Archive for March, 2017

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Wednesday, March 29th, 2017
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WANTED CENTRALIA MAN FOUND IN YELM

• A Centralia man wanted for allegedly assaulting his live-in girlfriend – by hitting her over the head with a beer bottle and firing a shot towards her as she exited their home – was captured yesterday in the Yelm area after an investigation led to his vehicle parked outside a residence there, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Justin G. Bonifield, 47, surrendered to law enforcement about 12:15 p.m., Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. The 40-year-old woman was found to have suffered a concussion from the Monday night events at the 100 block of Joppish Road, according to the sheriff’s office. Bonifield was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree assault, second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, Breen said. There is an ongoing investigation now of possible meth-making at the Joppish Road home, according to Breen. Bonifield is tentatively scheduled to go before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court at 4 p.m. today.

THEFT OF POWER EQUIPMENT

• A deputy was called yesterday to the 200 block of Short Road outside Morton where someone had stolen a generator and an air compressor sometime since March 10. The loss is about $750, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Locks had been cut on a cable blocking the driveway, on a shed and also on a cable securing the generator, according to the sheriff’s office.

AUTO THEFT

• A white 1995 Honda Accord vanished from where it was parked on the 200 block of Southwest 13th Street in Chehalis yesterday between 4 p.m. and 5:50 p.m., according to the Chehalis Police Department.

CAR PROWL

• Chehalis police were called just before 3 p.m. yesterday after a victim parked at the 1300 block of Northwest State Avenue observed a male open the canopy of his vehicle, remove a Stihl chainsaw, put it into his white Ford Ranger and drive away.

SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION

• Centralia police responded about 4:15 p.m. yesterday for a report of a sexual assault associated with a location at the 200 block of Railroad Avenue. An investigation is underway, according to the Centralia Police Department.

CONTAINER FIRE

• Rural Chehalis firefighters were called about 12:20 p.m. yesterday to the 1600 block of Bishop Road for a fire burning inside a 30-foot cargo trailer at a pallet yard. They observed heavy smoke and were able to extinguish the flames within six minutes of their arrival, but stayed on scene almost an hour to make sure the fire was out, Lewis County Fire District 6. Fire Chief Tim Kinder said the metal container had been converted into a wood drying kiln. The exact cause was to be determined by a fire investigator, according to Firefighter DJ Hammer.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• Centralia police responded about 10:20 p.m. yesterday to a wreck at the 2600 block of North Pearl Street. A vehicle collided with a pole, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, third-degree theft, misdemeanor assault, protection order violation, no contact order violation; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, harassment, vehicle collision, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances … and more among 136 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

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Firefighters Jeff Ames and Matt Foley extinguish fire inside shipping container. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Fire District 6

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Tuesday, March 28th, 2017
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•••

Updated at 2:49 p.m.

CENTRALIA WOMAN FLEES GUNSHOT INSIDE OWN HOME

• A 47-year-old Centralia man is being sought after an incident last night at the 100 block of Joppish Road in which a woman fled to a neighbor’s for help, saying her live-in boyfriend had hit her over the head with a beer bottle and, she believed, fired a shot towards her as she left the home. The 40-year-old victim suffered a concussion, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said the sheriff’s office has probable cause for an arrest for first-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm on Justin G. Bonifield. He was gone when deputies arrived following the approximately 7:50 p.m. 911 call, Breen said. Deputies found that possibly a controlled substance was being manufactured at the Centralia area home, but had no details this morning.

OTHER ASSAULT

• Chehalis police were called just after 2 p.m. on Friday regarding an alleged custodial assault occurring the day before at Green Hill School. They are still waiting for reports, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

VEHICLE THEFT

• Chehalis police were called just before 3 p.m. yesterday about a Chevrolet Blazer possibly stolen from where it had been parked on Northeast Median Street.

• A 1992 Oldsmobile was stolen from the area of Yew Street and Centralia College Boulevard, according to a report made to the Centralia Police Department just after 11 a.m. yesterday.

