DEBIT CARD FRAUD
• Chehalis police were called yesterday afternoon about a forgery in which somebody from South Africa “basically drained” a resident’s account. The Chehalis woman tried to use her debit card and found her account was overdrawn, according to Deputy Chief Randy Kaut. The report didn’t say how much money was missing. “Usually on these cases out of the country, there’s not much we can do,” Kaut said. Officers take a report for the individual to pass along to their bank or financial institution, which usually offer some kinds of protections for their customers, he said.
ASSAULTS
• A 44-year-old Tacoma woman was arrested after she allegedly assaulted a woman and then two children in a Winlock residence yesterday. The sheriff’s office said it’s unknown what provoked the attack. Deputies called about 4:50 p.m. to a dispute on the 100 block of Dorning Road learned the woman had an adult female on the kitchen floor, assaulting her; at one point trying to take her pants off, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Cmdr. Steve Aust said when a 7-year-old and 9-year-old came into the room, she choked at least one of them. Lynne M. Vanier, 44, fled the home and was stopped by a Winlock police officer. Aust said the suspect was so intoxicated they couldn’t get her story from her. Vanier was arrested for two counts of second-degree assault, indecent liberties and driving under the influence, Aust said. She was booked into the Lewis County Jail.
• A 31-year-old Napavine man was arrested for second-degree assault yesterday after he allegedly assaulted his 16-year-old nephew in Napavine. James D. Sutherland was booked into the Lewis County Jail, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
THEFT
• Centralia police took a report of a burglary to a residence yesterday on the 200 block of West Pear Street. Coins in an unspecified amount were stolen, according to the Centralia Police Department.
• Centralia police were called about noon yesterday to the 500 block of North Pearl Street where a security camera was taken from the exterior of a building and graffiti spray painted.
DRUGS
• Chehalis police arrested a 27-year-old Lakewood man on Wednesday who tried to pick up a forged prescription from a pharmacy. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail. Prosecutors released him pending further investigation.
BIG DOG PULLED FROM RIVER
• The Chehalis Fire Department helped rescue a dog from the Chehalis River yesterday evening. A neighbor pulled the roughly 150-pound dog from the water but the animal was so worn out he couldn’t walk, to get up a steep bank near Riverside Drive, according to Capt. Rob Gebhart. Firefighters put the Newfoundland-type canine onto a sleeping bag and carried him up, Gebhart said.