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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Intruder binds man in 60s, takes money and his car


Matlock
 (The Spokesman-Review)
Compiled for staff and wire reports The Spokesman-Review

A Spokane man was tied with duct tape in his home on Saturday by a robber who stole money and his car, Spokane police reported.

The victim, who is in his 60s, reported that the man entered his residence on North Hogan Street through an unlocked door, tied him with tape, drank a beer, took money from his wallet and left about 4 a.m., said police spokesman Dick Cottam.

Police don’t believe there was any connection between the victim and robber.

The victim, who called police about 6 a.m., suffered bruises in the incident and was taken to an area hospital and released, Cottam said.

The robber apparently left the scene in the victim’s 2000 black, four-door Oldsmobile Alero with Washington license plate 489KQA.

The robber, who did not display a weapon in the incident, was described as in his 20s with a light complexion, dark hair, thick moustache and heavy eyebrows. He wore a blue shirt with an orange logo on the chest and dirty trousers.

Police ask that anyone with information on the robber or stolen car to call 242-8477.

Reward offered for tips on man

Secret Witness is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of a man believed to be involved in the sale of stolen auto parts and narcotics.

Jeffrey F. Matlock, 31, is wanted on a Department of Corrections warrant and is considered armed and dangerous.

On Thursday, Washington State Patrol units and officers from several other agencies raided four homes in Spokane County that WSP investigators believe Matlock had been frequenting, according to a WSP press release. Matlock was not found, but the raids led to five other arrests.

Matlock has seven felony convictions.

He is 6 feet and 175 pounds with sandy hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information on Matlock’s whereabouts can call Secret Witness at 327-5111. Callers do not have to give their name to be eligible for the cash reward.

Emergency drill planned Monday

About 40 businesses will participate in an emergency drill Monday, which may include an Emergency Alert System broadcast on area radio and television stations.

Sponsored by the Spokane City/County Department of Emergency Management, the “shelter-in-place” drill will simulate a train wreck in which a gas plume has drifted over the city.

“This is the first serious effort to educate the citizens of Spokane County about what they would need to do if a chemical spill or other event required them to shelter-in-place,” said Dave Baker of the Emergency Management Foundation of Spokane. “Though shelter-in-place events typically only last a few hours, everyone should be prepared to stay indoors and sustain themselves for at least three days with an emergency kit should a major disaster occur.”

Participating businesses will either hold a drill at their facility or educate employees and the public about proper procedures.

Shelter-in-place procedures include getting everyone inside a car, a workplace or a home and shutting and locking all doors and windows, turning off ventilation systems, sealing any areas where outside air could enter, and turning on the television or radio to listen for the “all clear” signal.

Spokane County’s Emergency Operations Center will open its public information phone bank from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to answer questions about sheltering- in-place. The phone bank number is (509) 477-2304.

Tougher rules sought to protect owl

Olympia

Conservation groups are calling for tougher logging rules in Washington state, saying harvesting of the threatened northern spotted owl’s habitat on nonfederal lands is reducing the birds’ numbers.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife released a draft report Friday showing that 73,000 acres of owl habitat on state and private lands were harvested between 1996 and 2004, leaving about 813,000 acres in those areas. The lands are regulated by the Department of Natural Resources’ Forest Practices Board.

The report is the first full assessment of owl habitat on such lands since the board adopted 1996 rules protecting northern spotted owl population areas.