Update 8-15-18 2:00 p.m. - Sheriff Nelson advises that Matthew Matheny was consious and talking when rescue teams found him. He has been transported by Life Flight helicopter to South West Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington. His parents were at the base camp when he was found and they are on their way to the hospital. While it does not appear Matthew experienced any life threatening injuries he will be evaluated at the hospital to ensure he is OK. We are unable to describe Matthew's medical condition with any greater detail at this time.
Matthew was found the general area that was discussed in previous media releases by the Volcano Rescue Team out of Skamania County. We know there is a lot of interest to talk with the rescuers and we are reaching out to them to see if they are willing to talk with the media and if so, how best to make that happen. We will release that follow up informatoin on Flash News Net.
Sheriff Nelson will be at the base camp until about 2:45 p.m. He will arrive back in the local area about 5:00 p.m. Media may reach him on his cell at 360-751-8101. He will be putting out more details about the rescue efforts later today/tonight.
CCD Rosenzweig
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UPDATE: 8-15-18 Noon: Searchers have found Matthew Matheny alive up on the flanks of Mt. St. Helens. He is being transported by helicopter to an area hospital.
IN our efforts to get this message out rapidly, we do unfortunately do not have any more details. Sheriff Nelson will be making a more detailed public statement as soon as he gets in to an area that allows for cell and internet connections.
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Update #4; 8-14-18 10:45 a.m. Searchers on Mt. St Helen's have new information that gives them hope as they continue on Day 4 for the search Matthew Matheny.
Search Coordinators have results from cell phone records that suggest that Mr. Matheney cell phone was in the general area of the blue lake trail seveal miles up towards Mt. St. Helens. They also were contacted by some people who drove up to the base came from Vancouver yesterday to tell them that they saw a man wearing grey colored clothing in the area that is is consistent with the cell phone data. Search leaders are also utilizing special "virtual" search software that is a probability based program that is intended to give searchers places to look. This modeling tool suggest that searchers look an area, which is similar to where the cell phone data, and that one witness saw someone.
This information is giving serachers more hope as they continue to expand their efforts to locate Mr. Matheny.
It is critically important people continue to call us if they saw someone that might be Mr. Matheny even if it is different that other reports. We always keep an open mind about all tips.
Detective Zo Gladson has been assinged the missing persons case and all tips are being routed to him.
Sheriff Nelson has been in contact with Sheriff Brown in Skamania County as part of the area being searched is in Skamania County. Sheriff Nelson is on site today and will be there until early afternoon.
CCD Charlie Rosenzweig
C: 360-751-8103
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Update #3: 8-13-18 12:00 p.m. Sheriff Mark Nelson will be at the Search Base Camp and availble for interviews at 2:30 p.m. This is at at the Forrest Service Road 8100 (N81) and FS Road 8123. Directions are availble on google, or in links in previous releases below. Media who are unable to make it to the site can call and speak with CCD Charlie Rosenzweig by phone (360) 577-3092.
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Update #2: 8-13-18 10:00 a.m. Searchers continue to search for Mr. Matheny in the Blue Lake area near Mt. St Helens. The area has been thoroughly search since Saturday but unfortunately they have not located any signs of Mr. Matheny.
The Cowlitz Sheriff;s Office is very interested in talking with anyone who was in the area on Thursday or Friday, even if they did not see Mr. Matheny or the silver/grey subaru SW. Our number is 360-577-3092.
Search Teams , inlcuding K9 serach teams, drone operators, and other types of search resources are all coordinated through the Washington State Department of Emergency Management.
We have a detective assigned to the case and he has talked with many folks who were up in the area. There is nothing that suggests that any foul play is involved in this case.
We will continue to profice updates as new information is obtained.
CCD Rosenzweig,
C: 360-751-8103
Update: 8-12-18 12:45pm: Sheriff Nelson will be available at the scene for media interviews. Media will need to be on site at 2:00 p.m. Sheriff Nelson will leave at 2:45 p.m. The location will be at the intersection of Forrest Road 81 and 8123.
Here is a link for directions. https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/blue-horse-trail. Google maps also does take the blue lake / NF8123 as a location for directions but there is no cell coverage anywhere close to the site
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Cougar, Wash - The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office is about 24 hours in to the search for a man missing on the Blue Lake Trail off of Forrest Road 81 near Mt. St. Helens. They are asking anyone who hiked the Blue Lake trail since last Thursday to call the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office at 360-577-3092.
They would also like to have people look at the attached photos of the car and Mr. Matheny in case they may have seen him in the last few days.
Missing person is Matthew B. Matheny 40 years of age of Warren, Ohio. He was last seen at about 0700 hours of 8-9-2018 when he left to go to Mt St Helens, driving a local friend’s gray Subaru Outback. Matheny’s friends filed a missing person report with Clark County Sheriff’s Office when he failed to return.
