Second hate crime suspect jailed

The second suspect in a July 15 cross-burning surrendered to the Kootenai County Jail on Monday, Spirit Lake Police Chief Tony Lamanna said.

Bail was set at $100,000 Tuesday for 23-year-old Michael R. Simmons. Co-defendant Nicholas J. Schmitt, 18, was arrested last week and has been released on bail.

Both men, of Spokane, are accused of lighting a cross fashioned from tiki torches in front of the home of a black man in Spirit Lake. They have each been charged with criminal conspiracy and felony malicious harassment, a hate crime.

Spokane

Police question murder suspect

A missing Hillyard man is presumed dead, Spokane police officials said Tuesday, and the suspect in his death is talking to California authorities.

John Wayne Thomson, 46, was captured Monday in Southern California where he was accused of attempted carjacking.

Thomson has already been charged with killing Kelso, Wash., resident Lori Hamm, 36, and Lucerne Valley, Calif., resident Charles Ray Hedlund, 55. Thomson is considered a suspect in the disappearance of 73-year-old James Ehrgott, who was last seen July 6.

“For someone facing the serious charges that he is, I’m surprised he’s talking,” said Spokane police Lt. Scott Stevens.

Thomson has spoken to California authorities about Ehrgott, but Stevens wouldn’t elaborate.

Since Thomson was captured in San Bernardino County, authorities there have first crack at him, Stevens said, referring to when Thomson might return to Spokane.

“The good thing is he’s not on the streets,” Stevens said.

Anchorage, Alaska

Air Force calls off search for plane

The search for a light plane missing since late July with three Northwest men aboard has been suspended, authorities said Tuesday.

All potential leads have been exhausted and all areas have been thoroughly searched, the Air Force said.

The plane had taken off from the Kenai airport for Anchorage on a training flight.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Ralph Aiken of East Wenatchee, Wash., was the instructor on the training flight. The pilot was Rick Posusta of Boise. Ian Beer of Port Orchard, Wash., was riding behind them in a passenger seat.

Relatives of Aiken, an East Wenatchee city councilman, said earlier this week they believed he was dead. A memorial service was scheduled for Aug. 19 at the Wenatchee Free Methodist Church.

The four-seat plane was owned by Commander Northwest of East Wenatchee.

From staff and wire reports