Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office

10/22/2026

Time to think about cleaning out your medicine cabinets! We will be at Walmart on Ocean Beach Hwy with free lock boxes and bags, while supplies last.

10/14/2026

Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office Crime Reduction Team Takes Dangerous Drugs and Fi****ms Off Our Streets

Over the past several weeks, the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office Crime Reduction Team (CRT) has conducted a series of felony drug and fi***rm investigations, and the results speak to the team’s dedication to keeping our community safe.

These investigations led to the arrest and booking of five individuals:

David A. Peckham, 46, of Kelso

2 counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver (Methamphetamine and Co***ne), RCW 69.50.401
Undetectable or Untraceable Fi***rm, RCW 9.41.325
Dangerous Weapons, RCW 9.41.250

Timothy D. Johnson, 51, of Castle Rock

3 counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) in a school zone, RCW 69.50.401
Possession with Intent to Deliver (Fentanyl) in a school zone, RCW 69.50.401
Unlawful Use of a Building for Drug Purposes, RCW 69.53.010

Jeffrey R. Frostad, 50, of Longview

Possession with Intent to Deliver (Fentanyl), RCW 69.50.401
Unlawful Possession of a Fi***rm in the First Degree, RCW 9.41.040(1)(a)

Devin Papka, 36, of Longview

Possession with Intent to Deliver (Fentanyl), RCW 69.50.401
2 counts of Unlawful Possession of a Fi***rm in the First Degree, RCW 9.41.040(1)(a)
Controlled Substance Possession by a Prisoner, RCW 9.94.041
Alteration of Identifying Marks, RCW 9.41.140

Ely R. Silva, 21, of Portland

Possession with Intent to Deliver (Fentanyl), RCW 69.50.401

Items seized across these investigations:

3.8 lbs of methamphetamine
1.09 lbs of fentanyl
0.64 lbs of co***ne
11.4 oz of psilocybin mushrooms
11 fi***rms
$17,485 in suspected drug proceeds

Removing this quantity of narcotics and fi***rms from circulation makes a real difference for our neighborhoods, and we are proud of the hard work and persistence shown by our Crime Reduction Team.

The Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank the Longview Street Crimes Unit and the Lower Columbia SWAT Team for their valuable assistance. Cooperation among our local agencies is key to getting results like these.

10/08/2026

Free Community Resource Fair today 11-2 at the Cowlitz County Event Center.

09/30/2026

Beginning Thursday, October 1st, original Concealed Pistol License application fees will increase to $51. This increase is statewide and occurring due to an increase in FBI fingerprint processing fees. The fees for renewal and replacement applications will not be affected.

09/26/2026

Free event at Home Depot today until 1pm!

Today’s the Day! Prepared Neighbors event at Home Depot in Longview! Everyone is welcome!

Ready to build a more prepared community? Join us today, Saturday, September 26, from 10 AM–1 PM at Home Depot in Longview for Prepared Neighbors!

What to expect:
• Drawing prizes
• 20+ vendors and agencies with subject matter experts
• A variety of preparedness information and resources
• Food available for purchase

Come learn practical ways to prepare for emergencies, connect with local organizations, and find resources to help you and your neighbors be ready.

📅 Today, September 26
⏰ 10 AM–1 PM
📍 Home Depot – 580 7th Ave., Longview, WA 98632

09/16/2026

09/10/2026

NARCOTICS SEARCH WARRANT SERVED IN KELSO

On 09/05/2026, the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Crime Reduction Team (CRT), with the assistance of Kelso PD and the Lower Columbia SWAT Team, served an authorized search warrant at 1106 Riverside Dr. in Kelso, WA.

The warrant stemmed from a narcotics investigation into 46-year-old Dave Peckham of Kelso. CRT investigators had learned that Peckham was actively selling and distributing large quantities of narcotics.

Items located during the search included:
🔹 Unserialized .38 caliber loaded semi-automatic pistol
🔹 Suppressed .22 caliber AR-style r***e
🔹 6 additional fi***rms
🔹 3.68 lbs of methamphetamine
🔹 3 oz of co***ne
🔹 $12,200 in cash
🔹 Digital scales and small zip-lock bags commonly used to repackage and distribute narcotics

Peckham was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on the following charges:
▪️ Possession with Intent to Deliver (RCW 69.50.401) x2
▪️ Undetectable or Untraceable Fi***rm (RCW 9.41.325)
▪️ Dangerous Weapons Violation (RCW 9.41.250)

Bail was set by Cowlitz County Superior Court at $185,000.

Chief Administrative Deputy Jeremy Tonissen

09/02/2026

The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office business office will be closed all day on September 7th for Labor Day. Deputies will still be patrolling as usual and Cowlitz 911 will still take emergency and non-emergency reports.

08/31/2026

PRESS RELEASE
A26-17508 MISSING PERSON - RECOVERY
AUGUST 31, 2026

On August 28, 2026, a citizen located the vehicle belonging to missing person Brent Erickson, on Weyerhaeuser timberland near the 6402 line. Deputies responded to the scene and confirmed Erickson’s vehicle appeared to be stuck in a ditch and was unoccupied. Deputies were unable to locate Erickson at this time, and due to hours of darkness, the scene was secured and a search and rescue mission was initiated the following morning. Cowlitz Search and Rescue searched the area on August 29, 2026, but was unable to locate Erickson.

On August 30, 2026, a Weyerhaeuser Woods Security employee located Erickson’s body approximately ½ mile from his vehicle, in a steep area with thick underbrush. Deputies responded to the scene with the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office and recovered the body. Mr. Erickson’s next of kin was notified of his passing.

An autopsy has been conducted by the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office. The cause and manner of death report is pending.

The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the citizens, staff and volunteers who assisted in the search for Mr. Erickson. Search efforts included over 800 miles of road searches in the St Helens Tree Farm, in addition to ground searches, Human Remains Detection K-9 searches, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) searches. Searchers from Columbia County (OR) Search and Rescue, Clark County Search and Rescue, Cowlitz County Department of Emergency Management Amateur Communication Services, Weyerhaeuser Woods Security, and the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office UAS Unit and Reserve Deputies assisted with this search.

Undersheriff Troy Brightbill
Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office