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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels archive for July 2011

SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2011

Photo Red warning period ends today

The grace period will end tonight for red light runners caught on camera at the three latest Spokane intersections to be equipped with the surveilance devices, police warned today. Starting first thing tomorrow, anyone caught on camera running a red light will receive a ticket…

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2011


Body in river that of missing teenager

The body pulled Tuesday from the Spokane River is that of Alexander Allen, 18, who was reported missing July 22, Spokane police said today. There does not appear to be signs of foul play, police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said. Allen was last seen in…

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DNA reveals new suspect in '07 murder

Authorities in Spokane are questioning whether the wrong man was sent to prison for the murder of a porn-shop owner in 2007. A recent DNA match in the case has identified a new suspect. Jeramie R. Davis, 37, (left) was recently transferred to the Spokane…

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Police are trying to identify two vehicles driven by thieves who have stolen thousands of dollars worth of fuel since May.
Someone stole a fuel car from an Environment West vehicle in the 7500 block of North Argonne and paid for gas purchases worth more than $2,000, including one in Adams County, before the card was returned to the vehicle.
On June 7, someone cut through security fencing at the Central Valley School District, 19300 E. Cataldo Ave., and stole fuel cards from several buses. 
 "The thief, and presumably his friends, has racked up more that $5,000 in stolen fuel bills," Sgt. Dave Reagan said in a news release. "All of the gasoline was stolen from Pacific Pride fuel stations, and most was stolen at the Newman Lake site."
Surveillance photos from gas stations show a mid-90s green standard cab Dodge pickup that is lifted and has a silver passenger door and after-market wheels. Also pictured is a mid-to-late 90's white GMC or Chevrolet Tahoe (possibly a Suburban) that has a roof rack, white taillight covers and a pitbull sticker in the right rear window. View the photos online at www.spokesman.com/blogs/sirens.
Anyone with information on the owners of the vehicles is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.
 (Spokane Valley Police Department)

Fuel card thieves rack up $5k+ in sales

Police are trying to identify two vehicles driven by thieves who have stolen thousands of dollars worth of fuel since May. Someone stole a fuel car from an Environment West vehicle in the 7500 block of North Argonne and paid for gas purchases worth more…

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TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011

Man with 12+ felony cases sentenced

A man charged with more than 12 felonies within seven months is headed to prison for 10 years after a hearing recently in Spokane County Superior Court. George W. Butrick, 33, still has not resolved a federal charge of felon in possession of a firearm…

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Marijuana suspect calls on Willie Nelson

The daughter of a Spokane medical marijuana dispenser recently indicted in federal court is calling on legendary singer and pot advocate Willie Nelson to take up his cause. In an email to The Spokesman-Review, Jessica Vogel-Laberdee asks Nelson, who plays outside at Northern Quest Casino…

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Family defends accused child abuser

A baby boy is fighting for his life in a Spokane hospital and his 19-year-old Coeur d’Alene father is accused of causing the bleeding in the infant’s brain by repeatedly handling him too roughly. James Dean Blanchard has been charged with felony injury to a…

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Experts detail problems with Knox case

By ALESSANDRA RIZZO,Associated Press PERUGIA, Italy (AP) — The investigators who collected the genetic evidence used to convict Seattle student Amanda Knox of murder in Italy made a series of glaring errors, including using a dirty glove and not wearing caps, two independent forensic experts…

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In this photo from Wednesday, July 20, 2011, San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr, bottom, addresses Bayview residents upset about the police shooting of Kenneth Wade Harding in San Francisco. About 300 people gathered for the meeting which ended early following outbursts from some attendees. New developments into the shooting death of 19-year-old Washington state parolee Kenneth Harding has evolved into a perplexing mystery that may do little to quell tensions between the police and the community that goes back decades. Police said Thursday that they believe Harding fatally shot himself in the neck and the bullet went to his head, a stunning twist after police thought that officers killed him after he allegedly opened fire first. (AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Noah Berger)  ((AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Noah Berger) )

Dead man's family doubt SF police claims

In this photo from July 20, San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr, bottom, addresses Bayview residents upset about the police shooting of Washington state parolee Kenneth Wade Harding in San Francisco. About 300 people gathered for the meeting which ended early following outbursts from some…

