Sheriff's Report, March 3, 2022

Wahkiakum County law enforcement officers and emergency response personnel handled a variety of reports during the past week, including:

February 19 — 7:35 p.m. A caller complained about a large fire, and said that someone burning garbage at a Puget Island property was an ongoing problem. Deputies and the Puget Island Fire Department responded. 10:53 p.m. A structure fire was reported on Puget Island. The Puget Island Fire Department, the Cathlamet Fire Department, the Cathlamet ambulance and deputies responded.

February 20 — 12:01 a.m. The Grays River ambulance provided a lift assist to a Grays River resident. 9:46 a.m. A caller reported multiple deceased cows in a Puget Island field. The caller said the animals were starving and provided information about who was supposed to be caring for them. 2:42 p.m. A caller reported that a pickup near the intersection of SR 4 and Main Street in Cathlamet was on fire. A deputy and the Cathlamet Fire Department responded. A deputy said it was caused by spark plugs. 2:50 p.m. An alarm was activated at a church in Deep Valley. A deputy responded, but was called off after a responsible party said it was a false alarm. State patrol went to the scene. 7:24 p.m. A caller said that a man was coming into a Rosedale store every day to ask customers for money. He said the man would not stop despite being asked to do so. A deputy responded, but the person had left the store.

February 21 — 11:41 a.m. A Rosedale resident asked to speak to a deputy about an item that had been taken. A deputy was able to secure the item and return it to the person. 11:48 a.m. A welfare check was requested for a Cathlamet resident. A deputy responded and determined that the person was okay. 3:14 p.m. A Cathlamet resident asked to talk to a deputy about a landlord who wanted a heat lamp placed under her mobile home. She was afraid it would start a fire. She was advised that it was a civil issue and that she should speak to a lawyer.

February 22 — 11:56 a.m. A caller observed a man on a bicycle with a backpack and bed roll watching her as she left an Elochoman property. She said he had headed toward the barn when she left. A deputy responded and spoke with the individual. He said he was headed to a friend’s home. No law enforcement action was taken at that time. 12:18 p.m. A caller from a Rosedale business reported that a juvenile had stolen a beverage. 3:49 p.m. A person staying at a friend’s property in Skamokawa said he had come home to find no trespassing signs posted. He said he had permission to be there and wasn’t looking for a confrontation. A deputy spoke with the man and attempted to contact the property owner. 3:55 p.m. A mental health crisis team requested deputies for a possibly violent and intoxicated person who was expected to arrive at their office. At 4:17 p.m., the caller canceled the request. 4:23 p.m. A caller reported that someone was lying in the middle of Elochoman Valley Road, blocking traffic. A deputy responded and the individual was transported to his residence. 4:43 p.m. A medical alarm was activated at a Rosedale address. Attempts to contact the individual were unsuccessful, but the alarm company was able to make contact and determine it was an accidental activation. The Cathlamet ambulance was told to stand down. 6:17 p.m. A caller in Cathlamet complained that someone in the vicinity was burning garbage, and that it was an ongoing issue. 7:04 p.m. A caller reported an erratic driver on SR 4 near Nassa Point.

February 23 — 11:03 a.m. A domestic disturbance was reported at an Elochoman Valley home when a youth reported that a parent would not let him do his schoolwork. 1:28 p.m. The sheriff’s department received an Adult Protective Services referral for possible sexual abuse and neglect of an individual in a Cathlamet home. A deputy responded. 7:02 p.m. The Cathlamet ambulance aided a Skamokawa resident with heart issues. 11:33 p.m. Two people got into a quarrel about a possible trespassing issue in Skamokawa.

February 24 — 9:32 a.m. The sheriff’s office was asked to be on the lookout for a white Honda Civic with Oregon plates after it was involved in a kidnapping in Portland. The victim was able to get out of the vehicle in Clark County, but the driver, who was possibly armed, had threatened to harm himself. He was believed to frequent Vista Park. 9:45 a.m. The Cathlamet ambulance aided a Puget Island resident who was having a seizure. He had hit his head in a fall two days earlier, the caller said. 6:42 p.m. A caller requested assistance after getting locked out of a vehicle. Deputies responded. 9:20 p.m. A caller reported a truck without tail lights headed west on SR 4 in the Elochoman Valley area.

February 25 — 9:09 a.m. A caller said she had stopped to assist someone after his car broke down near Nassa Point. She said he wanted a ride and that she was starting to feel unsafe. 10:18 a.m. A caller requested assistance after getting locked out of a vehicle. 10:36 a.m. A caller requested assistance after getting locked out of a vehicle. The caller said it wasn’t urgent. 11:22 p.m. A caller found a deceased dog on the side of Elochoman Valley Road. He believed he knew where the dog came from and was concerned that animals were being neglected. 1:29 p.m. A caller said he had been told by a school bus driver that vehicles parked on the side of a Puget Island road were making it difficult to pass. 4 p.m. A caller said that a puppy had been run over on Elochoman Valley Road earlier that day and that dogs and puppies were being abandoned at the end of Elochoman Valley Road for the last month. The caller said that people were trying to trap one dog that had been out there for several days and that she was taking care of one of the abandoned puppies. She said she had heard there might be a puppy mill in the Elochoman Valley. 5:50 p.m. A Cathlamet resident found an alarm had been tripped when she got home. She was concerned that there had been a break in. 9:15 p.m. A caller reported hearing gun shots near the Beaver Creek hatchery. 10:35 p.m. A driver took off after a deputy attempted to pull him over. A pursuit was authorized, and the deputy witnessed the driver using all lanes, risking oncoming traffic. The pursuit was discontinued at 11:05 p.m. Deputies went to the county line but did not see the vehicle. State patrol shut down pursuit on SR 401.

February 26 — 1:47 a.m. The Cathlamet ambulance aided a Rosedale resident who may have had a stroke. 6:42 a.m. The Cathlamet ambulance aided a Puget Island resident who was unable to get up and had not been eating. 10:11 a.m. A Rosedale resident reported two suspicious vehicles at a neighbor’s home. She called back later to say that it looked like her neighbor was holding a garage sale. 3:05 p.m. A power outage was reported at a home on Greenwood Road. The District 4 Fire Department and the PUD responded. The power was restored at 4:08 p.m. 3:18 p.m. Emergency personnel in Skamokawa responded to a home on West Valley Road to provide a lift assist. 4 p.m. A caller reported that a dog had shown up at his home on Middle Valley Road earlier that day and was still there, lying on his porch. He wasn’t sure what to do. The Wahkiakum Animal Advocates Group was contacted. 5:49 p.m. A Puget Island resident reported that knives and power tools had been stolen from his garage. He said he had seen one of his knives posted on a website. 6:34 p.m. A caller said that he found an elderly woman walking on SR 4 and that she was now in his truck, which was parked in Rosedale. He asked to meet a deputy. At 7 p.m., the caller drove the woman home with a deputy following. 7:18 p.m. A 30 foot sailboat had run aground near Cathlamet. The owner reported that he was free at 1:04 a.m. and anchored in safe water. 7:22 p.m. A branch hit and damaged a windshield near Nassa Point. 9:58 p.m. Deputies attempted to pull over a possible drunk driver heading west on SR 4. They terminated pursuit at the county line. Authorities in Cowlitz County were notified, and state patrol took over pursuit.

February 27 — 9:05 a.m. A Grays River resident reported that a neighbor’s dog had killed a chicken on his property. He said it was an ongoing problem. A deputy responded and determined that the chicken had been taken by a wild animal, not the neighbor’s dog.