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Updated
AILING SENIOR CITIZEN CHARGED AFTER HIGHWAY CRASH
• Two people were hospitalized after a wreck on U.S. Highway 12 in Salkum on Friday and one of them, a 70-year-old man, was brought before a judge today in Lewis County Superior Court in a wheelchair. Troopers called about 2:45 p.m. on Friday found a Toyota pickup near the centerline and a Nissan Sentra in a ditch, according to charging papers. Jeremy Stiltner, who was sitting on the tailgate of the truck, said he was heading eastbound when a car pulled out in front of him from Stowell Road. Rodney D. Trueblood, 70, of Salkum, was in the driver’s seat of the Nissan, confused and smelled as though he had been drinking, Lewis County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead wrote in charging documents. He allegedly admitted he’d just left the Brown Shack Tavern, according to Halstead. Both men were transported to the hospital. Stiltner suffered a broken ankle. Halstead didn’t indicate in charging papers what injuries Trueblood had. Trueblood was charged today with vehicular assault, a class B felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Temporary defense attorney Rachael Tiller notified the judge she wasn’t sure if Trueblood understood the charges, and, according to his daughter, has a diagnosis of Parkinsons. Jail staff had indicated to her their concerns over incoherent statements as well, Tiller said. Prosecutors asked for $50,000 bail. Tiller asked that he be released today. Judge Joely O’Rourke set bail at $25,000. Trueblood’s arraignment was scheduled for Thursday. Centralia defense attorney David Arcuri was appointed to represent him.
ON THE ROAD, OFF THE ROAD, INTO THE POLE
• A 28-year-old Winlock resident was arrested after his truck reportedly drove through a flower bed at the 100 block of East Stella Street in Napavine and then struck a utility pole on the 2700 block of Highway 603 on Saturday night. A deputy called about 9 p.m. contacted the driver, who was stopped by a Napavine officer, and arrested him for driving under the influence as well as two counts of hit and run, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. The Toyota pickup sustained major damage, according to the sheriff’s office. Cameron Z. Neumann was booked into the Lewis County Jail, Chief Bruce Kimsey said.
THEFT, THEFT, THEFT
• Chehalis police were called just before 5 p.m. yesterday to a business at the 1500 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue where an employee reported her wallet was stolen from a customer who went into a back office.
• An individual reported about 11:45 p.m. yesterday from the 400 block of South Tower Avenue in Centralia that a Samsung tablet had been stolen sometime during the previous month.
• Chehalis were called just after 8 a.m. on Friday by an individual at the 700 block of Liberty Place who reported their rear license plate had been stolen.
• A light bar was stolen from a Jeep vehicle that was parked in an empty lot at the 1400 block of Kresky Avenue in Centralia, according to a report made to police about 10 p.m. yesterday.
ASSAULT
• An officer was called about 5:45 p.m. on Friday to Lewis County Juvenile Detention on the 1200 block of Southwest Pacific Avenue to take a report from an alleged victim of a misdemeanor assault committed by a staff member at a summer camp some time ago. The case was referred to an agency in another jurisdiction, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
DRUGS
• Chehalis police responding to a 911 hangup call just after 1 p.m. on Friday from the 300 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue arrested a 34-year-old Centralia man who allegedly committed fourth-degree assault, locked the doors and would not let the female victim call 911. They also found a smoking device with suspected methamphetamine, according to the Chehalis Police Department. Julio Nunez Rojas was arrested for unlawful imprisonment and possession of methamphetamine and then charges were referred to prosecutors for fourth-degree assault and interfering with domestic violence reporting, according to police. Nunez Rojas was booked into the Lewis County Jail. He was charged today in Lewis County Superior Court with only possession of methamphetamine.
• A 43-year-old Tacoma-area man was booked into the Lewis County Jail after he called 911 to report he was trying to hurt himself about 6:30 a.m. on Friday at the 100 block of Estep Road near Napavine. Arriving deputies contacted Shane G. Williams who was sitting in his running vehicle and admitted he had smoked meth about 10 minutes earlier, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Found when he was detained was a small bag containing a white crystal substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the sheriff’s office. Williams was arrested for possession of methamphetamine. A case is being referred to prosecutors also for being in physical control of a motor vehicle while intoxicated, Chief Bruce Kimsey said.
NEIGHBORS
• Chehalis police were called about 8:15 a.m. on Friday by an individual at the 600 block of South William Avenue who complained a male staying with neighbors had gone outside to urinate, and she had it on video. An officer contacted the subject and advised him not to do that, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
VANDALISM
• Chehalis police were called about 1:30 p.m. on Saturday to take a report a garage had been “tagged” with graffiti at the 600 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue. It was cleaned up and happened again, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
AND MORE
• And, as usual, other incidents such as arrests for warrants, third-degree theft, driving with suspended license; responses for dispute, harassment, hit and run, vehicle collision, suspicious circumstances … and more among 92 calls for local law enforcement and / or fire-emergency medical services in the 24-hour period ending about 7 a.m.