News Releases
Lewis County Jail Inmate Commits Suicide - Posted at: 8/26/2010 10:39:08 AM
A 40 year old male inmate, originally from Morton, was pronounced dead last night by apparent self-strangulation in his cell at the Lewis County Jail.
Medical personnel were summoned by jail staff after they discovered the inmate had apparently strangled himself using bedding in his cell. The inmate was pronounced dead at the scene. The inmate was isolated in a high security cell by himself. Suicide notes were located within his cell.
The inmate was booked on August 24th for Rape of Child 2nd degree for having repeated sexual contact with a minor female over recent years.
Corrections officers indicated there had been no indication of suicidal behavior from the inmate.
An autopsy will be conducted.
Person of Interest Sought in Salkum Shooting - Posted at: 8/26/2010 10:33:42 AM
UPDATE - On 08-26-10, at approximately 6:35 p.m., Russell was arrested in Tumwater by Jail Sucks Bail Bond Company. Jail Sucks previously posted Russell's bail for the last court case he was involved in.
Robert “Robbie” Shawn Russell, 46, of Centralia, is being sought by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office as a person of interest in the Salkum Shooting and for an outstanding no bail warrant for violation of conditions of release from a previous court case.
Russell is a white male, 6’0”,190 lbs, brown hair and brown eyes. He is currently growing a mustache. He may be bald at this time. He has been known to wear wigs and alter his appearance to disguise his identity.
Anyone with information on Russell’s whereabouts are asked to call 911 or Lewis County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-748-6422. Tips may also be reported online at http://tips.lewiscountywa.gov.
Also, sometime within the next week, John Booth Jr. will be transported to the Lewis County Jail from Spokane.
Arrest Made in Salkum Shooting - Posted at: 8/26/2010 8:14:50 AM
Arrest Made in Salkum Shooting
On August 25, 2010, at approximately 6:25 p.m., members of the Eastern Washington Fugitive Task Force from Spokane arrested John Allen Booth Jr. at a residence in the 1900 block of Gordon St. in Spokane.
Booth was arrested without incident and was transported to the Spokane County Jail. Sheriff Steve Mansfield said, “It’s been our goal all along to take Mr. Booth into custody without anybody else getting hurt and that is exactly what occurred. It has been an incredible effort from local, state and federal agencies in gathering, tracking and acting on information which has led to his arrest."
Warrant Issued for Shooting Suspect #4 - Posted at: 8/23/2010 4:51:37 PM
UPDATE - Booth was arrested in Spokane on 08-25-10, at approximately 6:25 p.m.
A warrant from Lewis County Superior Court has been issued for John Allen Booth Jr. in connection with the shooting in Salkum. The bail amount on the warrant was set at ten million dollars. The warrant was based off of probable cause developed by Lewis County Sheriff’s detectives. Booth’s location is still unknown and he is considered armed and dangerous. I have attached updated photos to this news release. He is still believed to be driving a turquoise in color 1995 Saturn Coupe, WA license #319-UEB.
The fifty-one year old survivor of the shooting is still in a secure facility and is listed in stable condition. An additional person of interest has been arrested by DOC for a probation violation and is currently in custody at the Lewis County Jail.
I anticipate the next news release will be distributed by 4:00 p.m. Monday, August 24th unless developments dictate otherwise.
See below two pictures of suspect John Allen Booth Jr.
Identities of Shooting Victims Released #3 - Posted at: 8/23/2010 8:41:42 AM
Identities of Shooting Victims Released
The Lewis County Coroner’s Office has released the names of the victims killed in yesterdays slaying, autopsies have been scheduled for Monday, August 23rd.
Victim #1 – David J. West Sr., 52 years of age, Salkum
Victim #2 – David J. West Jr., 16 years of age, Salkum
Victim #3 – Tony E. Williams, 50 years of age, Mineral
David West Jr. is the son of David West Sr.
We have received information John Booth may be driving a turquoise in color 1995 Saturn Coupe, WA license number 319-UEB.
My office continues to work around the clock investigating and processing dozens of leads. We are being assisted by multiple agencies across the state as we continue to try and locate a take into custody John Booth Jr. I want to remind everyone Booth is armed and considered extremely dangerous.
