A pile of garbage on a roadway in Winlock eventually led to the arrest of a man now charged with possessing a stolen vehicle and methamphetamine.
Brian Keith Roe, 51, of Winlock, made an initial appearance in Lewis County Superior Court on Wednesday, July 30, where a judge set bail at $25,000 as he remains held at the Lewis County Jail.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office, a deputy received a complaint about a large amount of garbage at Camus Road and state Route 505 in Winlock on June 8. The deputy found mail and a checkbook among the trash. The checkbook included an address on Roppert Road in Winlock.
The deputy contacted a woman identified in some of the discarded mail who stated the checkbook belonged to her parents, who are now deceased. The woman went to the Roppert Road address and found that the unoccupied home had been burglarized with numerous items taken. Among the stolen property was a Suzuki motorcycle.
On July 29, the Chehalis Police Department received a notification from the Flock Safety camera system showing a stolen motorcycle had driven westbound at Chamber Way and Louisiana Avenue in Chehalis.
“Officers conducted a search of the area and were able to locate the motorcycle parked in the Chehalis Walmart parking lot,” court documents state. “Eventually, a male exited the Walmart and approached the motorcycle to get on it when officers contacted him. The male was identified as Brian Roe. Roe stated he purchased the motorcycle a year ago from a guy named Gary. (The victim) was contacted and stated no one had permission to take the motorcycle. The last time she observed the motorcycle on the property was March 4, 2025, which would make Roe's statement that he purchased the bike a year ago impossible. Roe was arrested, and officers discovered 23 grams of what they recognized, based upon their training and experience, to be methamphetamine. This investigation is ongoing.”
Roe has past criminal cases that include allegations of malicious mischief, theft, theft of a motor vehicle, fourth-degree assault and driving with a suspended license.
Roe has been charged with possession of a stolen vehicle — a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine — and possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
His arraignment and trial setting is scheduled for 9:40 a.m. Aug. 7.
