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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels archive for May 2009

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009

Grab bag 5.29.09

Who says no one reads the newspaper anymore? A watchful newspaper reader in Colville helped nab the Montana Department of Corrections escapee suspected in a Spokane Valley burglary today. Read the story here. Other public safety stories today include: Body found in Pend Oreille River…

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Courthouse watch: 5.29.09 

Friday's smorgasbord of suspects on the Spokane County Superior Court docket include an accused OxyContin robber, a teenager charged with attempted murder for a shooting spree in a motel parking lot and a man connected to Pinaccle Realty founder Joe Ward, who is the subject…

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Carroll D. Gray in 1981. (The Spokesman-Review)

Spokane legal community loses an icon

Carroll D. Gray, who worked in the U.S attorney's office in Spokane for more than 30 years, has died. The legend of the Spokane legal community, pictured above in 1981, died at his home Wednesday morning, the U.S Attorney's Office confirmed Thursday. Gray was a…

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Grab Bag 5.28.09

The HIV-positive man charged with assault may have had unprotected sex with as many as 80 people without telling them about his disease, health officials say. Zuriel E. Roush, 22, (left) declined to speak with The Spokesman-Review. That came after Deputy Prosecutor Rachel Sterett mentioned…

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009

Courthouse watch: 5.28.09

Suspects appearing on the Spokane County Superior Court docket today included a woman who claimed she'd ingested methamphetamine from another inmate before trying to escape from prison and a man arrested for stealing two puppies from a pet store. Chelsea A. Lawhead, 19, is charged…

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Officer Jay Kernkamp nuzzles his new houseguest, 2-month-old Ajax, on Wednesday at the Spokane Police Academy. Kernkamp is raising Ajax until the puppy is ready for official training as a police dog.  (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

Grab Bag 5.27.09

Spokane's newest recruit, Ajax, met with local media Wednesday. Read the story here and check out a slide show here. Other stories in today's paper include: Autopsy shows man was shot in back Medical Lake to pay Mehrens $20,000 Trial set in bridge pushing case

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009

Courthouse watch: 5.27.09 

Suspects scheduled to plead innocent in Spokane County Superior Court today include a man accused of hiding in his estranged wife's car, then kidnapping and trying to kill her and her boyfriend; a man charged with sexually abusing a high school girl who worked at…

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TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009

In this photo from May 2006, Washington State Patrol Sgt. Lee Slemp removes a shotgun from an unmarked patrol car that was rear-ended on I-90 near the Garden Springs exit. 
 (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)

WSP wins Best Dressed award

If you've ever found yourself admiring those Washington State Patrol uniforms, you're in good company.The WSP has been honored as the Best Dressed State Agency in America by the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors. The agency's heavy-weave wool uniforms are made by Blumenthal…

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Grab Bag 5.26.09

The original pharmacy robber from last summer entered a guilty plea in Spokane County Superior Court today, and The Spokesman-Review was the only news organization there. Read Thomas Clouse's story here. Police: Porn, theft lured boy to libraryEphrata man killed by train Sunday88 contacts, 10…

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Courthouse watch: 5.26.09

The first appearance docket was packed in Spokane County Superior Court today. Nearly everyone arrested on felony charges in Spokane County this weekend was due to appear, and a court clerk counted 55 names just before the appearances began at 1:30 p.m. Last on the…

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SPD's newest addition: Ajax the puppy

A Pullman man inspired by the shooting of a Spokane police dog has given the department a German Shepherd puppy. Nick Lungu breeds and trains the dogs for his business I-Guard International. He sells the animals for as much as $2,500 each but gave the…

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FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2009

Courthouse watch: 5.22.09

Friday is always a full day on the Spokane County Superior Court docket, and today brought a cornucopia of crimes from organized retail theft and forgery to assault and child rape. Suspects on today's docket included a man accused of trying to escape from police…

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Grab Bag 5.22.09

The Guinness Book of World Records plans to honor a man for filing the most lawsuits in history. One problem: the man in question has filed an injunction in Eastern Washington federal court seeking to stop it. Read Thomas Clouse's story here Here are the…

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THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009

Grab Bag 5.21.09

It's been a busy day on the public safety beat. Check out these local stories: HIV-positive man charged with assault Man set ablaze in dispute over beer money Man killed in logging accident identified Photo released of would-be Walgreens robber Man gets six months for…

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Lethal injection under attack

Three death row inmates are seeking greater assurances that they won't feel any improper pain and suffering when they're executed. The lawsuit, being argued in Thurston County Superior Court, questions whether the state's execution procedures are sufficient.Lawyers defending the state in the case note that…

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Authorities targeting scam charities

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) Washington is cracking down on so-called "badge charities" that claim to help police, firefighters and veterans. Attorney General Rob McKenna says some are phony. And Secretary of State Sam Reed says some give very little money to the groups they claim to…

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Courthouse watch: 5.21.09 

A man charged with threatening to kill city of Spokane and Cowles Co. officials and a man charged with impersonating a federal agent were among cases with hearings today in Spokane County. Steven E. Escallier, 40, (left) is charged with criminal impersonation, first-degree attempted robbery…

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Eitzen denies Stark motions, again

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Tari Eitzen has denied a request by convicted killer Shellye L. Stark's lawyer to reconsider her denials of a new trial or arrest of judgment. Julie Twyford had filed a motion that included a declaration from a Spokane County Jail…

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2009

Police search killer's boyfriend's computers

A search warrant filed this week regarding the Spokane police investigation into the boyfriend of convicted killer Shellye L. Stark reveals new details. The day police arrested Brian L. Moore in Anahiem, Calif., on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder, a Post…

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Does anyone honestly think this will work?

SEATTLE (AP) — Gov. Chris Gregoire has proclaimed Thursday "Drive Nice Day."She's challenging Washington drivers to have a collision-free day on the roads.State Licensing Director Liz Luce says a little courtesy behind the wheel can making driving safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

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