Police overbudget on overtime

CHENEY – Cheney police are working overtime, so much so that the department’s overtime budget is “out of whack,” according to Cmdr. Rick Campbell.

The department that has spent 63.6 percent of its overtime budget after only five months of the year, he said. Overtime accumulated during the snowstorm at the end of January doesn’t count toward the overtime budget, since the work was billed through emergency funding, he said.

But there were a few weeks in February and March when the department was short a couple of officers through injury or illness. During that time, the department spent $6,400 in a month on overtime.

Crime was up for the month of May, according to police records, with officers making 72 misdemeanor and felony arrests, up from 54 total arrests in April. However, for the year, arrests are at 222 misdemeanors and 41 felonies, compared with 221 misdemeanors and 41 felonies for the same time period in 2007.

For the week of June 6 through the 13, Campbell said the department was busier than usual. Here’s the record of police calls:

June 6

•Officers responded to a residential burglary at the 100 block of Washington. The case is still pending.

•Lance G. Lyman, 30, was arrested at the 1000 block of First Street for suspicion of driving with a suspended license.

•There was a report of a customer driving away before paying for their gasoline at the 100 block of First Street. The person later returned to the scene to pay.

•Officers responded to a hit and run of an unattended vehicle at the 1200 block of Second Street.

•A wallet was found at the Cheney courthouse.

June 7

•Michael A. Hamilton, 25, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol at the 000 block of Betz.

•Kory R. Kolterman, 20, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol at the 400 block of First Street.

•A turquoise pig weather vane was reported stolen at the 300 block of Nolan Brown Road.

•Officers responded to a case of suspicious circumstances at the 1800 block of First Street. A coat was reported stolen, but it was later discovered that it had just been moved to a different location.

•There was another report of suspicious circumstances at the 800 block of W. First Street. Someone spotted what they thought was graffiti, but it turned out to be a chalk drawing that some children had made.

•There was a report of vehicle prowling at the 2300 block of University Lane.

June 8

•James E. Meyer, 22, was arrested for suspicion of indecent exposure and obstructing a police officer.

•Police responded to a report of malicious mischief at the 300 block of College Street. Someone had damaged some of the fraternal houses near Eastern Washington University.

•There was a report of theft at the 400 block of First Street. Campbell said that someone had taken a purse that was left unattended at a bar.

•Melissa R. Chaney, 24, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license and driving without an ignition interlock – a court-ordered device for recurring alcohol offenders – at the 100 block of west First Street.

June 9

•Officers responded to a report of residential burglary at the 2300 block of University Lane. Some car parts and X-Box games were reported stolen.

•There was a report of malicious mischief at the 1300 block of Second Street. A window was broken out of a car and the vehicle was prowled.

•Kimberly F. Campbell, 19, was arrested for suspicion of unlawful issuance of a bank check. Also arrested in the incident was Jayson M. McConnell, 22, for violation of a no-contact restraining order.

•There was a report of a 15-year-old female runaway at the 1600 block of Fifth Street. The youth is still missing.

June 10

•Alexander F. Rosas, 19, was arrested at the 600 block of First Street for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

•An iPod was reported stolen from a vehicle at the 700 block of West First Street.

•Under the category of “all other cases not classified,” police responded to a report of a minor in possession of tobacco at Cheney High School. The youth was cited.

•Kristine L. Morano, 25, was arrested for suspicion of driving with a suspended license at the 2400 block of First Street.

•There was a report of malicious mischief at the 100 block of Second Street. A windshield wiper was ripped from a vehicle and the hood of the vehicle was scratched.

•Police responded to a report of suspicious circumstances at the 100 block of First Street. Someone had pumped gas and thought they had paid for it, but apparently they hadn’t. Arrangements for payment have been made.

June 11

•Laura A. Cox, 43, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol at the 1300 block of First Street.

•There was a report of malicious mischief at the 600 block of West First Street. Someone broke the window of the Shell Station. Campbell mentioned that this case could be related to some windows broken at the trailer park across the street, and the cases are still pending.

•A window of a vehicle was shot out with a pellet gun at the 700 block of West First Street.

•Edward W. Bonin, 18 was arrested for suspicion of two counts of possession of stolen property at the 2800 block of Bethany.

•An assault was reported at Cheney High School A 17-year-old male was arrested.

•There was an assault reported at Cheney Middle School. The incident was handled at the school.

•Raymond M. Bell, 31, was arrested for suspicion of driving with a suspended license at the 1700 block of Seventh Street.

•A large amount of cash was stolen at the 700 block of First Street. The case is still pending.

•A mailbox was smashed at the 1100 block of south Mullinix.

•Campbell said an unruly spectator at a sporting event was cited for disorderly conduct at the 200 block of Presley.

•Four youths were arrested for suspected alcohol offenses by minors, but Campbell said the reports of the incident are still pending.

June 12

•There was a report of malicious mischief at the 700 block of West First Street. Two vehicles driving through the neighborhood were seen shooting out windows with pellet guns.

•Officers responded to a report of a burglary at Campus Crest, 420 S. Cheney-Spangle Road. Arrested in the incident for suspected burglary and theft charges is a 17-year-old male and Nash M. Smart, 20. Campbell said that computers, tool and digital cameras have been recovered from the incident so far and additional charges could be pending. Campbell said the incident has resulted in other cases around Cheney and at Eastern Washington University.

•Police conducted a warrant arrest at the courthouse. A woman wanted on a felony warrant came into the courthouse for a misdemeanor charge. She was taken into custody.

•There was also a court commitment, but Campbell said the paperwork is still pending.

•A cell phone was reported stolen at Cheney High School.

•Officers responded to a report of theft at the 700 block of West First Street. A car stereo was reported stolen and the vehicle was prowled.

June 13

•Jacob K. Toevs, 20, was arrested for suspicion of being a minor in possession of alcohol and a minor frequenting a tavern.