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SAfrican man wakes in morgue fridge

By NASTASYA TAY,Associated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African man awoke to find himself in a morgue fridge — nearly a day after his family thought he had died, a health official said Monday. Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the man awoke Sunday…

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MONDAY, JULY 25, 2011

Arson caused this fire at 4418 E. 15th Ave., in Spokane Valley early Sunday, officials say. (Spokane Valley Fire Department)

Arson suspected in Valley house fire

Arson caused a fire that damaged a home in Spokane Valley early Sunday, officials said today. The blaze at 4418 E. 15th Ave., caused more than $100,000 in damage to the home and took more than 25 firefighters to quickly contain. The family was away…

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5 indicted in $65k check forgery ring

Five Spokane residents have been charged in a year-long check forgery ring that bilked business in the Inland Northwest of more than $65,000. 36-count federal indictment alleges John A. Campisi, 45 (right); Darryl P. Sargent, 46 (left); Andrea N. Hartnett, Brande S. Garabedian and Chelce…

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Police: Women stole from grandmother

Two Medical Lake women are accused of stealing from their 91-year-old grandmother. Twin sisters Jamee M. and Jackee D. Stearns, 23, were arrested Sunday after the alleged victim told police she'd returned from her hair appointment and found at least $300 missing from her purse…

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Trip to concert leads to fugitive warrant

UPDATE: Stafone Fuentes was booked into jail Saturday and is due in court today. A Spokane man is wanted on a felony warrant after his unauthorized trip to a concert in Montana was publicized because his uncle was killed outside the show. Stafone Nicholas Fuentes,…

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Spokane firefighters mop up a blaze that killed a woman at 4128 E. Princeton, July 15, 2011, in Spokane, Wash. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)

Donations wanted for fatal fire victim 

An account has been created to raise money for the family and funeral expenses of a 67-year-old woman killed in a fire at her northeast Spokane home last week. The fire at 4128 E. Princeton Ave. destroyed the home where Inez L. Williams lived. Family…

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Tribe member guilty of manslaughter

A federal jury in Spokane convicted a 22-year-old Colville tribal member of involuntary manslaughter Friday. Rudy M. Garcia was acquitted of first-degree murder and other lesser included offenses following a two-week trial in U.S. District Court, said Tom Rice, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.…

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SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

12-hour car impound for DUI arrests 

(AP) OLYMPIA -- As of Friday, Washington motorists arrested for DUI will also have their vehicle impounded. The new state law requires a 12-hour hold be placed on cars driven by suspected drunk drivers. One of the major reasons behind the law is that many…

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FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2011

Suspected molester claims ax attack

A Spokane man is accused of molesting a 10-year-old girl his girlfriend was babysitting. Dewitt Allen "D" Harrelson, 46, is in jail on $10,000 bond after appearing in Spokane County Superior Court Friday on a first-degree child molestation charge. The girl told a Stevens Elementary…

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Police say suspect admitted bank heist

Police say a sex offender admitted to robbing a bank Wednesday in north Spokane. Lawrence A. Wideman, 43, remains in jail on $150,000 bond for first-degree robbery. Police pulled him from the Spokane River after a chase that began with a gunpoint robbery at Wells…

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Northside constructon trailers looted

Here's a news release from Sgt. Dave Reagan: Someone broke into a pair of construction trailers overnight Wednesday and made off with about $2,200 worth of tools and equipment. A foreman for Graham Construction told Spokane County sheriff's Deputy Terry Liljenberg that the trailers were…

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20+ indicted on meth, cocaine charges

At least 22 people have been indicted in a major cocaine and methamphetamine investigation in Eastern Washington. Federal agents arrests suspects in the Tri-Cities, Grant County and Spokane areas Thursday. The indictment, which is filed under seal in U.S. District Court, includes charges of conspiracy…

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'Dog-gone thieves' swipe bulldog statue

A statue of a bulldog was stolen from the front porch of a south Spokane home recently. A resident in the 3000 block of East Tara Drive in the Moran Praire neighborhood noticed the cast-iron bulldog missing from her front porch Tuesday morning. She said…

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