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

Failure to signal leads to arrests

The Spokesman-Review

Spokane Valley police arrested two area residents within an hour for possession of pain medication that a doctor didn’t prescribe to them.

Steve R. VanDinter, 34, 905 S. Bradley Road, was arrested about 6:20 p.m. Tuesday after police found a hydrocodone pain pill inside the car he was driving during a traffic stop, Spokane Valley police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said.

About an hour later, police arrested Sara C. Borgman, 24, 1506 N. Greenacres Road, after finding a labeled pill bottle containing six hydrocodone pills in a purse.

VanDinter and Borgman were each charged with unlawful possession of a schedule III controlled substance and driving offenses, Reagan said. Both were pulled over by police when they failed to use their turn signals.

Traffic stop leads to drug arrest

Spokane Valley police arrested a 48-year-old man Tuesday for alleged drug dealing after discovering his license plate tags had expired.

About 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, an officer pulled a truck over at 13200 E. Valleyway Ave., Reagan said. A man jumped out of the truck and threw something in the cab of the pickup.

A clear plastic baggie with cocaine was found during a search of the man, Reagan said. The black bag he’d thrown in the cab contained cellular phones, a cocaine cutting agent, a container between the two front seats containing rocks of crack cocaine, a razor blade and other paraphernalia.

Larry J. Bross, 14905 E. Sprague Ave., was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and two misdemeanor charges are pending, said Reagan.

Two arrested by bicycle patrol officers

Spokane Valley police officers arrested two men on drug charges during a bicycle patrol Wednesday night.

Officers Andy Buell and Richard Johnson were patrolling the area near 5300 East Sprague Avenue about 9:20 p.m. when they circled behind a closed business and found two people sitting in a parked car.

As officers approached, the passenger, later identified as Justin J. Wilson, threw an item onto the dashboard, said Reagan.

When asked what they were doing behind the closed building, Wilson said the pair had been “dumpster diving.”

Johnson discovered that Wilson had two outstanding warrants, and arrested him on those charges.

While searching the car, the officers found a drug kit, tossed onto the dashboard by Wilson, with a small amount of black tar heroin, several syringes and a burnt spoon, Reagan said.

The female driver was released. Johnson had Officer Mike McNees drive Wilson to the Spokane County Jail, where he was booked on the warrants and a new count of possession of a controlled substance, Reagan said.

Another man, 33-year-old Shawn A. Barton, was arrested on a charge of possession of methamphetamine near Park Road and Sprague.

Barton, 4013 N. Whitehouse St., initially lied to the officers about his identity when contacted in his vehicle at 200 S. Park Road, Reagan said.

Johnson noticed Barton digging into his pocket for something, later found to be two small baggies of meth. The officer also discovered a set of drug scales inside Barton’s car, Reagan said.

Barton also was booked into the Spokane County Jail.