Charges Dropped Against Two Arrested in Chamber Way Construction Site Investigation

Charges were dropped against two of four people arrested when a search warrant was served on a Chehalis property police say contained numerous stolen vehicles and construction equipment.

Charges were dropped after the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office said detectives didn’t have a warrant to enter a travel trailer on the property, which is where two people were located and arrested.

Inside the trailer, police allegedly found Heather Norton and Joshua Meikle, who were both arrested, methamphetamine and a pump shotgun.

Meikle was charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm — he’s a registered felon, court documents indicate, making him unable to legally own a gun — and possession of a controlled substance — methamphetamine. Norton was charged with possession of a controlled substance — methamphetamine.

The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion in October for charges against Norton and Meikle to be dropped without prejudice. Officers had a search warrant for the property the trailer sat on, the motion reads, but not for the travel trailer itself. The trailer was stolen from a Centralia man, and later found on property in the 1300 block of Northwest River Street in Chehalis.

Investigators never asked the trailer’s owner for permission to enter the trailer at any point during the investigation.

“The original search warrant for the property authorized the search for the 24-foot travel trailer, but did not authorize the search of the trailer,” reads the motion, signed by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brad Meagher.

Police rolled onto the property as part of an investigation into stolen vehicles and construction equipment at an ongoing work site at the Chamber Way bridge over Interstate-5.

Contractors reported a locked area had been broken into and a Kenworth semi truck, a 53-foot alloy flatbed trailer and a Skytrack forklift had been stolen. Also missing was a large supply of lumber, conduit, wire and many power tools, for a total estimated value exceeding $140,000.

Ensuing investigation would lead deputies to the spot in Chehalis where they say they found Meikle, Norton and a slew of other vehicles reported as stolen.

Also arrested was Benjamin P. Hamilton, who is charged with two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle and single counts of second-degree possession of stolen property and harassment — threat to kill — domestic violence. Police say Shayla S. Wayt was on the property as well, and she is charged with theft of a motor vehicle and bail jumping.