• A bicycle with a 48 cc motor motor was reported stolen from the 100 block of West Third Street in Centralia just after 8 a.m. yesterday. It is a Husky Beach Cruiser, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 9:15 p.m. on Sunday to take a report of the theft of a Silver 2001 Dodge Ram pickup truck from the 1300 block of Harrison Avenue. It has a license plate reading B77300X, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A burgundy 1995 Honda Civic was reported stolen about 6:15 p.m. on Sunday from the 1300 block of Lum Road in Centralia. It has a license plate reading AUM 2303, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• A 38-year-old Rochester resident was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle after he and another person were contacted about 1:20 a.m. on Sunday with a vehicle broken down on the side of the road near Gold Street and Ham Hill Road in Centralia. Officer suspected that Bradley A. Sprouse had arrived in a vehicle stolen in Olympia to help an acquaintance with car trouble, according to the Centralia Police Department. The acquaintance had an outstanding warrant and both were booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police. Prosecutors yesterday declined to file the felony charge against Sprouse.

OTHER THEFT

• Centralia police were called at 2:45 p.m. yesterday about the theft of a musical instrument from the 100 block of South Tower Avenue.

• Chehalis police were called at about 12:40 p.m. yesterday to a business on the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue on a report a customer had passed fake $100 bills. The incident is under investigation, according to the Chehalis Police Department.

• Centralia police were called about 4:50 p.m. on Saturday regarding the theft of medication from the 1300 block of Harrison Avenue.

• Centralia police were called on Friday afternoon about the theft of power tools from a maintenance room at the 1300 block of Alexander Street.

• Centralia police were called about 3:45 p.m. on Friday about an overnight vehicle prowl at the 1200 block of Harrison Avenue. Several “items” were taken, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• Chehalis police were called to the 200 block of 16th Street just before 11 a.m. on Friday about an overnight incident in which fuel was siphoned from a parked vehicle.

• Chehalis police were called to the 400 block of Northwest Front Street just after 3 p.m. yesterday about gas being siphoned from a parked vehicle.

DRUGS

• Dylan T. Kolvig, 26 of Centralia, was arrested on an outstanding Centralia Municipal Court failure to appear warrant as well as possession of methamphetamine after contact with police at Yew and Pear streets in Centralia at about 10:20 p.m. on Friday, according to the Centralia Police Department.

• An officer was called about 2:40 a.m. on Saturday to Providence Centralia Hospital regarding a patient allegedly in possession of a baggie of suspected methamphetamine. The case is under investigation, according to the Centralia Police Department.

VANDALISM

• Chehalis police were called to the 200 block of Southeast Washington Avenue just before 9 a.m. yesterday to take a report that tires had been slashed on at least one vehicle.

• Centralia police reported on Sunday they were investigating a report of a known person breaking out the taillight of the victim’s vehicle with a bat at the 1100 block of Centralia College Boulevard reported to them on Saturday afternoon.

• Police were called just before 10:30 p.m. on Saturday to the 200 block of East Chestnut Street in Centralia where they were told an individual broke the windshield of the victim’s vehicle during a dispute.

AND FROM MORTON

• Officers responded to the 400 block of Second Street in Morton to a gas drive off about 8:20 a.m. on Friday. The vehicle’s driver was later stopped on U.S. Highway 12 and was escorted back to the gas station and paid the remaining balance, according to the Morton Police Department.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 39-year-old Toledo woman was cited for hit and run after an approximately 9 p.m. Saturday report of a car striking a Ford Bronco on the side of the road near the 300 block of South Market Boulevard in Chehalis. Amy J. Threlfall was arrested and booked on an outstanding warrant, according to the Chehalis Police Department. The following evening, she was arrested at the Lewis County Jail for possession of heroin, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

• Dayton Z. Taylor, 18 of Winlock, and Austin R. Paladin, 20, of Rainier, were both cited for racing and reckless driving after contact with an officer around 3 p.m. on Friday at the 800 block of North Tower Avenue in Centralia, according to the Centralia Police Department.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, third-degree theft, fourth-degree assault, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, third-degree domestic malicious mischief; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, harassment, hit and run, vehicle collision, third-degree theft, possible sexual assault, suspicious circumstances, numerous as-yet unverified reports … and more among 492 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 96-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

News brief: Orting man dies following U.S. Highway 12 motorcycle accident

Tuesday, March 28th, 2017

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A 56-year-old motorcyclist died after a wreck last night on U.S. Highway 12 about two miles east of Mossyrock.

Darrell S. Holmquist, of Orting, was traveling westbound near milepost 89 when he failed to negotiate a sweeping corner, left the roadway and was ejected, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Troopers were called to the scene just after 9 p.m.

Holmquist was airlifted to Peacehealth Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver where he passed away, according to the state patrol.

He had been wearing a helmet, but it was described by the investigating trooper as non-USDOT compliant.

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Friday, March 24th, 2017
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Updated at 5:44 p.m.

