Woman held on to purse during robbery attempt

A man tried to steal a woman’s purse Thursday.

The woman had been shopping at the University City Rosauers grocery store and left to catch a bus. As the woman walked toward the bus, she felt someone start to tug at her purse. The woman began screaming and held on to the purse. The struggle caused her to fall to the ground, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department.

The victim got only a brief look at the man and could not provide a description, police said.

Anyone with information about the robbery attempt should call Crime Check at 456-2233.

Police arrest backward-driving man

Driving backward landed a man in jail this week.

Several people called police after seeing a man driving backward along South University Road about 3 p.m. Wednesday.

When police arrived, the Pontiac was stuck on an embankment near Dishman-Mica Road, according to a press release from the Spokane Valley Police Department.

Officer Richard Johnson recognized the driver as William A. Kellogg, 36, from previous contacts, police said.

The man was incoherent and unstable, police said.

Because he had weapons in the past, Kellogg was handcuffed and searched, police said. Johnson found three knives, a razor and a small amount of methamphetamine, police said.

Kellogg was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of felony drug possession.

Bad license tabs lead to arrest

An officer stopped a man because his license plate tabs were from the wrong month.

The tabs had expired in July, yet the car showed they were current, according to a press release from the Spokane Valley Police Department.

Officer Dean Meyer stopped the Chevrolet near 18000 E. Boone Ave. about 10 a.m. Wednesday. Meyer determined the current tabs belonged to a different vehicle, Police said.

The driver gave Meyer a first name he suspected was false, police said. Police eventually determined the man was Scotty J. Hauff, 38, 1507 N. Grady.

Hauff signed the infraction for expired vehicle license with his brother’s name because his license was suspended, Police said.

Hauff was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of felony forgery.

Meth found during traffic stop

A Spokane man was arrested Wednesday morning on a drug charge after his car was stopped by police.

Police Officer Aaron Myhre originally stopped the Oldsmobile in the 12200 block of East Fourth Avenue at 11:20 a.m. The car had expired license tabs, according to a press release from the Spokane Valley Police Department.

The driver was identified as Bryan C. Hamblen, 22, a transient. Myhre arrested Hamblen after learning his driver’s license was expired, police said.

Myhre searched the car and found a small amount of methamphetamine beneath the driver’s seat, police said. Hamblen was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of felony drug possession.