I anticipate the next news release will be distributed by 4:00 p.m. Monday, August 23rd unless developments dictate otherwise.
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Update on Salkum Shooting #2 - Posted at: 8/23/2010 8:39:29 AM
Update on Salkum Shooting
On August 21, 2010, at approximately 3:00 p.m., the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office received information that John Booth made a phone call to a friend in the Lewis County area approximately three hours earlier. The cell phone provider was contacted and, after a triangulation of the cell signal, it was determined the phone call was made from the Spokane area.
Spokane law enforcement officials have been notified and are assisting the Sheriff’s Office with running down this latest lead.
“We are continuing to process the scene and investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. We anticipate completing the processing of the crime scene in the next eight hours,” said Sheriff Steve Mansfield.
Mr. Booth is still considered armed and extremely dangerous. Our next news release is anticipated to be tomorrow afternoon.
Three Killed in Salkum Shooting - Posted at: 8/23/2010 8:35:08 AM
Three Killed in Salkum Shooting
On August 21, 2010, at approximately 2:00 a.m., deputies from my office responded to the 100 block of Wings Way in Salkum to investigate a report of shots being fired inside a residence.
Upon arrival at 2:24 a.m. deputies found three people deceased inside of the residence and a fourth person critically injured. Personnel from Fire Dist. 8 responded and transported the injured person to the Salkum Fire Department. From there the victim was airlifted by Life Flight to a secure, undisclosed, location where they are listed in critical condition.
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detectives, with assistance from the Washington State Patrol, are processing the crime scene.
Detectives are currently looking for John Allen Booth Jr., 31 years of age, from Onalaska. Booth may be driving a blue or teal in color 1988 Dodge Diplomat, 4 door, WA license number 550-YFA. Booth is considered armed and extremely dangerous. Anyone with information is urged to contact 911 immediately. Crime Stoppers of Lewis County is offering a $1000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case.
As new information becomes available we will update this release.
See picture of suspect John Allen Booth Jr. below.
Identity of Body Found Near Morton Released - Posted at: 8/23/2010 8:33:00 AM
Identity of the Body Found Near Morton Released
The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab has released, to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office, the DNA results of the body found outside of Morton on July 20th. The body has been identified as 16 year old Austin King, a resident of Morton. A cause of death has still not been determined.
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detectives are still working several leads into the case and the death is being investigated as suspicious.
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Update on Body Found Near Morton
An autopsy was conducted yesterday on the body found outside of Morton.
The body was then sent to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office for further tests. It was concluded DNA testing will have to be done to determine the identity of the body. A high priority has been given to determining the identity but it is not expected to be completed for at least another week.
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Update on Body Found Near Morton
An autopsy has been scheduled for the body found off of a logging road outside of Morton yesterday. The autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday morning, July 22nd. Afterwards the body will be transported to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office where additional tests will be conducted by a forensic anthropologist. Detectives from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office are continuing their investigation and additional press releases will follow as more information is developed.
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Body Found Near Morton
At approximately 2:00 p.m. on July 20th the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office was notified a male body had been found near a logging road outside of Morton. The body had been located by searchers looking for Austin King who had been reported missing from his home on June 23rd. Currently detectives are processing the scene and coordinating with the Lewis County Coroner’s Office to remove the body. An identity has not been established. Additional press releases will follow as more information is developed.
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Update on Body Found at Riffe Lake - Posted at: 7/30/2010 8:08:00 AM
Detectives processing the scene where a body was discovered Wednesday located identification in a backpack next to the body belonging to a 49 year old Colorado man. Positive identification has not been made but detectives learned the identification card found belonged to a man wanted for murder from Denver, Colorado.
The wanted man had a connection to Lewis County after his vehicle was found near Blue Lake Campground, outside of Randle, on April 26, 2010. At the time, the vehicle was impounded but the suspect was not located.
According to Denver officials, the man was wanted in connection with the murder of his girlfriend, which occurred in March of 2010. Detectives are working with the Lewis County Coroner to determine cause of death and to make a positive identification.
