By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A 25-year-old Salkum man was arrested yesterday in connection with the alleged kidnapping and rape of a Longview woman that came to light on Saturday night in Centralia.
Officers contacted the woman about 8:25 p.m. on Saturday in a parking lot at the 500 block of Harrison Avenue who said she’d been abducted in Longview and dropped off in Centralia.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said this morning the incident was reported to them about two hours later and following their investigation, they arrested Joel L. Kaech, 25, from Salkum and booked him into the Lewis County Jail for first-degree kidnapping, first-degree rape and felony harassment.
Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said it began in Longview and continued at the Spiffy’s parking lot on U.S. Highway 12 and possibly involved another location on U.S. Highway 12.
The incidents are still under investigation, according to Brown.