Updated at 8:14 p.m.
TWEEKING WITH A TORCH
• A 35-year-old man was jailed last night for trespass after he, reportedly high on meth, went to his cousin’s Onalaska property waving around a burning torch saying the flame was from heaven and he needed to deliver it to their grandmother. The grandmother is dead, according to the 30-year-old woman from the 200 block of Burchett Road who called 911, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reported this morning. Lance J. Myhre was found around 10:30 p.m. on timber property in the area owned by his father and arrested for second-degree trespassing, according to the sheriff’s office. Myhre is from Onalaska but currently homeless, according to the sheriff’s office.
SUSPECT IN DV UNLAWFUL IMPRISONMENT PICKED UP
• Police arrested a 27-year-old man this morning at a Centralia residence on Johnson Road who was wanted for an incident two weeks ago in which he allegedly went into his ex-girlfriend’s home – who had a no contact order against him – roughed her up and held her against her will all night long. He also allegedly took her cell phone when he left on Feb. 20, according to the Centralia Police Department. Officers recognized Manuel Arceo-Garcia when they went to another Johnson Road residence this morning on an another matter and took him into custody, Sgt. Stacy Denham said. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree robbery (regarding the phone) and unlawful imprisonment, Denham said.
FRAUD
• A Centralia resident in his 20s reported to police yesterday he lost his wallet and discovered someone used his debit card to purchase DVDs or similar items, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• A 42-year-old man from Algona notified Centralia police yesterday morning someone used his credit card at the 1200 block of Mellen Street.
LEWIS COUNTY FILES CHARGES ALLEGING MORE THAN $14,000 IN IDENTITY THEFT CASE
• The 37-year-old man wanted in Lewis and Cowlitz counties who was found cold, tired and too weary to walk out of the woods near Kelso last week has been charged with using another man’s identity to rack up more than $14,000 in spending at three businesses in Chehalis. Charles R. Reece was picked up by Cowlitz County deputies late at night a week ago Monday after a resident reported hearing someone hollering for help, according to the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office. He said his name was Jonathan Benson, but deputies concluded by his tattoos he was Reece, according to authorities. The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office on Friday filed charges including nine counts of forgery, identity theft and theft against Reece, in connection with allegedly using the name of Gregory Gaertner to get get credit – and then spending thousands of dollars – in January at Home Depot, Sears and Chehalis Rentals, according to charging documents. He was treated for minor injuries from being lost in the woods and then booked into jail for his outstanding warrants, according to the sheriff’s office.
OTHER THEFT
• Centralia police are looking for a 27-year-old homeless man they say stole shoes from the Nike store at the 100 block of West High Street yesterday. Sgt. Stacy Denham said Christopher D. Buck is wanted for a burglary as well.
• Gym bag containing identification and cell phone was stolen while a female was working out at the the 2000 block of Borst Avenue, according to a report made to the Centralia Police Department about 4:40 p.m. yesterday.
• Police were called about 9:45 a.m. yesterday to the 200 block of Railroad Avenue in Centralia to take a report of a stolen large chain and binder from a “lowboy” utility trailer.
NOT A THEFT
• The gold wedding band reported missing from one of the Lewis County coroner’s deceased individuals in January turned out not to be stolen at all, just somewhat lost. The county sent a check last week to reimburse the wife of the man who was wearing the ring when he was brought to the Chehalis facility for a planned autopsy, according to Paulette Young, who handles claims against the county. The ring was not returned to her, so she filed a report with police. The man’s hands were never “unbagged” so the ring went with him when he was cremated, Young said today.
AND MORE …
• And, as usual, calls such as report of a bike stolen in Centralia, a bike found in Chehalis, misdemeanor vandalism, responding to an accidental trip of an alarm, questions about vehicles parked where they shouldn’t be, fender benders and complaints about children – playing in the road, on the roof of a car, and shooting a pellet gun …