LEWIS COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Preliminary appearances
• Jason J. Benka, 42, Rochester, made a preliminary appearance July 20 for one count each of second-degree burglary, first-degree criminal impersonation and third-degree theft after he allegedly stole items from the Centralia Safeway and then gave a false name when speaking to police. According to court documents, Benka was trespassed from the store on April 27. A judge released Benka on a $30,000 unsecured bond and scheduled an arraignment hearing for July 23.
• Jessica F. Smith, 43, Tenino, made a preliminary appearance July 20 for one count each of second-degree burglary, third-degree theft and escape from community custody after she allegedly stole items from the Chehalis Walmart. According to court documents, Smith had previously been trespassed from the store and had an active warrant from the Department of Corrections at the time of her arrest. A judge set bail at $25,000 cash or bond and scheduled an arraignment hearing for July 23.
CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Arrests
• Michael T. Hildesheim, 55, Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for allegedly violating a domestic violence protection order and resisting arrest in the 3000 block of Borst Avenue at about 3:03 p.m. July 20.
• Kevan J. Waterman, 49, Chehalis, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for second-degree theft and use/delivery of drug paraphernalia after he allegedly stole an electric bike, speaker, phone and keys from a victim in the 300 block of Lowe Street. Police responded to the reported theft just before midnight on July 20 and located Waterman nearby. Officers recovered the e-bike, speaker and phone.
• James P. Kain, 44, Elma, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for alleged fourth-degree assault in the 1300 block of Belmont Avenue at about 6:22 a.m. July 21.
Accidents
• A two-vehicle collision with no injuries was reported in the 800 block of B Street at about 2:49 p.m. July 20.
Criminal trespass
• A transient individual was trespassed from private property in the 200 block of East Chestnut Street at about 7:51 p.m. July 21 after allegedly causing a disturbance.
DUI
• Garrett G. Merrick, 25, Battle Ground, was arrested and issued a criminal citation on suspicion of DUI after he allegedly crashed his vehicle into a structure in the 1300 block of Harrison Avenue at about 2:08 p.m. July 20.
Eluding
• John E. Griffiths, 43, Olympia, was referred to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office for charges of attempting to elude a police vehicle, third-degree driving with a suspended license and reckless driving after officers attempted to pull him over near the 100 block of South Tower Avenue at about 12:58 a.m. July 22. According to police, officers learned prior to attempting the stop that Griffiths had an outstanding warrant from Lewis County District Court and was driving on a suspended license. Griffiths allegedly fled in his vehicle, sped by stop signs and drove through downed railroad-crossing arms. According to police, officers lost sight of the vehicle after “maneuvering around the train.”
Fraud
• An unknown suspect accessed a victim’s CashApp account and stole $250. The theft was reported in the 300 block of East Magnolia Street at about 10:11 a.m. July 20. The case is under investigation.
Hit-and-run
• A hit-and-run was reported in the 1600 block of Harrison Avenue at about 4:37 p.m. July 20. The case is under investigation.
• A hit-and-run was reported in the 200 block of North Railroad Avenue at about 8:02 p.m. July 21. No suspect information was known at the time.
Malicious mischief
• The door and locks to a vehicle were reportedly damaged in the 600 block of E Street at about 2:17 p.m. July 20. The case is under investigation.
Possession of controlled substances
• Phillip A. Pinotti, 34, Chehalis, was arrested and issued a criminal citation for alleged possession of a controlled substance and use/delivery of drug paraphernalia after an officer contacted him for allegedly causing a disturbance at Fort Borst Park at about 8:26 p.m. July 20.
Protection order violation
• Fernando E. Mendoza, 41, Centralia, was referred for charges after allegedly violating a no-contact order in the 900 block of E Street at about 4:03 p.m. July 21.
Theft
• A phone was reportedly stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the 300 block of West Pine Street at about 12:38 p.m. July 20.
CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Arrests, citations and referrals
• Keyon T.D. Dickerson, 22, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for alleged assault, robbery, interfering with domestic violence reporting and theft in the 400 block of Southeast Washington Avenue at about 7:12 p.m. July 15.
• Joseph D. Criss, 26, was issued a criminal citation and booked into the Lewis County Jail for alleged indecent exposure with sexual motivation in the 200 block of Southwest Interstate Avenue at about 2:33 a.m. July 17.
• Amy M. Coalwell, 42, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for alleged fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) in the 200 block of Southwest 13th Street at about 6:30 a.m. July 18.
• An 18-year-old was referred to the city prosecutor for charges of minor possession/control of intoxicants near the corner of Southwest William Avenue and Southwest 10th Street at about 11:58 a.m. July 18.
• Laura D. Zuelich, 35, was issued a criminal citation and booked into the Lewis County Jail for allegedly driving under the influence in the 300 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue at about 6:33 p.m. July 18.
• Jessica F. Smith, 43, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for alleged second-degree burglary and escape from community custody, as well as a Department of Corrections felony warrant, in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue at about 9:30 p.m. July 18.
• Johnny R. Cyr, 40, was booked into the Lewis County Jail for alleged second-degree assault (domestic violence) in the 300 block of Southwest Third Street at about 1:05 a.m. July 20.
JAIL STATISTICS
• As of July 22, the Lewis County Jail had a total facility population of 142 inmates, including 129 in the general population and 13 in the Work Ethic and Restitution Center (WERC). Of the general population inmates, 110 were reported male and 19 were reported female. Of the WERC inmates, 11 were reported male and two were reported female.
• As of July 22, the Chehalis Tribal Jail had a total jail population of 23 inmates. Of those, three were from Centralia, one was from Elma, one was from Napavine and 11 were from the Department of Corrections. Additionally, there were three from the Lummi Nation and one each from the Quileute Nation, the Shoalwater Bay Tribe, the Skokomish Tribe and the Chehalis Tribe.
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Sirens are compiled by reporter Jacob Farmer, who can be reached at jfarmer@chronline.com. The Centralia Police Department can be reached at 360-330-7680, the Chehalis Police Department can be reached at 360-748-8605. If you were a victim of physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence or sexual assault, call Hope Alliance at 360-748-6601 or the Youth Advocacy Center of Lewis County at 360-623-1990.