On 8-11-2018 Skamania County Dep. Barker located the Subaru Outback at the Blue Lake Trailhead in Cowlitz County. The vehicle was unoccupied.
Matheny is a white male, 6-4, 230 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He may be wearing a gray Cleveland Browns sweatshirt, shorts and sandals.
Cowlitz County Search and Rescue responded with ground search teams and Unmanned Aerial Surveillance operators. The mission is ongoing.
Attached are pictures of Matheny and the Subaru Outback he was driving. The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office would like to hear from anyone who may have seen Matheny or the vehicle since Thursday, 8-9-2018.
CCD C. Rosenzweig
Correction:
The first arrest was July 13th not September...
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Kelso, Washington – Cowlitz County Deputy Sheriff’s arrest a Kelso Washington man twice in 3 weeks for possession of a large amount of drugs and cash.
Arrested: Anthony Jace “AJ” McCauley Mendez, 30 years of age.
The first arrest was on September 17th and occurred when Sergeant Andy Nunes attempted to stop a motorcycle. After a short pursuit, the driver was arrested. At the time of the arrest Mendez possessed:
1) 67 grams of Heroin (street value approx. $6. 700.00
2) 149 grams of Meth. Street value of about $10,430.00
3) 6 Morphine pills. Street value of about $300.00
4) $2,202.94 in cash.
Mendez was booked for the drug charges, and felony eluding.
The second time Mendez was arrested was last Saturday, August 4th. This arrest was the result of a traffic stop (for speeding) by Deputy Ness Aguilar, who also has a narcotic detection K9 “Kelo”. Deputy Jason Hammer found a backpack near the motorcycle that Mendez was operating at the time of the stop. K9 Kelo was brought to the bag and he alerted to the presence of narcotics. Deputies obtained a search warrant for the bag and learned that the bag contained.
1) 104 grams of Heroin. Street Value of $10,400
2) 79 grams of Meth. Street Value of $$3,430.
3) A loaded 45 cal pistol.
4) $6,799.00 in cash.
Mendez was booked for the drug charges as well as illegal possession of a firearm. He was also charged for Criminal Impersonation because he initially told Deputy Aguliar that he was his brother.
The Sheriff’s Office is pursuing a seizure of the cash as proceeds from illegal drug trafficking.
On 07-31-2018 The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force with the assistance of the Longview Street Crimes Unit, Castle Rock Police, Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, State Patrol Detectives and State of Washington Department of Corrections served a search warrant at 1735 Spirit Lake Highway in Castle Rock, WA.
Seized at the address was 326 grams of methamphetamine, .8 grams of cocaine, nine Suboxone strips and $2638.00 cash.
Arrested at the scene was Barbara Jensen, 59 years of age, Trista Joplin, 57 years of age. Both are from Castle Rock.
This is an ongoing investigation and further arrests are expected.
Need Your Boaters Card? The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division, will begin hosting an Adventures in Boating certification course. Classes are open to any individual who needs to obtain a Washington State Boaters Education Card. The next available class will be held on Saturday, August 11th, 2018. The class will run from 8am-3:00pm at the Cowlitz County Search and Rescue Building, 1800 Western Lane in Kelso. Cost for the class is FREE.
To Register: Contact Deputy Jordan Spencer via email at j@co.cowlitz.wa.us">spencerj@co.cowlitz.wa.us . This one day class will certify you to operate a vessel in the state of Washington. Registrations fill up fast.
Reminder: All vessel operators age 59 and younger must have a Washington Boaters Education Card to operate a vessel in Washington State. For additional information and resources, check out www.boatered.org.
Woodland Washington - The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office responded to assist the Woodland Police Department with the report of a theft in progress at the Walmart in Woodland. Deputy Brady Spaulding and his K9 Icarus responded as well as Deputy Derek Baker who was equipped with a drone. As Woodland Police and the Deputies arrived on scene the suspect fled out of one of the fire exits from the store in to a heavily wooded area. K9 Icarus flushed the suspect out of hiding and Deputy Baker, who had one of the Sheriff's Office drones hovering over the area saw the suspect fleeing the area on foot. Deputy Baker was able to follow the suspect with the drone as the suspect ran northbound. Deputy Spaulding and K9 Icarus also pursued the suspect and as a result the suspect was aprehended as he attempted to hide in a barn.
This occurred on Friday the 20th at about 3:45 p.m.
The Sheriff's Office will be making a copy of the drone video of the foot chase available to the Woodland Police sometime this week.
Since this is a Woodland Police case, we request all questions and request (i.e. for the drone video) about this case be made to the Woodland Police Department.