Crime

Cowlitz Sheriff investigating vandalism at county park

Thursday, April 26th, 2012, 3:04pm

Cowlitz Sheriff investigating vandalism at county park

LEXINGTON, Wash. -- Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office is investigating the recent vandalism at Riverside County Park in Lexington, which is four miles north of Kelso.

Sometime between April 20 and today, someone spray painted the bathroom walls with graffiti and drawings. The writing includes "SSL13" which is typically understood to be a label for the South Side Locos gang, which is a loose-knit group of teenagers known for destructive tagging around the Kelso area. There is also a drawing of the face of Joker that was done on the bathroom wall.

The parks department will be working to remove the paint, or cover it up. Investigators from the sheriff's office hope the public can help identify the culprits by calling in any information to Deputy Andy Nunes at 360-577-3092 or crime stoppers at 360-577-1206.

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Cowlitz County Sheriff warns of 911 phone scam

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Monday, March 26th, 2012, 11:44am

The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office is sending out the following notice regarding a phone scam.

Residents in Washington and other states have reported receiving calls requesting money for 911 services. The caller claims that homeowners must pay a fee to register their residence in a 911 database so first responders can locate their home in an emergency. The caller also requests names and medical information from the residents, but this is a scam, police said.

Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson said, "Nine-one-one services are funded directly through dedicated 9-1-1 taxes. These taxes come on your regular monthly phone bill." Sheriff Nelson also added, "Requests for money over the phone could be fraud. Requests for 911 funds are definitely a fraud. Residents who receive suspicious calls should hang up and report the call to their local police or sheriff's non-emergency phone number."

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Teen shooting suspect charged in Longview

Submitted by KATU Communities Staff

Monday, March 12th, 2012, 9:09am

LONGVIEW, Wash. -- A 17-year-old has been charged with attempted murder after the teen allegedly shot a man last week.

Just before 10:30 p.m. March 9, officials from the St. John Hospital called Longview Police to report a patient had come to the emergency department with a gunshot wound to the face. After initial treatment in the emergency department, Kelso resident Marco Maldinado-Aguila, 21, was taken to Oregon Health Science University Hospital by Life Flight. Maldinado-Aguila was last reported to be in critical condition, but stable.

Longview Police detectives were called in to assist patrol with the investigation. The investigation led detectives to the 300 block of 28th Avenue where the alleged shooting took place. Information provided by witnesses indicated Maldinado-Aguila was in a vehicle, parked outside of the residence, when the teen allegedly exited the front door of the house and allegedly fired one round at Maldinado-Aguila. Maldinado-Aguila fled the scene and drove himself to the hospital.

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