Three People Arrested for Robbery in Centralia That Injured Woman

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Three Lewis County residents were arrested and charged with a class A felony for allegedly robbing a woman of her backpack while one suspect repeatedly punched her in the face.

Adam P. Chapman, 33, Tiffany C. Schwartzengraber, 21, and Joseph D. Whitney-House, 18, all transients, were each charged Tuesday with first-degree robbery. All three appeared in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon for a preliminary hearing.

According to the Centralia Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of Mellen Street at 8:19 p.m. Monday. Court documents further specify an officer was sent to the Chevron Station in that block, where he met with a woman who had visible injuries to her face, and claimed her backpack had been stolen by four individuals.

Surveillance footage from inside the convenience store showed the victim enter earlier in the night with two of the suspects. The victim said Chapman and Schwartzengraber introduced themselves to her inside the store. The victim said she went across the street to buy the two some food, and then returned to the Chevron station.

They all walked around to a fenced-off area behind the store. Court documents don’t specify when, but at some point Whitney-House allegedly joined the group. He would later tell an officer that he was there to prevent Chapman from following through with the robbery, indicating that the scheme was Chapman’s idea. Police said they found the victim’s phone and Bluetooth speaker on Whitney-House’s person.

The victim said she was warned by the others that “a girl named ‘Tosha’ … is going to beat her up and take her backpack.’” The victim said that both Whitney-House and Schwartzengraber both demanded the backpack. She refused and a fourth female emerged from behind the fence and started punching the victim in the face while the other three allegedly started forcing the backpack away from her.

Between surveillance footage and descriptions provided by the victim, three suspects were rounded up. A full name was provided for the woman dubbed “Tosha” who repeatedly punched the victim, however no charges had been filed in this case as of Wednesday morning for a person with that name.

Sgt. Buddy Croy told the Chronicle that the victim was hospitalized, but wasn’t able to advise at the time the extent of her injuries.

The three suspects appeared in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon, in custody, with Judge James Lawler presiding, and granted bail in varying amounts amounts.

Chapman was placed on a $75,000 cash bond for his alleged involvement. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brad Meagher said Chapman was out on release for another pending robbery case.

Whitney-House was also put on a $75,000 cash bond. Meagher said Whitney-House has a history of convictions as a juvenile, including a drug-related case and identity theft.

Schwartzengraber received the lightest bond — $50,000 cash. Meagher requested the amount to Lawler, saying that Schwartzengraber, unlike her alleged cohorts, has no criminal history.

All three have arraignment hearings scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday.