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

Agencies may team up on officer shootings


Loomis
 (The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review

Law enforcement agencies have begun talks to form a team to investigate officer-involved incidents, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Tuesday.

The team, modeled after Snohomish County’s Multi-Agency Response Team – or SMART – would include the Sheriff’s Office, the Spokane Police Department, the county prosecutor’s office and the Washington State Patrol.

Currently, Spokane police investigate if a member of the Sheriff’s Office is involved in an incident, and vice versa.

The Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating two police-involved shootings. Knezovich said when there are multiple investigations it’s hard to stretch departmental resources.

With the team, the same members from each of the local agencies and the state would investigate each time there was an officer-involved incident. The member of the agency involved would not be the lead investigator.

Spokane

Reward offered for forgery suspect

Secret Witness is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest of a man suspected of forgery, first-degree trafficking stolen property and third-degree theft.

Mason A. Loomis, 21, is described as white, 5-foot-11, 140 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call (509) 327-5111. Tipsters do not have to leave their name to collect the reward, but should leave a code name or number.

Man arrested inPapa John’s robbery

A man suspected of robbery and kidnapping was arrested Tuesday, more than a week after the crime.

Brandon Pomerinke, 25, was booked into Spokane County Jail on first-degree robbery and kidnapping charges after police arrested him at his apartment.

Later Tuesday afternoon, while searching Pomerinke’s house for a weapon, one detective suffered puncture wounds to the arm when dogs at the house attacked, said Spokane police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee. The detective did not require hospitalization.

The dogs escaped the house at 1912 E. Bridgeport Ave. soon after the attack, and SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. officers began a search for the loose animals.

Early on April 1, a man entered Papa John’s Pizza at 2023 E. Wellesley with a handgun and forced an employee into a walk-in refrigerator, DeRuwe said. The man took money from the register, and “the employee’s business key, cell phone and all telephone cords from the business,” DeRuwe said.

The employee was not hurt, DeRuwe said.

Detectives served a search warrant at 203 E. Wedgewood, Apt. G203, about 6 a.m. Tuesday and arrested Pomerinke.

Spokane Valley

Meeting to discuss Valley transportation

The Spokane Regional Transportation Commission will hold a public meeting tonight to discuss a planned study of the eastern Spokane Valley and western Rathdrum Prairie.

The study will focus on existing and anticipated transportation problems in the area bounded by Sullivan Road, Idaho Highway 41 in Post Falls, Trent Avenue (Washington state Route 290) and the Mica Peak ridgeline.

Commission officials invite people to drop in from 5 to 7 p.m. at Central Valley High School, 821 S. Sullivan Road.

For more information, go to www.srtc.org.

Public comments sought on ORV parks

Spokane County parks officials and Spokane Motorsports Complex Inc. will seek public comments Thursday on off-road vehicle park needs and funding.

A 5:30 p.m. meeting at the county parks office, 404 N. Havana St., will cover a proposed state grant for ORV education, enforcement and facilities improvements.

In particular, officials want to know what people think is needed at the county’s ORV parks near Liberty Lake and Airway Heights.