CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Drug violation
• A 58-year-old Winlock man and a 39-year-old Castle Rock woman were cited for possession of fentanyl in the 2000 block of Borst Avenue just after 2:40 p.m. on March 12.
Theft
• Clothing was reported stolen from the 500 block of North Tower Avenue at 5:15 p.m. on March 12. The case is under investigation.
• A vehicle theft was reported in the 2000 block of Borst Avenue just before 8:05 p.m. on March 12. The suspects reportedly took the victim’s keys from an area where they were left unattended. The victim’s wallet, which was left inside of the vehicle, was stolen and the suspects used the victim’s credit cards at several stores. The vehicle was recovered but the suspects are still outstanding, according to the Centralia Police Department. This case is under investigation.
• A firearm was reported stolen from a residence in the 700 block of South Silver Street just before 9 p.m. on March 13. “Limited details were provided or known about when, by whom, or how the firearm was stolen,” the Centralia Police Department stated in a news release.
Reckless endangerment
• Kaylynn R. Allen, 35, of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for DUI and two counts of reckless endangerment at 5:40 p.m. on March 12 after she allegedly drove a vehicle in the 1700 block of South Gold Street with two children as passengers while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Charges have been filed in Centralia Municipal Court.
Hit-and-run
• A hit-and-run reported in the 1000 block of Belmont Avenue just before 8:05 p.m. on March 12 is under investigation.
• A 34-year-old Centralia man was cited for a hit-and-run in the 2500 block of Borst Avenue just before midnight on March 13 after he crashed into a utility pole and fled the scene.
Vehicle accident
• A vehicle crashed into a power pole in the 1000 block of South Gold Street just after 12:20 p.m. on March 12. Centralia City Light responded to fix the pole. Injuries were reported.
Sexual misconduct
• A juvenile was arrested in the 300 block of Lowe Street just after 9:50 a.m. on March 13 following an investigation into a sexual assault.
Scam
• At approximately 2:10 p.m. on March 13, a citizen in the 1900 block of Harrison Avenue reported a scam call from someone claiming to be with Publisher’s Clearing House. They instructed the individual to pay them with a $1,000 Walmart gift card, but to refrain from telling any Walmart employees to whom they were sending money. The individual went to Walmart, but did not purchase the gift card or pay the $1,000, according to the Centralia Police Department.
CHEHALIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Suspicious circumstances
• Someone reported hearing people scream “help me” in the 300 block of Southwest Third Street just after 8:45 a.m. on March 11.
• A woman reported a man was following her and her children in the 200 block of Southwest 11th Street just after 10:55 a.m. on March 11. The man told police “he wasn’t following them, they just happened to be in front of him,” according to the Chehalis Police Department.
• A man was reportedly pushing a wheelbarrow at the intersection of North National Avenue and Northwest Chamber of Commerce Way just before 7:15 a.m. on March 12.
• Just before 3:40 p.m. on March 12, a supervisor at a facility in the 500 block of Southeast Washington Avenue reported that a client gave them a written statement saying “that he had irritated area gang members and they are planning to have someone shoot him in the morning when he leaves.”
• A woman in distress at the intersection of Northwest West Street and Northwest State Avenue asked officers for help getting home just after 5:10 p.m. on March 13.
• A man reportedly said “he was going to kill ‘Satan’” in the 10 block of Southwest Chehalis Avenue just after 5:55 p.m. on March 13.
Green Hill School
• Contraband was reported at Green Hill School in the 300 block of Southwest 11th Street just before 10:40 a.m. on March 11.
• Contraband was reported at Green Hill School in the 300 block of Southwest 11th Street before 10:45 a.m. on March 11.
Criminal trespass
• A subject was cited for trespassing in the 800 block of West Main street just before 1:20 p.m. on March 11.
• Guests reportedly refused to leave lodgings in the 100 block of Southwest Interstate Avenue at 12:15 p.m. on March 12.
Disputes
• A verbal dispute was reported in the 700 block of Southwest Cascade Avenue just before 10:40 p.m. on March 11.
• A verbal dispute was reported in the 1500 block Northwest Louisiana Avenue at 11:15 a.m. on March 12.
• A physical dispute between teenage girls was reported in the 1500 block of North National Avenue just before 3:50 p.m. on March 12.
• A verbal dispute was reported in the 1000 block of Northwest Prindle Street just before 8:50 a.m. on March 13.
• A verbal dispute was reported in the 100 block of Southeast Interstate Avenue at 2:50 p.m. on March 13.
• A possible physical dispute was reported in the 300 block of Southeast Third Street just after 3:10 a.m. on March 14.
Fraud
• A scam reported in the 300 block of Southwest 14th Street just after 9:50 a.m. on March 12 is under investigation.
• Possible fraud was reported in the 10 block of Southwest Fourth Street at 3:20 p.m. on March 12.
Assault
• Just before 10:35 a.m. on March 12, a facility in the 500 block of Southeast Washington Avenue reported that a client spat in another client’s face about 30 minutes prior.
