Teen booked on attempted murder charge for Rainier shooting

By Stover E. Harger Iii

The South County Spotlight, Dec 2, 2009

William M. Temple

File Photo / The South County Spotlight

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A 17-year-old was arrested Sunday for allegedly shooting a Rainier man at the Price Road Trailer Park the day before.

Scott Lavelle surrendered to police on an attempted murder charge without incident after they found him staying at a residence in the Clatskanie area. Lavalle has a juvenile arrest record in the state of Washington and is currently in custody at the Cowlitz County Juvenile Department. Columbia County does not have a juvenile facility.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t released why they believe Lavelle shot 29-year-old William M. Temple – who remains hospitalized – around 11:23 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Temple himself was arrested in early September after he was allegedly involved in a police pursuit that led officers to what they say is a “known felon’s drug house” in St. Helens. He was charged with possessing methamphetamines and eluding police.

The aftermath of the shooting led to the arrest of David Coffey, 42, of Kelso, who was contacted during the search for the shooting suspect and was later found at the location where Lavelle was arrested. Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson said Coffey was arrested on a warrant that was unrelated to the shooting, but investigators have not yet released any further information.

The residents who took Temple to the hospital – Ezra Douglas St. Helen, 23, and Crystal Lynn Ard, 33 – were found to be driving a truck that had previously been reported stolen in Multnomah County, and were detained by police.