In brief: Five teens connected to vandalism spree
Five teenagers connected to at least 112 vandalism crimes since early October have kept Spokane Valley detectives busy, and authorities expect more cases to surface.
Though just one of the suspects has been arrested, all five have assisted in solving the three-week crime spree, said Sgt. Dave Reagan of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Most of the crimes involved breaking car windows by shooting BBs with wrist rockets.
“It’s like these kids were driving around,” Reagan said.
The suspects are also connected to several vehicle prowlings, a residential burglary and a vehicle arson. Burglary and vehicle arson are felonies.
The crimes have been spread throughout Spokane Valley, but the Ponderosa neighborhood and the area around Valley Mission Park have been most heavily hit, Reagan said.
Investigators have not arrested four of the suspects because they have been helping in the investigation, leading authorities to dozens more crimes than have been reported, Reagan said.
“Some of these we never would have connected without their cooperation,” he said.
However, all five teenagers – whose names were not released – will eventually be arrested and go through the juvenile court system, Reagan said. A judge may lessen their sentences because they assisted law enforcement, he said.
– Nick Eaton
Stevens County
40 acres to be set aside for park
Washington Public Lands Commissioner Doug Southerland announced Friday that he will set aside 40 acres for a park near Suncrest in southern Stevens County.
The land was to have been part of a series of land exchanges in which the state Department of Natural Resources plans to consolidate its holdings.
Suncrest-area residents objected in a public hearing that the land swap would deprive them of recreational land, and Sutherland said he heard them “loud and clear.”
DNR spokesman Bob Redling said the land must be sold or traded for something of equal value because it is held in trust to produce income for schools and other state programs. Redling said the price must be determined by an independent audit, but Stevens County will have three years to come up with the money.
He said the Nine Mile Falls School District has expressed interest in another 40-acre tract next to the proposed park.
The Department of Natural Resources plans to exchange some 15,100 acres in Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Kittitas, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Whitman and Yakima counties for 15,900 acres in Asotin, Chelan, Franklin, Lincoln, Okanogan, Stevens, Walla Walla and Whitman counties.
– John Craig