Body Found on Riffe Lake - Posted at: 7/29/2010 11:16:34 AM
On July 28, 2010, at approximately 6:00 p.m., the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a recreational boater had found a body on Riffe Lake. Deputies responded to the scene and discovered the badly decomposed human remains. At this time, it is unknown if the body is that of a male or female but it is believed to be an adult. Detectives are on location and processing the scene. Further information will be released as it becomes available.
Boating Safety Education Class Offered - Posted at: 7/28/2010 8:35:50 AM
Mandatory Boating Safety Education Class Offered in Lewis County
Mandatory Boating Safety Education became a reality for Washington Boaters starting January of 2008. Boaters under the age of 26 years old are now required to possess a valid boating safety card when operating a vessel with a motor of 15 horsepower or greater.
Deputies from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a Safety Education class on Saturday, August 7th. The class will be offered from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Training Room located on the first floor of the Law and Justice Center, 345 West Main Street, Chehalis. The class is limited to the first 25 people to register. There is no fee for the course. To register call Lisa Arthur at (360) 740-2713. The class will be cancelled if there are less than five people signed up the week prior to the class.
While it is recommended boaters attend the formal class, vessel operators do have the option to take the safety education class online. The test can be accessed at http://www.boat-ed.com/wa/index.htm. Additional information on the program can be accessed on the Washington State Parks website.
Following is the schedule for when Boating Safety Education cards are required:
January 1, 2008 - All boat operators 12 to 20 years old;
January 1, 2009 - All boat operators 25 years and under;
January 1, 2010 - All boat operators 30 years and under;
January 1, 2011 - All boat operators 35 years and under;
January 1, 2012 - All boat operators 40 years and under;
January 1, 2013 - All boat operators 50 years and under;
January 1, 2014 - All boat operators 60 years and under;
January 1, 2015 - All boat operators 70 years and under;
January 1, 2016 - All boat operators over 12 years will be required to have a card.
Another issue at hand this year is that Department of Licensing (DOL) started sending out renewal notices by email only. It will be the vessel owners’ responsibility to ensure their boat is licensed; otherwise they could face an infraction or be forced to obtain a current license registration before putting the boat into the water.
Missing Person - Posted at: 6/16/2010 5:05:03 PM
MISSING PERSON - KAYLA MAE CROFT-PAYNE
WHITE FEMALE, 18-YEARS OF AGE,
5’6”, 105 LBS., BLUE EYES
LAST KNOWN ADDRESS IN CHEHALIS, WA
Kayla Mae Croft-Payne was reported missing to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office on May 5, 2010. She was reported by a friend who had not seen or heard from her for several days. She has been known to frequent several locations in Lewis, Grays and Pierce Counties. Ms. Croft-Payne has not accessed her MySpace account since April 28th.
Anyone with information on Croft-Payne’s whereabouts is urged to contact Detective Jamey McGinty at the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at (360) 748-9286. Please reference LCSO Case #10C4830.
Information may be left anonymously on the following websites:
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line
http://tips.lewiscountywa.gov/
-OR-
Crime Stoppers of Lewis County http://www.lewiscountycrimestoppers.org/
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Sheriff Mansfield E-Newsletter June 2010 - Posted at: 6/16/2010 4:33:49 PM
County Wide Warrant Sweep - Posted at: 5/21/2010 9:54:03 AM
On Thursday, May 20, 2010, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office along with representatives from the Washington State Patrol, Centralia Police Department, Mossyrock Police Department, Chehalis Police Department, Vader Police Department and the Pe Ell Police Department conducted a county wide warrant sweep. The focus of the emphasis was on outstanding Lewis County and city municipal DUI, domestic violence, drug and assault warrants.
Results of the emphasis are as follows:
Total warrant attempts: 140
Felony warrants arrests: 3
Misdemeanor warrants arrests: 23
Felony drug arrests: 1
Misdemeanor drug arrests: 2
Infractions issued: 1
Other miscellaneous arrests: 4
“The success of this warrant emphasis was directly attributed to having strong community partnerships, coordination of law enforcement resources, a media support network and an endorsement from Crime Stoppers of Lewis County. These types of warrant sweeps and public campaigns to locate people with outstanding warrants will continue on an ongoing basis. My message for the people who have obligations with the criminal justice system in Lewis County is clear; you need to be responsible and take care of your obligations. If you do not we will eventually find you,” said Sheriff Steve Mansfield.
