CENTRALIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
Arrest for assault
• Jose D. Cortez Bonilla, 46, of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Chehalis Tribal Jail for fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, after police responded to 2900 Mt. Vista road at about 3:36 p.m. on June 28.
Pursuit terminated
• Officers attempted to stop a vehicle after receiving information that the occupants just stole from a local clothing store in the 100 block of West High Street at about 5:35 p.m. June 28. The vehicle fled north on Interstate 5. Officers terminated the pursuit near mile marker 90. The case is still under investigation.
Threats with a deadly weapon
• Paul W. Swaw III, 46, of Federal Way, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for felony harassment after officers responded to the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue at about 6:30 p.m. June 28. Swaw was contacted by police after allegedly making threats to a citizen while in possession of a deadly weapon. Swaw fled on foot but was apprehended a short distance later. Swaw was referred for several additional charges.
Arrested after calling 911 14 times
• Benjamin R. Hardy, 49, of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Chehalis Tribal Jail for calling 911 14 times in less than 24 hours, making false or non essential reports each time. Officers arrested him in the 200 block of West Pear Street at about 11:43 p.m. June 28.
DUI arrest
• Eleasar Diaz, 48, of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Chehalis Tribal Jail for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol at about 1:34 a.m. June 29 in the 600 block of South Tower Avenue.
Bitcoin scammers strike again
• An employee at a business in the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue was contacted via phone at about 8 a.m. June 29 by a person whom they believed was a legitimate manager for the business. The person claiming to be a manager said that a bill was overdue and needed to be paid immediately. The employee was directed to remove money from the business and deposit it into a “Bitcoin Depot” ATM machine. The scammers provided the employee with a QR code for routing purposes. A total of approximately $1,000 was lost by the business. According to police, the Bitcoin Depot ATM machines are frequently used for scamming purposes in Lewis County. The Centralia Police Department has investigated many instances where tens of thousands of dollars have been scammed, according to a news release from police.
Possession of meth
• Martin A. Villalba Ortiz, 38, of Centralia, was arrested for unlawful possession of a controlled substance at about 11 a.m. June 29 at East Sixth Street and North Tower Avenue. Officers received permission to search Villalba’s vehicle during a traffic stop after noting possible drug use. During the search, they located suspected methamphetamine.
Road rage assault
• Jose F. Lopez, 28, of Centralia, was arrested and released for fourth-degree assault after a road rage incident in the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue just after noon on June 29.
Fireworks thrown from vehicle
• Officers received a report that someone was throwing fireworks from a vehicle at about 10:34 p.m. June 29 in the 100 block of South Silver Street. One of the fireworks burned items belonging to the victim and almost hit them. Officers are still investigating the case.
JAIL STATISTICS
• As of Monday morning, the Lewis County Jail had a total system population of 173 inmates, including 159 in the general population and 14 in the Work Ethic and Restitution Center (WERC). Of general population inmates, 131 were reported male and 28 were reported female. Of the WERC inmates, 11 were reported male and three were reported female.
