A Centralia man is facing a felony charge for allegedly shoveling dirt and rocks onto railroad tracks alongside Reynolds Avenue in Centralia on Wednesday.
An officer with the Centralia Police Department was reportedly driving along Reynolds Avenue on July 12 when, just after 7:15 a.m., the officer “observed an adult transient male trespassing on railroad property while building a rock ramp over the railroad tracks” in the 1500 block of Reynolds Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Departmetn’s call log.
The man was later identified as Phillip Henry Arthur Anderson, 57, of Centralia.
When questioned by the officer, Anderson allegedly “said he was in the location to remove debris from the area,” according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday. However, Anderson had allegedly “been shoveling dirt and rocks onto the tracks in a single location and had raised the surface with large rocks and dirts to at least obtain equal height with the tracks,” according to the affidavit.
The officer noted “there was no debris observable in the area that would have required Anderson’s removal” and claimed “it was apparent he was trying to obstruct the lines.”
The railroad manager reportedly advised law enforcement that “anything placed along the tracks posed a danger to any passing train,” according to the affidavit.
Anderson was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail just before 7:35 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12, according to jail records.
He was charged Thursday with one count each of second-degree criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor, and malicious injury to railroad property, a class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
“He (Anderson) was frustrated upon review of the information, adamant that there was no obstruction,” defense attorney Rachael Tiller said at Anderson’s preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Thursday.
At that hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher asked Judge James Lawler to set Anderson’s bail at $25,000, arguing, “Of concern to the state is the allegations … putting stuff on the railroad tracks, that’s a public safety risk.”
Lawler ultimately set Anderson’s bail at $5,000, citing Anderson’s warrant history.
Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, July 20.