DUI Traffic Safety Task Force Banquet - Posted at: 5/21/2010 9:50:38 AM
The 2010 DUI Traffic Safety Banquet was held on Saturday evening, May 8, 2010, at Centralia College. It was a great turnout and some outstanding work from our local law enforcement was recognized for DUI and traffic safety education and enforcement. The DUI Traffic Safety Task Force Coordinator, Melody Nelson, did a phenomenal job in organizing and coordinating the event. Officers from Winlock, Vader, Morton, Toledo, Chehalis, Centralia, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol participated in the awards banquet
The keynote speaker, Eric Munson, gave a powerful and sobering presentation on the tragic death of his daughter, Heidi Munson, who was killed in a car crash on April 9, 2004. The vehicle that Heidi was riding in was involved in a horrific crash, where she and a 13 year old boy were killed. It was later determined that the driver of the vehicle was high on alcohol, methamphetamines, and marijuana at the time of the crash. He was driving with a suspended license and had no insurance. Mr. Munson talked about the unfortunate fallout of these tragedies and the devastating affect upon the families, friends, and communities of the people involved.
The awards were presented by Sheriff Mansfield, who noted each officer’s contributions and spoke briefly of their accomplishments and work history in 2009.
The first award was presented to the officers who had achieved outstanding performance in removing impaired drivers from the road in 2009. The DUI Officer of the Year Award went to Deputy Matt Schlecht of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and Trooper Michael Anderson of the Washington State Patrol. Nominees for the DUI award included Sergeant Stacy Denham of the Centralia Police Department and Deputy Jeremy Almond of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
The second award was presented to the officer who showed outstanding commitment to a full range of law enforcement activities and public education in 2009. The Traffic Safety Officer of the Year Award went to Trooper Nathan Hovinghoff of the Washington State Patrol. Nominees for the award included Sergeant Stacy Denham of the Centralia Police Department, Deputy Jeremy Almond and Sergeant Rob Snaza of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, and Trooper Josh Valek of the Washington State Patrol.
Sheriff Mansfield closed by speaking to the positive difference that the ongoing law enforcement efforts have made in our community, referring back to what it was like in the 80’s and 90’s and the new level of awareness for impaired driving and traffic safety and educational efforts.
Pictured from left to right are Lewis County Sheriff Steve Mansfield, WSP Trooper Nathan Hovinghoff, LCSO Deputy Matt Schlecht, WSP Trooper Jason Hicks, WSP Trooper Michael Anderson, LCSO Deputy Jeremy Almond, LCSO Sergeant Rob Snaza and Centralia PD Sergeant Stacy Denham.
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Sheriff Mansfield E-Newsletter - Posted at: 5/14/2010 4:57:34 PM
Man Shot & Killed by Homeowner in Onalaska - Posted at: 4/21/2010 8:38:05 AM
56 Year Old Man Shot and Killed by Homeowner in Onalaska
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded at approximately 2146 hours on April 19, 2010, to the 2100 block of State Route 508 in Onalaska in reference to shots fired. When deputies arrived, they learned that a 59 year old homeowner shot and killed a 56 year old man from Morton.
Detectives learned that the homeowner reported a burglary to his house, which has been under construction for several years, earlier in the evening. The homeowner decided to stay overnight at the house in case the suspects came back to steal anything more.
The homeowner told detectives he heard a noise and opened the outer garage door to see flashlights shining in his eyes. The homeowner fired his weapon striking the male, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A female, 31, of Morton, who was with the deceased male, fled the scene but later spoke with detectives.
The case is under investigation and it is unknown whether the two at the scene were responsible for the earlier burglary or why they were on the property at such a late hour.
Washington State Patrol Crime Lab Response Team will be assisting the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office with processing of the scene. Detectives will return to the scene during daylight hours to continue their investigation.
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Federal Way Man Dies After Assault in Randle - Posted at: 3/15/2010 8:22:29 AM
A 58 year old Federal Way man died from injuries sustained during an assault in the 11,000 block of US Highway 12, Randle.
