Nine arrests made following string of small business burglaries

LEWIS COUNTY, Wash. — Nine people have been arrested in connection with a string of burglaries in the South Sound.

Centralia police said 21 small businesses were broken into starting March 14.

Surveillance video captured two burglars filling garbage bags with cash and checks at Pioneer West in Centralia earlier this month.

“To walk in and see all our stuff on the floor was just very violating,” said Jenna Kaiser.

After hearing about other burglaries throughout town, Kaiser was afraid they’d be next. She had a camera installed the day before the crime.

“Any community, but in a small community, it’s frightening because we just don’t have that level of crime here,” said Centralia Police Chief Carl Nielsen.

Burglars broke into Tower Trading Co. through a back window, which IS still boarded up.

“It’s just crazy. We work hard for our money, and they just take it,” said owner Carisa Crocker.

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Crocker said the suspects stole cash and checks.

Centralia police and members of the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) investigated the crimes and arrested nine suspects:

-    Johnathon Wilson, 24
-    Macie Browning, 20
-    Taeya Brown, 19
-    Bryson Serventi, 20
-    Adam McGowen, 27
-    Patrick Gish, 29
-    Galen Whitmire, 27
-    Anthony DePuisaye-Green, 26
-    Elizabeth Rogan, 43

The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office took DePuisaye-Green and RogaN into custody following the murder of Ryderwood resident Travis Seiber, 47. They’re being held in Cowlitz County jail.

“I hope that they learn a pretty good lesson about how things run around here. We don’t take it, we do not take that,” said Kaiser.

Cox Media Group