Sirens: Death in Centralia under investigation; drugs and stolen items found in vehicle; neighbor reported for burning garbage

From the editors of The Chronicle

CENTRALIA POLICE

Trespassing

• A Castle Rock resident was denied entry to his private property in the 1200 block of Lum Road shortly after 8:05 a.m. on May 22.

• On May 22 at 9:10 a.m., two homeless individuals were evicted from private property at the intersection of Johnson Road and Industrial Drive.

• A homeless Centralia resident was evicted from a business in the 1300 block of Lum Road shortly after 12:10 p.m. on May 22 for throwing trash into the business’s trash can.

• Homeless people reportedly moved into an abandoned mobile home in the 700 block of Euclid Way around 1:10 p.m. on May 23.

• Firecrackers were reportedly set off in the parking lot of a hotel in the 21000 block of Eckerson Road shortly after 9:05 p.m. on May 23. Officers removed the individuals from the hotel at the direction of hotel staff. No firecrackers were found.

Drug violation

• A 35-year-old Centralia man was charged with suspected possession of fentanyl shortly after 9:45 a.m. on May 22 at the intersection of G and Second Streets.

Suspicious death

• A death reported shortly after 11:40 a.m. on May 22 at the intersection of East Fourth and B streets is under investigation. “The cause and manner of death are under investigation and no further details will be released,” the Centralia Police Department said in a news release.

Traffic hazard

• On May 22 at 5:25 p.m., an unknown man attempted to direct traffic at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and northbound Interstate 5. An officer was unable to locate the individual.

Vehicle accidents

• On May 22, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a two-vehicle collision was reported in the 100 block of South Tower Avenue with no injuries.

• On May 23 at 9:00 a.m. a car struck a school bus at the intersection of South Silver and West Cherry Streets. No injuries were reported.

• On May 23, shortly after 11:20 a.m., a two-vehicle collision was reported in the 700 block of North Tower Avenue with no injuries.

• An employee of a business in the 1100 block of North Pearl Street reportedly drove into a support beam of the business at about 2:05 p.m. on May 23. No injuries were reported. A building inspector has been checking the structural integrity of the business.

• Shortly after 5:30 p.m. on May 23, a two-vehicle collision was reported on private property in the 400 block of South Tower Avenue with no injuries.

theft

• On May 22, shortly before 9:45 p.m., the theft of a cell phone was reported from the 300 block of South Yew Street.

• While on active patrol in the 100 block of West High Street on May 23, an officer spotted a suspicious vehicle without license plates in front of a Centralia Outlet store at 6:40 p.m. When the officer checked the vehicle, suspected stolen clothing was found inside. Officers made contact with the occupants after they left a store and recovered the stolen clothing. The occupants allegedly admitted to stealing the clothing from a nearby store in Centralia before arriving at the outlets. The owner of the vehicle allegedly admitted that they came to Centralia with the sole intention of shoplifting. When the vehicle owner was searched, suspected methamphetamine was found on him. A 40-year-old Seattle man was charged with knowingly possessing a controlled substance and two Tacoma residents were charged with third-degree theft.

Identity theft

• On May 23 at approximately 6:30 p.m., a citizen in the 200 block of West Oakview Avenue reported that a stranger had applied for a credit card in his name and used his Amazon account to purchase items that were delivered to a nearby vacant residence.

Sexual misconduct

• A report of sexual misconduct made shortly after 5 p.m. on May 23 in the 900 block of Johnson Road is under investigation. “No additional information is available at this time,” the Centralia Police Department said in a news release.

Driving under the influence of alcohol

• A 38-year-old Napavine resident was arrested at the intersection of Mellen and Yew Streets shortly after 10:15 p.m. on May 23 and booked into the Chehalis Tribal Jail on a DUI charge.

Chehalis Police Department

Suspicious circumstances

• A caller reported that someone followed him home in the 700 block of Southwest Pacific Avenue shortly after 10:15 a.m. on May 22 and threatened him.

• Two people may have attempted to sneak around the 600 block of West Main Street by car around 3 p.m. on May 22, but ended up running into some bushes.

• Individuals were reportedly playing music in a vehicle at a park in the 1500 block of Rice Road shortly after 11:20 p.m. on May 22.

• On May 23, around 1:40 a.m., four teenagers wearing ski masks were reported in the 300 block of Southwest 16th Street.

• A person allegedly stole items from a dumpster in the 700 block of Northwest Liberty Place shortly after 5:10 a.m. on May 23.

• On May 23, shortly before 1 p.m., an abandoned bicycle was found at the intersection of Northeast Hampe Way and Northeast Kresky Avenue.

• On May 23, around 3 p.m., a man was reportedly sitting on the ground “with a car battery and a bunch of wires and cables” in the 400 block of North Market Boulevard.

car accident

• On May 22, just before 3:25 p.m., a two-vehicle collision was reported at the intersection of Northwest Chamber of Commerce Way and Northwest Louisiana Avenue with no injuries.

Hit and run

• On May 23, shortly after 8:40 a.m., a hit-and-run crash involving a driver in front of a utility pole was reported in the 700 block of Northwest Prindle Street.

dispute

• On May 22, shortly after 11:30 p.m., a family dispute was reported in the 400 block of Northeast Alaskan Way.

• On May 23, shortly before 10:35 p.m., a physical altercation was reported in the 500 block of Northwest Pennsylvania Avenue.

Trespassing

• Two males, between the ages of 16 and 20, may have been trespassing on property in the 100 block of Southwest Interstate Avenue just after 1:30 a.m. on May 23. Officers confirmed there was no trespassing and no crime was committed.

Burglary

• A second-degree burglary reported shortly after 11 p.m. on May 23 in the 2100 block of North National Avenue is under investigation.

combustion

• Shortly after 5:45 p.m. on May 23, a citizen reported that her neighbor was burning trash in his yard in the 300 block of Southwest 15th Street and the smoke was “disturbing” her. She declined help. An officer confirmed that the neighbor was burning firewood in an enclosed fire ring and not trash.

Fire and rescue service calls

• Between Wednesday morning and Friday morning, the Lewis County Emergency Services Center received approximately 36 illness-related calls, six injury-related calls, five fire-related calls, three non-emergency service calls, three motor vehicle accidents, one overdose, one suicide call, one rescue call and three other calls.

PRISON STATISTICS

• As of Friday morning, the Lewis County Jail had a total of 129 inmates, with 117 in the general population and 12 in the Work Ethic and Restitution Center (WERC). Of the general population inmates, 91 were male and 26 were female. Of the WERC inmates, 10 were male and two were female.

• As of Friday morning, the Chehalis Tribal Jail held a total of 14 inmates, including eight from the Centralia Police Department, five from the state Department of Corrections and one from the Lummi Nation.

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Sirens are compiled by Deputy Editor Emily Fitzgerald, who can be reached at [email protected]. Centralia police can be reached at 360-330-7680; Chehalis police can be reached at 360-748-8605. If you are a victim of physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence or sexual assault, call the Hope Alliance at 360-748-6601 or the Youth Advocacy Center of Lewis County at 360-623-1990.