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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels archive for Feb. 2011

MONDAY, FEB. 28, 2011

Thieves targeting for-sale Valley homes

Real estate agents are being targeted in a theft ring that preys upon vacant, for-sale homes. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for tips that help solve 23 burglaries in Spokane Valley in which kitchen appliances were stolen from vacant homes. Police say the thief…

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New sheriff's patrol car totaled in crash

A sheriff's patrol car in service for about a month was destroyed in a crash Sunday in east Spokane. Deputy Chuck Sciortino and Reserve Deputy Kathleen Hurst were treated for back and neck pain at a local hospital then driven home after the crash, which…

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Fake cop probed after crash, drugging

Detectives are looking for other potential victims of a Spokane man accused of drugging a woman and falsely portraying himself as a Coeur d'Alene police officer to another. Terence M. Washington, 36, who is out of jail on bond, was first contacted by police after…

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Matt Anderson stopped for lunch at El Chiludo taco truck in Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday. An Aryan Nations group picketed the stand recently. (Kathy Plonka)

Reward for tips on taco stand vandalism

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for tips that lead to the arrest of those responsible for vandalizing a Coeur d'Alene taco stand. The owner of Tacos Los Panchos in Coeur d'Alene discovered the trailer's power line, propane line and heater line severed when he…

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FRIDAY, FEB. 25, 2011

King County assailant wanted in Idaho

A man on probation for assault in King County is wanted by Idaho authorities after failing to check in with the state Department of Corrections. Grant "Bear" Timothy Larson, 31, may be traveling to Canada with Marie Thompson, 25, and their four-month-old baby, according to…

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Sex offender jailed for child porn

A Spokane sex offender already in jail has been indicted on federal child pornography charges. Daniel Elliot Ochs, 47, pleaded not guilty this week to two felonies after a grand jury indicted him Feb. 16. He's charged in U.S. District Court with receipt of child…

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This surveillance photo is from a robbery on Tuesday in Coeur d'Alene at the Washington Trust Bank. (Coeur d'Alene Police Department)

Bank robber charged w/ CdA hold-up

A man sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbing two Spokane banks faces additional time in federal custody for an alleged hold up at a Coeur d'Alene bank. Michael R. Kent, 38, is charged with bank robbery for a Jan. 12, 2010, heist at…

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Funeral today for senior SPD volunteer

Members of the law enforcement community will say goodbye to one of its own today. Senior volunteer Eugene “Gene” LaLiberte, 91, will be remembered at a ceremony 11 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way. At his request, he will be laid to…

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Pa. man arrested at 'going away' party

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man who threw himself a going away party before his sentencing on drug charges was picked up on an outstanding warrant after police saw information about the party posted on flyers and his Facebook page. Scranton Police Chief Dan…

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Bicycling Seattle mayor has bike stolen 

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle's bicycling mayor has had some explaining to do — to his wife about why her bike got swiped after he borrowed it to ride to work. Seattlepi.com says Mayor Mike McGinn sent a message on Twitter late Wednesday about Peggy Lynch's…

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THURSDAY, FEB. 24, 2011

Tuna, lost wallet busts robbery suspect

A box of Chicken of the Sea tuna and a lost wallet recently led to felony charges against a Spokane man suspected of robbing a medical marijuana patient at gunpoint. Jesse Ryder Bender, 29, is in jail on $35,000 bond after appearing in Superior Court…

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Chief wants to shift focus in shootings 

Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said this week that she hopes to bring more public focus on the perception of officers involved in fatal shootings. "We get so focused on whether a person is armed and is it a knife or whatever. We've got to…

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Meth-addicted mail thieves sentenced

Two Spokane women who stole mail to help fuel their methamphetamine addictions are to repay nearly $50,000 and spend about four years in federal prison. Jacquelyn A. Crawford, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Edward Shea to 53 months in prison after pleading guilty…

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Mohawked man wanted by police

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for tips that help arrest a man suspected of possessing a stolen car. Jedidah l. Selke, 36, was arrested Jan. 25 after a Spokane police officer spotted a stolen 1994 Acura Integra outside a home at 2718 W. Sharp…

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Killer w/ 67 arrests sentenced for drugs

A convicted killer who has been arrested 67 times since leaving juvenile detention is headed to state prison. Nicholas A. Limpert, 25, was sentenced this week to one year and one day in prison with credit for 18 days served after pleading guilty to two…

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Suspects ID'd in heroin bust near school

Three people suspected of selling heroin across the street from a Spokane elementary school remain in jail after their arrest last week. Eliseo Villegas, 52; Raeann L. Tevlin, alias Reanne McAlonan, 18; and Christopher Martinez, 37, were arrested Friday at 1723 E. Mission Ave., which…

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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 23, 2011

Trial begins in alleged house theft, arson

A man charged with the theft and arson of his former landlord's house is on trial in Spokane County Superior Court. Lawyers gave opening statements this morning in the case of Stephen J. Czako, who is charged with first-degree theft and first-degree arson. Czako, 26,…

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Motor home rams patrol car in wild chase

A police chase with a motor home Tuesday night ended with a Spokane Valley man's arrest after the rig tried to ram a patrol car, officials said today. Michael Manuel Chavez, 56, was booked into jail on a second-degree assault charge after inviting police into…

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Steele's lawyers want trial moved to Wyo. 

Edgar Steele's lawyers want his murder-for-hire trial moved to Wyoming. A change of venue request filed by Robert McAllister and Gary Amendola cites "negative pre-trial publicity" that will hinder finding an impartial jury in North Idaho. The lawyers say ongoing news coverage, including the release…

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Forensic scientist Anna Wilson examines biological evidence under a forensic light source at  Washington  State  Patrol Crime Lab Monday, Oct. 25, 2010.  DNA discovered using similar techniques by a scientist at the lab has led to an arrest in a 1986 murder over the weekend.  (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)

State patrol: DNA solving more crimes

DNA testing in Washington is identifying more criminals than ever before. The Washington State Patrol crime lab reported 379 hits last year using a DNA index system and DNA samples from crime suspects and convicted felons. In 2009, 257 hits were recorded. Officials attribute the…

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Few vacancies at Spokane County Jail

An increase in the number of inmates prompted the Spokane County Jail to begin limiting new bookings on Tuesday. As of noon Tuesday, 665 people were housed at the jail. Booking restrictions are put in place once the population climbs above 650. Bookings will be…

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After three trials, jury convicts burglar 

It took three tries, but a Spokane County jury has convicted Gary D. McCabe of his 17th burglary. A jury late Friday found McCabe, 45, guilty of residential burglary and possession of a controlled substance. They acquitted him on one misdemeanor count of possession of…

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TUESDAY, FEB. 22, 2011

Police juggernaut thwarts crafty crime

OK, maybe the headline is a bit of an exaggeration. Two burglary suspects were arrested Monday after one invited police to search his apartment and they found a stolen TV. Jarrod J. Howard, 29, assured Spokane Valley police Officer Chan Erdman he wouldn't find anything…

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Public safety news from the Inland Northwest and beyond.




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