NEWS BRIEFS

Missing man’s Jeep found off forest road

Authorities found Brandon Adams’ Jeep, including some of his personal items inside the vehicle, but have not located Adams after an extensive search, according to a Tuesday statement by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

Someone found the Jeep “deep within the Olympic National Forest” Sunday, and called police, officials said.

Deputies couldn’t reach the car that night because of difficult road and weather conditions.

Law enforcement teams were able to retrieve the vehicle Tuesday.

“This morning, a specialized off-road recovery team retrieved Brandon’s vehicle. Detectives discovered some of Brandon’s personal belongings within the vehicle. To intensify the search efforts, an advanced team, including dog teams, will now lead the operation. In order to facilitate their searches, we kindly request that the immediate area be kept secure. Please avoid the designated search area as our teams work diligently to gather information. The MCSO expresses gratitude for the community’s willingness to assist in this matter,” according to the statement.

Adams was last seen Oct. 20 and the last known location of his cellphone was in the Brown Creek area of Mason County, according to police.

Hoodsport woman killed in 101 crash

Hoodsport resident Lisa Replogle, 43, died in a collision Tuesday when her car crossed the center line at U.S. Highway 101 near Wallace Kneeland Boulevard and struck another vehicle head-on, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Replogle died at the scene.

Shelton resident Rocky Graham, 40, was driving the second vehicle and was taken to Mason General Hospital for his injuries, according to a State Patrol news release.

Appraisers start inspections

Mason County appraisers started physically inspecting Lake Limerick, Brockdale, McCreavy, Hanks Lake, Eells Hill, California Road, Highland Road, Dayton Trails, Fawn Lake, Lynch Road, Kamilche, Cloquallum Rd, Isabella Lake, Lost Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Star Lake and Lake Nahwatzel out to Matlock in October.

The inspections will be used for the 2024 assessment year/2025 tax year.

Inspectors will observe the exterior of property “to determine whether there have been any changes in the physical characteristics that affect value,” according to a news release from Mason County Assessor Patti McLean.

These are exterior inspections only and the taxpayer does not need to be present at the time of inspection, though inspectors might knock on doors when they arrive, according to the statement.

State law mandates physical inspections at least once every six years.

Corrections officer sentenced for planning own shooting

Christopher Floe, a former community corrections officer, received a 32-month sentence Nov. 7 for arranging to have his sister shoot him in front of his Shelton office.

The sentence includes 1½ years of home detention.

Mason County Superior Court Judge Monty Cobb found Floe guilty after Floe waived his right to a jury trial.

Floe and his sister, Caroline Harris, were arrested in connection with the Oct. 7, 2021 shooting after Floe provided inconsistent statements about the incident. Floe was shot in the back outside the Shelton Department of Corrections.

He admitted in later interviews with police that he asked his sister to shoot him and gave her the gun to do it.

Floe told his sister to shoot him at his office “because there were no cameras and no one would know it was her,” according to charging documents.

In fact, security footage from the jail showed Harris’s car leaving the scene.

Floe was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree criminal conspiracy assault, false reporting and criminal conspiracy to commit a drive-by shooting. Harris was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree criminal conspiracy assault and criminal conspiracy to commit a drive-by shooting.

Floe is appealing the decision and is currently out on a $10,000 bond.

Inmate sues Mason County Jail

Mason County Jail inmate Nathan Fouts, awaiting trial on assault and weapons charges, has filed a civil rights complaint against medical staff at the jail claiming they failed to properly and timely treat his leg pain.

Fouts is representing himself.

Shelton man pleads not guilty in Nov. 14 shooting

Shelton resident Jerry Upson, 43, pleaded not guilty to murder charges in his Nov. 14 arraignment in Mason Superior Court in the death of Kenneth Simmons, 68.

Upson’s trial is scheduled for the last week of December.