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LAW ENFORCEMENT: CHECK PRINTING SCHEME UNCOVERED
• A 36-year-old Cinebar man who allegedly travels with a printer and a computer to create fraudulent checks was arrested yesterday after a short vehicle pursuit that ended at the 200 block of Third Street East in Onalaska. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said it has been investigating Richard R. Perry Jr. since the end of December and got information about 1 p.m. yesterday he was in the Onalaksa area. Cmdr. Dusty Breen said the case involved 12 checks cashed in six Lewis County locations totaling $4,377.08. Perry was booked into the Lewis County Jail and charged today with first-degree theft, five counts of second-degree identity theft and attempt to elude. Breen noted cases for five other individuals who allegedly helped pass the checks, on the account of a non-profit organization that feeds homeless people, were referred to prosecutors for possible charging. Charging documents for Perry indicate several law enforcement agencies already investigating Perry, including Chehalis Tribal Police, Olympia Police Department, Thurston County Sheriff’s Office and the Centralia Police Department. Perry allegedly told a deputy he received a check from the Sidewalk company from a local man and scanned it into his computer, then would modify it to make it look like paychecks. Among the locations and amounts were Brenda’s Market on state Route 508 for $202.05, the Lucky Eagle Casino for as much as $830.59, Safeway and two check cashing businesses, according to court documents. Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor Kevin Nelson today indicated to a Lewis County Superior Court judge authorities have identified at least 17 counts. He requested and was granted bail to be set at $50,000.
RECOVERED STOLEN VEHICLE
• A 30-year-old man was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle yesterday morning when deputies went to the 100 block of Harold Drive south of Chehalis in response to a report the missing vehicle was there. A deputy knocked, the door opened and a dog opened the door wider, according to authorities. A deputy detained a male he believed to be someone with a warrant, the male gave another name – of a real person who had an outstanding warrant – but he turned out to be Matthew L. Emery, according to court documents. Missing and/or damaged were a CD player, speakers and an amplifier, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Emery was booked into the Lewis County Jail and charged today also with second-degree identity theft. The vehicle had been stolen from a 23-year-old Centralia man. Emery lives in either Chehalis or Pacific Beach.
RECKLESSNESS
• Centralia police were called about 7:45 p.m. yesterday to the 600 block of West Third Street where an individual allegedly drove his vehicle into a front yard nearly striking pedestrians during a neighborhood dispute. John J. Showers, 38, of Centralia was cited for reckless endangerment and then released pending a court date, according to the Centralia Police Department.
CAR PROWL
• Centralia police were called just after 8 o’clock this morning about a vehicle prowl at the 200 block of Jackson Street. Documents were missing from inside the vehicle, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• Police took a report of a vehicle prowl yesterday afternoon at the 600 block of Centralia College Boulevard in Centralia. Missing was prescription medication, according to the Centralia Police Department.
AND MORE
• And as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrant, driving under the influence; responses for alarm, shoplifting, dispute, vandalism, third-degree theft, suspicious circumstances, collision on city street … and more, among 154 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m. today.