The assault occurred during the evening hours Saturday night, March 13th. The victim was assaulted by a family member, Erik Robert Massa, 42, of Randle.
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were made aware of the assault after they received a call from Morton General Hospital advising there was an assault victim at the hospital.
The victim apparently left the hospital and was driven by private vehicle to a hospital in the Federal Way area. Deputies received a phone call from Federal Way Police Department in the early morning hours on Sunday advising that the victim was now deceased at a Federal Way hospital.
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detectives spent all day Sunday at the scene conducting an investigation. The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab Response Team assisted.
An autopsy is being conducted on the victim this morning at the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Massa was booked into the Lewis County Jail for Murder 2nd late Sunday afternoon.
Identity of Skeletal Remains Not Confirmed - Posted at: 2/23/2010 9:35:19 AM
Identity of Skeletal Remains Not Confirmed - Released 02/23/10 @ 0830 Hours
Positive identification of the skeletal remains found in Lewis County last week has not been made at this time. The Sheriff’s Office is currently working with the Lewis County Coroner’s office to identify the human remains utilizing a forensic anthropologist.
Detectives located physical evidence at the scene leading them to believe they may know the identity of the deceased; however, further investigation is needed to confirm the identity.
The remains belong to an adult male. There does not appear to be foul play at this time.
Further release(s) will be forthcoming once the body is identified.
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Skeletal Remains Found in Toledo - Released 02/19/10 @ 0805 Hours
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detectives responded to the 100 block of Cougar Lane in Toledo yesterday at approximately 1530 hours after receiving information that a child playing on the property located human remains.
Detectives are on scene this morning conducting a thorough search of the area.
Further news release(s) will be sent out as additional information becomes known.
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Deputies Assaulted During Arrest - Posted at: 1/7/2010 9:12:26 AM
On Wednesday afternoon, January 6, 2010, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence in the Onalaska area to investigate a domestic dispute. One of the participants in the dispute, Luke Hall, 26, of Onalaska, was wanted for arrest on a DOC warrant in connection to a stolen vehicle which occurred on Tuesday. Hall fled the residence prior to the deputies arriving.
While the deputies were investigating, the 911 dispatch center received a call from a citizen who reported a suspicious person at his house asking for directions. The description of the suspicious person matched that of Luke Hall.
A deputy arrived in the area of Kruger Road and spotted Hall. The deputy attempted to arrest Hall. A Taser application was applied but failed. Hall was able to escape apprehension and fled into the woods. At approximately 3:29 p.m., the LCSO K9 arrived and two deputies started a track for Hall.
The K9 track located Hall, who had his pit bull dog hiding in the brush. Hall was only wearing his underwear and socks. He had apparently stripped off his pants and shirt somewhere between the road where the initial contact occurred and the wooded area where he was found by the K9. The pit bull charged at the deputy, who discharged one round from his sidearm into the ground to scare the dog. The dog immediately disengaged and ran off.
Hall then tried to flee again. Another Taser application was made, however it did not have a disabling effect on Hall. The deputy tackled Hall, at which time the second deputy arrived and joined in trying to subdue the suspect.
The suspect struck and kicked both deputies several times. The deputies attempted several more direct Taser applications, none of which disabled Hall. One of the deputies finally deployed his baton and was able to subdue Hall.
Hall was transported by an aid car to Providence Hospital for evaluation. Deputies sustained minor injuries to the head and legs as a result of the contact with Hall.
Hall was later released from the hospital and booked into the Lewis County Jail at approximately 9:55 PM for resisting arrest, assault on a police officer and for his outstanding DOC warrant.
“This is another example of the volatile situations we face on a regular basis. In this instance, the multiple applications of the Taser had no effect on the violent suspect, which forced the deputies to resort to a higher level of force to subdue Hall. These situations can turn deadly in an instant for a variety of reasons. My deputies did an outstanding job in their response and arrest of Hall,” said Sheriff Steve Mansfield.
Sheriff's E-Newsletter November 2009 - Posted at: 11/20/2009 4:11:13 PM
Sheriff Mansfield E-Newsletter - Posted at: 6/19/2009 2:21:51 PM
To view Sheriff Mansfield's June e-newsletter, click here.