News brief: Centralia man arrested after attempt to rob north end market

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

An attempted robbery at a Centralia convenience store yesterday evening failed when the would-be thief realized the clerk was not alone.

Police called about 6:15 p.m. to the Pearl Street Market on the 2300 block of North Pearl Street were told the man opened up a knife and demanded money.

The 28-year-old clerk went running backwards screaming for her boss and the startled subject fled, according to the Centralia Police Department.

The owner had been in the back of the store, Sgt. Kurt Reichert said.

Officers were told the individual ran towards Carson Street so one patrol car parked on a wooden bridge near Carson, while other law enforcement officers surrounded a large area, Reichert said.

Centralia police dog Lobo began a track and it wasn’t long before the dog pulled the suspect from the bushes some 50 feet from the patrol car, he said.

Jason M. Keele, 46, from Centralia, was arrested for attempted robbery, according to police. He was taken to be checked for the dog bite and booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to Reichert.

“We probably had the guy in custody within an hour,” he said. “Probably less than an hour, and we’re thankful for the assistance from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol.”

Tags: ,

5 Responses to “News brief: Centralia man arrested after attempt to rob north end market”

  1. O. Minor says:

    Not always true! My former in-laws had a retired K-9 for many years as a very beloved pet. Luger was of course the ULTRA PROTECTIVE member of their family, but they also kept him busy on their beautiful acreage for many years til very severe hip and spine dysplasia led to the very difficult decision to have the vet put him down. For a Sheppard, 14 yrs old was a good life. Esp because of how active he was his whole life. Yes Luger was great around kids. He loved to play frisbee, tug o war with knotted ropes, and would climb ladders and sit in the trees with the kids. Don’t just ASSUME that ALL K-9’s aren’t kid or family pet worthy, after they retire. Talk to people who have had HANDS ON EXPERIENCE with one of these incredibly trained animals, before you talk out your ass. No excuse for ignorance! JUS SAYIN!!!!

  2. T. Orr says:

    A hammer is a ‘tool’. A gun is a ‘tool’. A tazer is a ‘tool’.

    A dog is a living animal with feelings, personality, and a lot of love to give.

  3. The Sleeping Giant says:

    A tools a tool animal abuse or not the low life punk is off the street. Good job Lobo..

  4. T. Orr says:

    Lobo deserves to be a dog and not used as a weapon by law enforcement.

    Police dog training is tantamount to animal abuse.

    Dogs, by nature, are very loving and protective animals. Only through ritual abuse are those characteristics able to be destroyed and twisted.

    Most police dogs are so horribly abused that they can’t be allowed around children. And even after retirement, the abuse the dog suffered for so many years condemns it to a lonely existence away from people.

    When citizens abuse their dogs and train them to attack people and other dogs, it’s called Animal Abuse and they go to jail. Cops do things to K9s that would land anybody else in prison.

  5. The Sleeping Giant says:

    You steal or try to steal in Centralia then Lobo will take a bite out of crime. Lobo deserves a treat. Lol