Woman Arrested After Trying To Pass Stolen Check At Shopko

A Spokane Valley woman was arrested Saturday after allegedly trying to use a stolen check to pay for $660 worth of merchandise at a department store.

Sheriff’s deputies said Laice L. Peterson, 29, filled out the stolen check, signed the victim’s name to it, and presented it as payment for a cart full of merchandise at ShopKo, 13414 E. Sprague.

Peterson, who gave her address as 4830 E. Commerce, was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of second-degree possession of stolen property, second-degree theft and forgery.

Witnesses at ShopKo said Peterson presented a photo identification card with the check. The cashier, who had been warned about a woman that tried to use a stolen check at the Valley Kmart store on Friday, noticed that Peterson matched the woman’s description and called a manager to the register.

The cashier and manager told Peterson they had to verify information on the check and identification, and took both to an office in the store where they notified security.

Peterson got nervous and left a few minutes later without the merchandise, Reagan said.

Deputies stopped Peterson in the parking lot as she was leaving in her white 1980 Ford Mustang. Inside, deputies found a receipt and check carbon for a television set, a stereo and other items Peterson allegedly bought with a stolen check at Shamrock Pawn Shop, 11505 E. Sprague, Reagan said. The victim’s name and address were listed on the receipt, he said.

The checks were stolen from a South Hill mailbox about three weeks ago, Reagan said. Some of the checks had been cashed, he said.

“This is a fairly common scheme,” Reagan said.

In an unrelated weekend burglary in the 7700 block of East Indiana, thieves stole jewelry and a box of 325 personal checks from a woman who died last month. So far, there have been no reports of the checks being used.

To protect themselves and victims, businesses should ask for two pieces of identification, or at least a valid state driver’s license or state identification card, Reagan said.

“This is a growing, growing problem for us,” Reagan said. “It used to be they’d break into your home and take cash and take your stereo and leave. Now they’re taking your checks and credit cards.”

Boy with weapon arrested at school

A 12-year-old boy with a slingshot was arrested last Thursday night at Keystone Elementary School.

Witnesses complained to the school’s principal that the boy was shooting something from the slingshot at cars, people and into the air during an evening function, Reagan said. No injuries or damage was reported following the 7:15 p.m. incident.

Deputies questioned the boy in the principal’s office and arrested him for being in possession of a dangerous weapon on school property.

The boy was then released into the custody of his grandmother, and his case referred to the juvenile court system, Reagan said.

The boy told the arresting deputy that he did not know it was illegal to bring a slingshot to the school, Reagan said. However, a janitor at Keystone told the deputy he caught the boy at the school with the slingshot about a month ago and told him it was illegal, Reagan said.

, DataTimes