• At approximately 1:35 p.m. on March 13, student at W.F. West High School in the 300 block of Southwest 16th Street reported that another student choked them the day prior. The incident has been reported to the school.
Disorderly conduct
• A homeless woman was reportedly throwing trash in the 400 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue at approximately 6:20 p.m. on March 12.
Theft
• Randal Earl Parker Jr., 30, of Elma, was arrested for allegedly stealing $781 in merchandise from the Walmart in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue at approximately 8:55 p.m. on March 12. He was charged March 13 in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of second-degree organized retail theft and was released on $5,000 unsecured bail. Arraignment is scheduled for March 20.
• A subject was cited for shoplifting in the 1600 block of Northwest Louisiana Avenue just before 5 p.m. on March 13.
• A possible prescription medication theft was reported in the 100 block of Southwest William Avenue just before 5:35 p.m. on March 13.
Hit-and-run
• A hit-and-run reported at the intersection of Northwest Louisiana Avenue just after 9 p.m. on March 13 is under investigation.
LEWIS COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
This is a non-comprehensive list of notable developments with Lewis County Superior Court cases The Chronicle has previously reported on. The public can access Superior Court records via the Odyssey portal at the Lewis County Clerk’s Office in Chehalis during business hours. To find previous news coverage about the following cases, click on names of the defendants.
New trial after appeal
• Sheldon Linn Holland, 60, of Vancouver, was released on his own personal recognizance on March 13 after he was picked up on a bench warrant for failure to appear for a trial setting hearing on Jan. 17, 2024. Holland was convicted by a jury on Jan. 11, 2023, for one count of second-degree theft and was sentenced March 1, 2023, to 16 months in prison with credit for 124 days served. He appealed the conviction, with the Court of Appeals ruling Dec. 18, 2023, to vacate Holland’s conviction and have a new trial due to an error that occurred during his first trial. Specifically, the trial court did not instruct the jury on the possibility of finding him guilty on lesser-degree charges, according to the ruling. A hearing to set a new trial date is scheduled for March 20.
Chargings
• Traci McBride, 37, of Taholah, posted $15,000 bail and was released from the Lewis County Jail on March 13 after she was arrested on a warrant issued Dec. 18, 2024, for one count each of second-degree identity theft, third-degree theft, escape from community custody and possession of a controlled substance. She is accused of shoplifting from the Nike Clearance Store at the Centralia Outlets in the 100 block of West High Street and giving an officer false information about her identity on Sept. 17, 2024. Arraignment is scheduled for March 20.
Quash warrant
• Jason Wayne Merly, 52, of Olympia, appeared in Lewis County Superior Court on March 13 to quash his bench warrant and have his preliminary hearing for a second-degree assault charge. Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, March 20.
Sentencings
• Cody Alan Andreson, 37, of Randle, entered an Alford plea to one count of fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, on March 12 and was sentenced to 364 days in jail with 352 days suspended and credit for 12 days served. An Alford plea allows a defendant to take advantage of a plea deal without admitting guilt. He was also ordered to undergo a domestic violence evaluation within 60 days and complete all recommended treatment. A no-contact order protecting the victim, with the exception for communication about their children, is in place.
• Joseph A. Odden, 20, pleaded guilty March 12 to one count of possession of a controlled substance by a prisoner and was sentenced to three months in prison. His other possession of a controlled substance by a prisoner case was dismissed.
• Damion V. Wilson, 24, of Centralia, pleaded guilty March 12 to one count of first-degree criminal trespass. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail with 274 days suspended and credit for 42 days served, leaving him with 48 days left to serve. He is also ordered to surrender all knives and machetes in his possession to the City of Centralia.
• Earl Lance Rahn IV, 20, of Centralia, pleaded guilty March 12 to one count of fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, and was sentenced to 364 days in jail with 362 days suspended and credit for two days served. A no-contact order protecting the victim is in place.
Guilty plea
• Bailey Dorning, 26, of Winlock, entered Alford pleas to one count each of third-degree rape of a child and violation of the legend drug act on March 12. An Alford plea allows a defendant to take advantage of a plea deal without admitting guilt. Sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on April 9.
FIRE AND EMS CALLS
• Between Wednesday morning and Friday morning, Lewis County 911 Communications logged approximately 50 illness-related calls, four injury-related calls, eight fire-related calls, six vehicle accidents, one non-emergency service call, one overdose, one Lifeline medical alert, one animal-related call, one burglary alarm, one public assist request, one overdose and one other call.
JAIL STATISTICS
• As of Friday morning, the Lewis County Jail had a total system population of 132 inmates, including 121 in the general population and 11 in the Work Ethic and Restitution Center (WERC). Of general population inmates, 94 were reported male and 27 were reported female. Of the WERC inmates, nine were reported male and two were reported female.
• As of Friday morning, the Chehalis Tribal Jail had a total system population of 15 inmates, including four booked by the Centralia Police Department, three booked by the state Department of Corrections, one booked by the Tulalip Tribe, one booked by the Skokomish Tribe, two booked by the La Push Quileute Nation, one booked by the Lummi Nation and two booked by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
