Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels archive for Jan. 2012

TUESDAY, JAN. 31, 2012

Man guilty in road rage murder re-trial 

A jury today convicted a North Idaho man of second-degree murder for fatally running over a woman during a 2006 road rage incident with her husband and two daughters. Jonathan Wade Ellington, 51, has already served six years in prison for the Jan. 1, 2006,…

Continue reading this post »


Jury still out in road rage murder case

Jurors today continue to deliberate the fate of of a North Idaho man charged with murder for running over a woman during a road rage encounter with her husband and daughters six years ago. The jury of 12 Kootenai County residents asked 1st District Judge…

Continue reading this post »



Ex-deputy gets 30 days in federal prison 

A former Spokane County sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to serve a month in prison after he previously pleaded guilty to defrauding a federal program that allows law enforcement officers and other public employees to buy homes at a discount. Brett J. Peterson, 41, had…

Continue reading this post »


7 assault charges reduced in plea deal 

A man who fired several gunshots into a house, narrowly missing two toddlers, after a 2009 dispute over a dog accepted a plea bargain Monday that called for 60 days in jail, which he’s already served. Lucas J. Merrill, 28, had faced seven counts of…

Continue reading this post »


Emphasis patrol follows weekend crashes

Crashes that hurt one man and killed another in Spokane last weekend occurred as local authorities are working to emphasize pedestrian safety to motorists. Emphasis patrols Tuesday and next month in Cheney are part of an ongoing effort in Spokane County to reduce the number…

Continue reading this post »

MONDAY, JAN. 30, 2012

Neighbor helps busts burglary suspects

A citizen’s report of suspicious activity in north Spokane County led to the arrest of two suspected burglars this afternoon, the sheriff's office. A neighbor in the 7000 block of North Stevens Street observed the men looking into windows at a home before one climbed…

Continue reading this post »


Wire theft knocks out power; tips sought

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information that led to the arrest of those responsible for a wire theft at an Avista substation that left thousands without power. The thief or thieves cut cooper ground wires and stole portions, resulting in about $10,000 in…

Continue reading this post »


Cops: Paintball gun-toting robber ID'd 

A 26-year-old convicted felon has been identified as a suspect in a robbery with a paintball gun at a Spokane clinic last month. Brian Lee "Rowdy" Riley, 26, is in jail on a first-degree robbery charge for the Dec. 29 drug heist at the Spokane…

Continue reading this post »


Cop's 'ruse' w/ felon leads to suspension

A Spokane police officer who spent 10 months on paid leave while investigators probed the extent of his working relationship with an unlicensed bounty hunter is back on patrol. Senior Officer Alan D. Edwards, 47, was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing but was found to…

Continue reading this post »

FRIDAY, JAN. 27, 2012

3 indicted in bank fraud conspiracy

Brothers from Spokane and Post Falls and a third man have been indicted on a federal charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a scheme that investigators say bilked $6 million from KeyBank. Local and federal law enforcement agencies arrested this week 49-year-old Roger…

Continue reading this post »


Sketch shows pharmacy robbery suspect 

Detectives today released a sketch of a possible suspect in two gunpoint robberies at a Deer Park pharmacy. The first robbery at the Medicine Shoppe pharmacy, 11 E. H St., occurred Dec. 5 about 4:40 p.m. when a man demanded OxyContin and displayed a silver…

Continue reading this post »


'Flint Fire the Frequent Flyer' arrested 

The arrest of a woman wanted for theft since September led police to identify suspects in a residential burglary just a day earlier. Tami Jo Hearn, 50, alias Raider, had jewelry and checkbooks belonging to a homeowner in the 3300 block of West Woodside Avenue…

Continue reading this post »


Cops: woman stole soda for can deposit

LYNN, Mass. (AP) — Authorities say a Massachusetts woman bought $64 worth of soda using a stolen welfare benefits card, then immediately fed the full cans into the supermarket's automated redemption machine for the nickel deposit. Tina Cafarelli, of Lynn, pleaded not guilty Monday to…

Continue reading this post »


