In brief: Man shot by cop begins DUI term
The 27-year-old man shot by an off-duty Spokane police officer last month is now serving a 90-day sentence under home monitoring for an unrelated conviction of driving under the influence, court records show.
Shonto Pete, who has declined to be interviewed, was due to begin serving time on Feb. 28, but was granted an extension by Geiger Corrections Center after he was shot by James “Jay” Olsen, a 16-year police veteran, on Feb. 26.
Olsen said Pete was attempting to steal his truck, which was parked outside a downtown bar.
A chase ensued, resulting in the off-duty officer firing a gun multiple times at Pete near the Peaceful Valley neighborhood.
Pete, through his attorney, has denied trying to steal Olsen’s truck. Pete has not been charged.
During the chase, Pete was wounded once in the head and was hospitalized for two days.
At the time, Pete was waiting to serve his Feb. 16 sentence, which included 365 days, with 275 days suspended and eight days credit for time served, as well as two years’ probation.
His home monitoring was to have begun March 14.
Olsen remains on paid administrative leave during an investigation into the shooting by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Results of the investigation were originally expected to be completed this week, but sheriff’s officials now say they need more time.
– Kevin Graman
S-R hosts online chats on abuse
The Spokesman-Review will begin hosting live online chats next week as part of its monthlong coverage of child abuse and neglect in the Inland Northwest.
The chats will connect readers with experts in various areas of child abuse prevention.
Linda Thompson, executive director of the Spokane Substance Abuse Council’s Prevention Center, will field questions during the first chat, Monday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Focusing on the link between child abuse and substance abuse, Thompson will discuss risk factors, what families, schools and communities can do, and signs to look for in neighborhoods and people.
Toni Lodge, executive director of the NATIVE Project and NATIVE Health of Spokane, will be available Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. to discuss the state’s compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act and the disproportionate number of Native American children in the welfare system.
The next three weeks will feature at least seven other experts addressing topics such as how to recognize abuse, how to keep safe, how to move kids forward who’ve been abused and the costs of abuse.
Readers may submit questions by e-mailing news@spokesman.com or via spokesmanreview.com /ourkids under the Live Chats link.
Read more about the Our Kids project that encompasses social service agencies, business leaders, media and other community partners at spokesmanreview.com /ourkids.
– Staff reports