A CLUE

• Centralia police yesterday decided yesterday to send a summons to a 23-year-old Seattle resident to come to court for a third-degree theft after identifying their suspect through the Washington state ID card in the clothing he allegedly removed and left behind when shoplifting at a store on the 100 block of West High Street.

DRUGS

• A 24-year-old Centralia man was arrested yesterday for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver after drug detectives searched his bedroom and found approximately one gram of meth along with two digital scales and numerous baggies, according to court documents. Members of JNET were assisting with the apprehension of wanted individuals with the state Department of Corrections and found Arturo A. Ramirez at his home on Seward Avenue in Centralia, according to the documents. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail and charged today in Lewis County Superior Court. Ramirez’s bail was set at $10,000.

• A 38-year-old woman was arrested for possession of methamphetamine yesterday after a trooper contacted two people in a semi truck parked at the end of the southbound Interstate 5 onramp at milepost 74. The trooper smelling a strong odor of marijuana searched the sleeper area and found two glass pipes, the insides of which were coated with white powder, according to court documents. The girlfriend of the truck driver reportedly said they belonged to her and she was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the documents. Bail was set this afternoon with a $10,000 signature bond for Elaina A. Caldera, of Baldwin Park, California.

CHARGES FILED FOR GREEN HILL ATTEMPTED ESCAPE

• The Green Hill School student-inmate who allegedly took off running from his group and tried to throw a homemade rope over the fence the end of last month was brought before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court charged with first-degree attempted escape and custodial assault. Eric F. Hungary Jr., who turned 18 last week, is serving time at the state juvenile detention facility for second-degree murder, according to court documents. Chehalis police called to investigate on Feb. 28 were told a group had been walking from the central kitchen back to their living unit and Hungary stayed toward the back, before he took off. Staff caught up with him and he allegedly extended both arms upward with clenched fists, got into a fighting stance and started swinging at a staff member, according to the documents. Temporary defense attorney Rachael Tiller told a judge this afternoon her client has at least two years left to serve at Green Hill. His bail was set at $10,000 and he was given a court appointed lawyer.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for drugs, warrants, shoplifting, obstructing, driving with a suspended license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, harassment, suspicious circumstances … and more among 126 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Centralia fast food burglar faces more charges

Thursday, March 23rd, 2017
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Cole T. Moon returns to his seat to wait to be taken back down to the Lewis County Jail after bail hearing.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Just as he was finishing up serving jail time for his role in a burglary to the McDonald’s restaurant in Centralia, Cole T. Moon found himself charged with new felonies related to past alleged activities.

Moon, 24, recently pleaded guilty to the McDonald’s incident and was given just 45 days in jail because he was a first time offender.

The break-in was just one in a series of nine which took place during 2015 in cities between Portland and Lacey with similar methods – the thieves cut holes in the roofs of fast food restaurants and then cut holes in their safes and stole money, according to authorities. Three took place in Centralia.

An acquaintance of Moon’s pleaded guilty on Wednesday to five of the crimes and is facing a potential sentence of more than 12 years in prison.

As part of his plea agreement, 26-year-old Alexis Cardenas was required to provide a truthful statement about his activities and the names of all who helped him.

The new information, presented in charging documents, alleges there was an attempted burglary at the Centralia McDonald’s a few weeks before the known break-in on May 28, 2015. But they brought the wrong cutting tool and abandoned the venture, according to authorities.

Moon also is now implicated in the incident at Arby’s on April 14, 2015 as well as others in other counties, according to charging documents.

Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead charged Moon yesterday with one count of second-degree burglary, one count of attempted second-degree burglary, one count of first-degree malicious mischief and a count of attempted first-degree malicious mischief.

Moon had just completed serving his time the day before in the Lewis County Jail.

Temporary defense attorney Kevin Nelson said his client had a solid place to live and a job lined up as bail was discussed.

Lewis County Superior Court Judge Joely O’Rourke agreed with Halstead’s request for bail of $100,000 for Moon.

Moon’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
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For background, read “Fast food roof top burglar convicted after plea deal” from Wednesday March 22, 2017, here

Sirens: Daily police and fire roundup

Thursday, March 23rd, 2017
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Updated at 12:07 p.m.

AUTO THEFT

• A purple 1997 Honda Accord was reported stolen from the 200 block of North Oak Street in Centralia just after 1 p.m. yesterday. It has a license plate reading AND 0829, according to police.

