South Sound briefs

The Olympian, news services • Published September 01, 2008

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Chehalis

Police say tape led to robbery, rape suspect

Police say surveillance video helped them find a man who allegedly raped, robbed and tied up a 20-year-old woman working at Subway in Chehalis in July, according to KIRO-TV.

A vehicle caught on surveillance tape was the key to catching Thomas Pleasant, investigators said.

"We're referring him for the count of robbery in the first degree and first-degree rape," said Chehalis Police Chief Glenn Schaffer.

Pleasant is accused of entering the restaurant at closing time, tying the clerk up with an electrical cord, raping her and smashing the phone so she could not call for help, police said.

A Longview sub shop was robbed the same night the Subway robbery occurred. After the Longview robbery, police put out a bulletin of the robber's sport utility vehicle caught on surveillance tape.

The description matched a vehicle shown on video near the Subway the night of the rape, and a Chehalis officer remembered he had run the license plate.

"That led us to Thomas Pleasant, of course," Schaffer said.

Pleasant is also being investigated in connection to a robbery at a Longview Church and the robbery of a coffee stand in Kelso.

He is being held in Cowlitz County with bail set at $50,000. He already has been charged in connection with the robbery of a sub shop there.

Rochester

Big Brothers/Big Sisters auction next weekend

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Thurston County's annual Gala Auction will be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester.

Miss Washington Janet Harding will speak about her goal to become a national spokeswoman for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Harding of Yelm served as a Big Sister in Bellingham while attending college and was a volunteer on the Whatcom County agency's board of directors.

Featured items at the auction will include sporting event tickets and memorabilia, lodging getaways, scenic flights and fine dining. Tickets cost $35 each.

For more information, call Erin Heath at 360-943-0409.

Fort Lewis

Loud training exercises planned through Friday

Firing is planned day and night today through Friday at Fort Lewis as part of training exercises.

For more information about noise at Fort Lewis or to comment, call the I Corps Public Affairs Office's External Communication Division hot line at 253-967-0852.

Tumwater

Issues on public water systems topic of forum

A forum about issues that affect small public water systems is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Department of Health Point Plaza East, 310 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater.

The department said it wants to hear from users of systems with fewer than 15 household connections. Comments will be taken before the forum.

For more information, go to www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/groupb.htm.