At 2241 hours of June 12, 2019 Cowlitz 911 received a report from a subject who said a known subject in the 400 block of Maranatha Rd, Kelso was threatening to kill him. 

Cowlitz County deputies responded to the scene to investigate.  The caller told deputies was visiting this subject and that he had fled the residence after the subject threatened him with a firearm.  The suspect had reportedly fired a round inside the residence. Additional witnesses also reported the subject was armed with a rifle and had fired another shot while outside his residence.

Deputies made numerous attempts to communicate with the suspect but received no response from the residence.  The Lower Columbia SWAT Team was activated and responded to the scene.  As SWAT members secured the perimeter, the suspect exited the home and surrendered peacefully.  Deputies obtained a search warrant for the home and located firearms evidence consistent with the witnesses' statements.

The suspect was identified as Sammy Lee Munsey, age 56, of Kelso.  Munsey was booked into Cowlitz County Jail for Assault 1st Degree.

At 0107 hours of June 13, 2019 Cowlitz 911 received a report of a vehicle prowl in progress in the 2100 block of Holcomb Loop Rd, Kelso.  The caller advised dispatch that her husband had fired a shot while confronting the suspect.  Officers from Castle Rock, Kelso, and Longview Police, as well as the Washington State Patrol, responded to assist with the initial call.

CCSO Detectives responded to the scene and confirmed that the resident had shot the vehicle prowl suspect, causing birdshot pellet wounds to the subject's leg.  The wounded subject was transported to St John Medical Center for medical treatment  and was then booked into Cowlitz County Jail on an unrelated warrant.  This is an active investigation; the names of the subjects involved in this incident will not be released at this time.

The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting free firearms safety training classes on June 26, 2019 and July 24, 2019. Due to the passage of Initiative 1639, a certificate of firearms safety training will be required to purchase semiautomatic rifles after July 1, 2019.

These classes will be held at the Rizad Building, located at 1800 Western Ln, Kelso. The classes will begin at 6:30 PM and will be about two hours long. To register for a firearms safety training class, please contact Deputy Justin Taylor at 360-577-3092 or taylorj@co.cowlitz.wa.us. The Sheriff’s Office can also arrange training for groups with 15 or more attendees.

Additional information about Initiative 1639 can be found at:https://www.atg.wa.gov/initiative-1639

UPDATE:  These classes will be for Cowlitz County residents only.  Attendees must be at least 21 years of age.

At 0239 hours of May 21st, 2019 Cowlitz County Deputies were dispatched to a reported burglary in progress in the 1200 block of Ostrander Rd, Kelso.  The homeowner, who was not on scene, advised dispatch his surveillance cameras showed a male suspect was inside the garage.  Deputies, assisted by Kelso Police and a Longview Police K-9 unit, responded to the scene.  As the deputies began moving up the driveway on foot, the suspect was seen leaving in the homeowner's Ford F-350 truck.  Deputies identified themselves and ordered the suspect to stop.  The suspect disregarded their commands and accelerated down the driveway, striking an unoccupied CCSO patrol vehicle as he fled the scene.  Damage to the patrol vehicle was estimated at $2,000.  The suspect also struck the homeowner's gate, causing thousands of dollars in damages.  

The suspect was pursued by Castle Rock, Kelso and Longview police officers .  The suspect drove recklessly and rolled the stolen truck at the intersection of Cowlitz Way and N. 4th Ave in Kelso.  The suspect was taken into custody and was given medical treatment.  He initially refused to identify himself and spit on a Cowlitz County Corrections Officer during the booking process.  The suspect was later identified as 26-year-old Tylor Jordan Sanchez.  Sanchez has a previous address of record in Gig Harbor.

Tylor Sanchez was booked on charges of Residential Burglary, Theft of Motor Vehicle, Driving with Suspended License 3rd Degree, Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer, Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, Hit and Run - Unattended, Attempt to Elude Police Vehicle and Custodial Assault. 

No deputies or officers were injured during this incident. 

(Update - location has been corrected to Ostrander Rd)