Tenn. officer fired for smoking in precinct

Tenn. police officer fired for smoking in precinct NEWBERN, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee police department says it has fired an officer after 17 years on the force because he repeatedly smoked cigarettes inside the precinct in violation of the city's no smoking policy. Newbern…

Continue reading this post »


Potty-room pilfering reported in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A restroom rip-off in central Ohio has automatic flushers disappearing from the bathrooms at restaurants and other businesses. Police say it's been happening in at least a couple Columbus suburbs. Investigators don't know if the thefts are related. Handyman John Hahn…

Continue reading this post »

THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 2012

In this 2003 photo, Jerome Leveque shares a laugh during an announcement by hen-Gov. Gary Locke, right, that Leveque and private defense attorney Maryann Moreno, center, were the new Superior Court judges Friday. (Brian Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)

Judge Leveque to retire at end of year 

In this 2003 photo, Jerome Leveque shares a laugh during an announcement by hen-Gov. Gary Locke, right, that Leveque and private defense attorney Maryann Moreno, center, were the new Superior Court judges Friday. (SRfilephoto) Spokane County Superior Court Judge Jerome Leveque will retire when his…

Continue reading this post »


Spokane man guilty in Plummer murder

A Spokane man has been convicted of second-degree murder for a fatal stabbing in Plummer, Idaho, last year. Jody Allen Miller, 40, (left) entered an Alford plea this morning in Benewah County District Court for the April 17 murder of Antowyn D. “Tony” Swiney, 37,…

Continue reading this post »


Spokane police arrest sex offender Christopher Ebner on child pornography charges. (Jennier DeRuwe / Spokane Police Department)

Sex offender arrested for child porn

Spokane police Officer Tyler Cordis escorts sex offender Christopher Ebner to a patrol car after his arrest on child pornography charges today. (SPDphoto) A sex offender was arrested today for allegedly possessing child pornography. Christopher Michael Ebner, 37, lives in the 1400 block of North…

Continue reading this post »


Crews rescue a man from the Spokane River in Riverfront Park today. (Meghann Cuniff / The Spokesman-Review)

Police call river rescue a 'media circus'

Crews rescue a man from the Spokane River in Riverfront Park on Jan. 13. (SRPhoto/Meghann Cuniff) Spokane police didn't mince words when describing a recent water rescue in Riverfront Park - they called it a "media circus." News crews were at the park Jan. 13…

Continue reading this post »


Cops search home in drug robbery probe

Detectives searched a home recently to look for evidence in an armed robbery at a clinic last month No arrests have been made, and the investigation into the Dec. 29 drug heist at the Spokane Falls Family Clinic, 120 W. Mission Ave., continues. A pharmacy…

Continue reading this post »


Stuck driver survives on M&Ms, water

BURLEY, Idaho (AP) — Officials in south-central Idaho say a Texas woman may have spent up to a week in a rental car stuck in a dairy wastewater pond after taking a wrong turn as she searched for a hotel in Burley. Cassia County officials…

Continue reading this post »


Conn. mayor blasted for 'taco' quip

By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN,Associated Press NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — The mayor of a working-class city roiled by allegations of police discrimination against Hispanics faced scathing criticism Wednesday from officials including the governor for saying he "might have tacos" as a way to do something for…

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25, 2012

Warrants already required in Wash. for GPS

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling requiring law enforcement obtain search warrants before attaching GPS devices to vehicles will have little effect in Washington state. State and local agencies in Washington have for several years been required to get a judge's approval before using GPS…

Continue reading this post »


Man arrested after knife threat in Valley

A man who threatened his former roommate with a knife before ignoring police commands was arrested without incident Tuesday night in Spokane Valley, police said today. Police say Daniel W. De Long, 43, clinched his fists and "aggressively walked" toward officers after they ordered him…

Continue reading this post »

Public safety news from the Inland Northwest and beyond.




Blog Archives

Jan. 2012
31 30 27 26 25
24 23 21 20 19
18 17 14 13 12
11 10 09 07 06
05 04 03