Four people have been arrested as an investigation continues into the theft of more than $140,000 worth of vehicles and construction equipment from Chehalis’ Chamber of Commerce Way overpass construction worksite this week.
Chehalis police officers tracked the property, where they also found a number of other vehicles stolen from throughout Western Washington, and arrested Benjamin P. Hamilton, 35, of Chehalis on suspicion of first-degree possession of stolen property, second-degree possession of stolen property and three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle; Joshua C. Meikle, 31, of Longview on suspicion of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance; Shayla S. Wayt, 28, of Chehalis, on suspicion of first-degree possession of stolen property, second-degree possession of stolen property and three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle; andHeather V. Norton, 26, of Ethel, on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance.
They appeared in custody in Lewis County Superior Court Thursday afternoon for preliminary hearings, where Judge James Lawler placed each on bonds of varying severity.
Hamilton was placed on a $10,000 cash bond; Meikle was placed on a $50,000 cash bond, with Lawler saying the involvement of a firearm caused him concern; Norton was placed on a $5,000 unsecured bond, meaning she’ll be free unless she fails to appear for future hearings; and Wayt was also placed on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
They each have arraignment hearings scheduled for Aug. 23.
According to a press release from the Chehalis Police Department, at 7:30 a.m. Monday, officers were called to the Chamber Way bridge construction site after receiving a report of stolen items from the project’s contractor, Quigg Bros. Inc.
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.
Later that morning, deputies from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office located the Kenworth truck near Winlock while investigating a suspicious vehicle.
A witness reported seeing a man on a motorcycle in the area where the semi was found, and provided investigators with the motorcycle’s license plate number, according to court documents. The number returned to Meikle, who, a probable cause affidavit states, has been suspected in other theft cases.
City of Chehalis employees found the forklift at noon the next day, according to the press release. It was on an access road to a Chehalis wastewater treatment property near the Chehalis airport.
“The lock on the gate to this road had been cut, and then put back in place once the forklift was parked,” the press release states. Court documents provide further detail, saying the forklift was used to unload stolen property off the semi, authorities believe.
There were only a few houses in the area, documents note, and one of them, located in the 1000 block of Northwest River Street had a motorcycle in the driveway with the same plate number given to investigators by the witness. The property’s owner spoke with police, and has not been charged in the case.
Detectives got a search warrant for the property, and, with help from the Centralia Police Department, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the Joint Narcotic Enforcement Team and Washington State Patrol, police located other allegedly stolen vehicles on the property.
That included a camper trailer from Centralia, a truck stolen from Fort Lewis, a truck from U-Haul with all its decals removed, a flatbed trailer from Lakewood, a stolen military flatbed trailer and a truck engine stolen from Chehalis.
Also found were items identified by Quigg Bros. employees as the items taken from their construction site.
Hamilton advised he and Wayt reside on the property. Police allege they also found Meikle and Norton living in a travel trailer on the property. Inside the trailer, they found “a small amount of white crystal substance” in Norton’s purse that was identified as meth. They also found a pump-action shotgun.
“There is still considerable investigation occurring with this case between the various agencies,” states the press release.
The four suspects were arrested on the property during the execution of the search warrant.
