Home invasion robbery suspect arrested

Spokane police have arrested a man they believe was part of a home invasion robbery early Thursday morning.

Lawrence Jalen Campbell, 24, was arrested on charges of first-degree armed robbery and assault Thursday night.

In court documents filed Friday, a man told police that he went to answer a knock on his door just after midnight Wednesday and recognized Campbell outside.

Once the man opened the door, another man with a cover on his face pushed his way in and held the victim down on a couch with a knife to his throat, documents said.

Campbell and a third person allegedly ransacked the apartment and made off with a PlayStation 2, a DVD player, a cell phone and other items. They then drove off in the victim’s 1992 white Infiniti car, according to the court documents.

Officers found Campbell at his apartment at 2308 W. Bridge and arrested him Thursday night.

The two other people were still at large Friday evening. Campbell made his first appearance before a judge Friday afternoon.

Teacher put on leave pending investigation

A teacher at Lincoln Heights Elementary School has been put on paid administrative leave while officials investigate allegations that he inappropriately touched students.

The man, who was not identified, is a general music teacher at the school, confirmed Terren Roloff, Spokane Public Schools spokeswoman.

He will remain on leave until the district completes its investigation, Roloff said.

Hayden

Prosecutor given report on shooting by officer

The Idaho State Police finished its investigation Friday of the officer-involved shooting in Hayden this month where a suspect was shot and instigated a wild car chase through two counties.

Now the report is with the Kootenai County prosecutor’s office, which will determine if charges are warranted. The report and deputy’s name will remain confidential until the prosecutor’s office makes a decision, said State Police Capt. Clark Rollins.

Prosecutor Bill Douglas said Friday he had not yet reviewed the report.

The Coeur d’Alene Police Department assisted with the investigation into what happened March 14 when a Kootenai County sheriff’s deputy shot Victor Leon Jr. in the chest.

Leon allegedly tried to ram a police cruiser and then a deputy with his full-size Dodge pickup.

He then led officers on a chase from Hayden to Kellogg. His injuries were described as minor. Leon was charged with felony eluding an officer and is in jail with a $500,000 bond.

SEATTLE

State driver’s licenses could be national model

High-security driver’s licenses aimed at letting U.S. citizens return from Canada without a passport could be adopted elsewhere if Washington state’s experiment works, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday.

The pilot project, signed into law by Gov. Chris Gregoire and approved by Chertoff on Friday, calls for Washington to begin issuing new “enhanced” driver’s licenses in January.

They will look much like conventional driver’s licenses, but will be loaded with proof of citizenship and other information.

Radio frequency ID chips and other security features also would make the enhanced licenses less vulnerable to forgery.