I-90 motorcycle crash lands man in hospital

A Spokane man was hospitalized Saturday morning after he drove his motorcycle off Interstate 90 in western Adams County, the Washington State Patrol reported.

John Q. Hoff, 59, was airlifted to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee where he was listed in critical condition Saturday night.

Hoff was westbound on a Honda motorcycle when he drove off the right side and lost control on a gravel shoulder near the western border of Adams County, the WSP said in a press release. The Honda rolled twice and came to rest in a ditch. Hoff was wearing a helmet.

Cause of the crash is under investigation, but alcohol is not believed to be a factor, the WSP said.

Missing woman, son found at health facility

A Spokane Valley woman and son reported missing Friday have been found.

Diana Tindell, 39, walked from her Spokane Valley home to pick up her 7-year-old son at Trentwood Elementary School on Friday afternoon, Lt. Earl Howerton said. She and her son left the school about 3:30 p.m. and were thought to be headed on foot to her mother’s home near Hawthorne Road and Division Street.

She was found in the care of a mental health facility about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Howerton said. Tindell and her son had taken a cab to the location.

Howerton said Tindell had received distressing news from a family member earlier in the day. Howerton said he could not discuss the nature of the information.

Boundary County Jail staff cleared in inmate’s death

The staff of the Boundary County Jail has been cleared in the death of an inmate who overdosed on drugs, Prosecutor Jack Douglas announced Friday.

Dale Allen Young, 42, was arrested and booked into the jail at 11:36 p.m. June 24 on a charge of possession of methamphetamines after a traffic stop made by Bonners Ferry police, county officials said in a press release.

Young swallowed approximately a quarter-ounce of methamphetamine in a plastic wrapper in an attempt to prevent officers from finding it, according to the release. The wrapping, however, did not hold in his stomach. He was taken to a hospital by jail staff about two hours after his arrest.

Young’s family has accused the jail of deliberately taking too long to get him to the hospital. The Bonner County Daily Bee reported Saturday that Young’s brother and half-brother had hired an attorney and private investigator to look into whether jailers ignored Young’s pleas for medical help.

Young’s death was investigated by the Idaho State Police.

Men walking down street wounded in two incidents

A man was shot while walking down the sidewalk about 11:45 p.m. Friday near Third Avenue and Nelson Street, police reported.

The incident is similar to a suspected shooting that occurred two hours earlier in the Garland business district.

In the Third Avenue shooting, a 48-year-old man told medics that he thought he had fallen, but a gunshot wound was found on his shoulder, said police spokesman Dick Cottam in a press release.

A nearby resident told investigators that he heard a gunshot coming from the area of Fourth and Nelson. A slug was removed from the man’s shoulder. He was not believed to be seriously injured, Cottam said.

In the Garland case, a different 48-year-old man fell on the sidewalk in front of the North Hill Masonic Temple. He told medics that he thought he had simply fallen, but a round entry wound consistent with a gunshot was found on his left shoulder, Officer Rob Boothe said at the scene.

The man was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center. His injury was not considered life threatening, and his condition was unknown Saturday evening.

After collecting evidence at the Garland scene Friday, officers said they were headed to the hospital to make sure the wound was caused by a gunshot. Further details about the suspected Garland shooting were unavailable Saturday, Cottam said.

Police ask anyone with information on these incidents to call (509) 242-8477.

Reward offered for tips on man sought by police

A cash reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of a man wanted on drug and firearms charges.

Larry Gene Marquette, 36, has been convicted 35 times for crimes including burglary and hit and run with an injury.

He is wanted on warrants accusing him of drug possession and possession of a firearm.

Marquette is 5 feet 7 inches and 160 pounds with thinning brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information on Marquette’s whereabouts can call Secret Witness at (509) 327-5111. Callers do not have to give their name to be eligible for the reward.

Woman convicted in rapes of boys is living downtown

A Level 3 sex offender, considered to be a high risk to commit another sex crime, has moved to downtown Spokane, police reported.

Eva Marie Strasburg, 23, was convicted of second-degree child rape in 1998 and third-degree child rape in 2003, said police spokesman Dick Cottam in a press release. Both crimes happened in Walla Walla County. The victim in the first case was a 12-year-old boy. Her most recent conviction involved a 13-year-old boy.

Strasburg, who is not wanted by police at this time, is 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 200 pounds and has red hair and green eyes.

State fire marshal resigns amid misconduct probe

Olympia

The state’s fire marshal has resigned less than a year into the job, amid two investigations of alleged misconduct.

Samuel P. Pierre resigned Wednesday. He was being investigated by the Washington State Patrol as well as the state Auditor’s Office. Details of alleged misconduct were not made public.

The WSP’s investigation, which began in July, ended with the resignation, said Capt. Jeff DeVere. The auditor’s investigation, concerning a Whistleblower Act complaint, continues.

Pierre also quit his last job, with the Lafayette, La., Fire Department, amid accusations of wrongdoing. In that case, a firefighter complained that Pierre violated civil service rules by handing out campaign propaganda to subordinates during work time.

Man, 70, dies when four-wheeler crashes

A man was killed Saturday afternoon in a four-wheeler crash east of Harvard, Idaho, the Latah County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Ronald E. Lengacher Sr., 70, was traveling on a trail off Palouse River Road near Laird Park about 1 p.m. when the one-vehicle crash occurred, said Detective Jennifer L. McFarland in a press release.

Further details were unavailable.