police were called about 5:40 a.m. yesterday to the 1500 block of Delaware Avenue where a resident reported they woke up and found a stranger inside their garage. The individual punched the intruder several times and the intruder fled, but officers located their suspect a short distance away and arrested him, according to the Centralia Police Department. The male would not give officers his name and was booked into the Lewis County Jail as John Doe, for trespass and obstructing, according to police.

DRUGS

• A 35-year-old Winlock man was arrested for a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act after he was contacted by a deputy about 1:40 p.m. Tuesday at the 100 block of Brady Lane in Winlock. The deputy was checking on a report of gunfire in the area and pulled into a driveway where one person walked away and the other two people said they had been lighting fireworks, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. After leaving, the deputy realized the person who walked away was present in violation of a no contact order and returned, walked to the rear of the house and located Phillip L. Ray, standing around the corner smiling at him, according to the sheriff’s office. A search incident to his arrest turned up a baggie of suspected methamphetamine, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said. Ray was booked into the Lewis County Jail. He was charged with possession of meth and attempted tampering with evidence because he allegedly tried to eat the meth, but the deputy was able to get it back from his mouth, according to authorities. Charging documents state that detective Jeremy Almond pulled the baggie from Ray’s pants pocket and set it on the trunk of his car, and while Almond was retrieving a glass pipe from the other pant’s pocket, Ray leaned over and put his mouth on the baggie. “Det. Almond told the defendant not to do that,” prosecutors wrote.

LOST AND FOUND

• Chehalis police were called to the 1600 block of Louisiana Avenue about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday where a small black bag containing paraphernalia was discovered in the parking lot. It is slated for destruction, according to police.

WAKE-UP CALL

• An officer was called about 8:35 a.m. yesterday because an elderly man was found sleeping in the doorway of a bank on the 400 block of North Market Boulevard in Chehalis. He was asked to move along, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 53-year-old woman was transported to the emergency room at Providence Centralia Hospital with a possible neck injury after her Dodge Caravan was struck in its passenger side by a Kenworth dump truck at about 5:45 p.m. yesterday evening at Highway 603 and Avery Road West south of Napavine, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The van was westbound and stopped at the stop sign but then continued without seeing the southbound truck, according to the sheriff’s office. The van suffered major damage, its driver cited for failure to yield the right of way, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said.

• A motorist was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance after police responded to an injury collision involving a tree at K and First streets in Centralia at about 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Centralia Police Department. Leonardo L. Flores-Suaraz was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police. However, prosecutors named the driver 18-year-old Leonardo L. Flores-Martinez from Rochester when they charged him with possession of methamphetamine yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court.

AND MORE

• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, fighting in public, driving under the influence, driving with suspend license; responses for alarm, dispute, vandalism, shoplifting, hit and run, suspicious circumstances, misdemeanor domestic assault, collision on city street, failure to return rental item; complaints of aggressive drivers … and more, among 156 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 6:10 a.m. today.