• Centralia police were called about 8:40 a.m. yesterday to the 100 block of North Saxon Street about the theft of a gray 1990 Toyota Camry. It has a license plate reading ANS 2489, according to the Centralia Police Department.

DRUGS

• A traffic stop about 8:10 a.m. yesterday along the 600 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue in Chehalis led to the arrest of a 32-year-old motorist for possession of methamphetamine. Ryan M. McMahon, of Centralia, was found to be driving with a suspended license and a search incident to his arrest turned up paraphernalia which tested positive for meth, according to the Chehalis Police Department. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to police.

• A 33-year-old driver was arrested following a traffic stop when a small bag of a crystal substance turned up which field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Isaiah M. Owen, of Bellingham, was pulled over by a trooper on northbound Interstate 5 near milepost 58 on Tuesday and found to be driving with a suspended license, according to court documents. The baggie was found tucked into a tear on the driver’s seat of his vehicle, according to Lewis County prosecutors. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail, charged yesterday with possession of meth and then allowed release on a $10,000 signature bond.

• A 30-year-old woman was arrested for possession of heroin when she was contacted in the area of Boistfort Avenue in Chehalis, based on items found inside her purse which she had left in an acquaintance’s car parked at the Lewis County Law and Justice Center on Monday. Desiree M. Webley, of Chehalis, was booked into the Lewis County Jail on Tuesday, charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court and then ordered held with$10,000 bail, according to court documents. A 28-year-old Oakville man with her when she was contacted was arrested with possession of methamphetamine based on items discovered in his pockets when he was detained on an outstanding warrant. John M. McCrory too was booked into jail, charged yesterday and ordered held on $10,000 bail, according to the documents.

DOMESTIC INCIDENT

• A 39-year-old Winlock man yesterday was ordered held on $50,000 bail following an approximately 8 p.m. call on Monday to the 100 block of state Route 505 where a woman said her ex-boyfriend came into her house and into her bedroom and jumped on to her back while she was laying down. Daniel J. Beckwith allegedly slammed open a door open, breaking it; threw the woman’s phone across the room breaking it and then left, according to court documents.  Beckwith was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on Tuesday and then charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree burglary as well as violation of a no contact order.

FAKE BILL

• Police were called about 12:40 p.m. yesterday to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia regarding the receipt of a counterfeit $50 bill.

ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD

• A 25-year-old Rochester woman was arrested for driving under the influence after a single-vehicle wreck just after 3 o’clock this morning along the 2600 block of Airport Road in Centralia. The 1997 Ford Explorer was totaled and it appeared to have hit a concrete barrier before going into the ditch, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Danika G.L.R. Pickernell was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

AND MORE

• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, driving with no license; responses for alarm, dispute, civil issue, harassment, hit and run, suspicious circumstances, protection order violation; complaint of the odor of marijuana coming from a growing operation on Northwest State Avenue in Chehalis … and more among 161 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.

Fast food roof top burglar convicted after plea deal

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017
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Alexis Cardenas pleads guilty this morning in Lewis County Superior Court.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Alexis Cardenas cast his eyes downward as he offered guilty pleas today to a string of fast food restaurant break-ins that could bring him more than 12 years in prison.

The former Centralia College student was arrested in February in connection with incidents in the late spring of 2015 in which thousands of dollars were stolen during nighttime burglaries in Centralia, two of which the intruders entered by cutting holes in the roofs of the buildings.

The victim establishments include Arby’s, Wendy’s, McDonalds and local prosecutors combined the case with a February burglary of a Taco Bell in Thurston County and a break-in at a Franklin County Arby’s.

Three other individuals have been charged as well.

Cardenas, 26, was accompanied in Lewis County Superior Court this morning by defense attorney David Arcuri.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of second-degree burglary, five counts of first-degree malicious mischief and one count of attempted delivery of cocaine.

Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead said he and Arcuri plan to recommend a sentence of 148 months in prison. Arcuri alluded to “other things” his client has agreed to do before his sentencing.

Cardenas’s now 20-year-old girlfriend Morelia V. Ayala Garcia, 19, also of Centralia, is charged for her alleged role in the McDonalds case where she used to work as a manager.

Also charged in the burglaries were Joaquin Armenta and Cole T. Moon. Moon pleaded guilty to the McDonald’s incident and was given just 45 days in jail because he was a first time offender, according to Halstead.

Cardenas is expected back in court on April 20 to schedule his sentencing hearing.
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For background, read “Two arrested in Centralia rooftop burglary cases” from Friday February 10, 2017, here