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

Man Accused In Witness Intimidation, Kidnapping

From Staff Reports

A man jailed in Idaho is accused of conspiring to prevent a cab driver from testifying in court against him.

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday said an arrest warrant charges Larry H. Knauff, 60, with conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, attempted first-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit intimidation of a witness and second-degree assault.

Knauff is being held in the Latah County Jail, said Lt. David Wiyrick of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department.

Knauff is accused of hiring another man to intimidate cab driver Gary Smith from testifying at a court hearing regarding a burglary in Latah County. Smith is a relative of Knauff’s.

Smith picked up Allen M. Green, 19, of Paradise, Calif., at the Flying J truck stop in Post Falls on April 26. As they approached the Spokane Airport, Smith, a Post Falls resident, told police that Green pointed a shotgun at him.

At the airport at about 7 a.m., the shotgun was fired as the cabbie wrestled it away from Green. Then, the taxi ran into a parked pickup truck.

No one was hit by the shotgun blast. Green was arrested at the airport and is being held at the Spokane County Jail on assault and kidnapping charges.

, DataTimes