Teen arrested after woman found dead

Deputies arrested a 17-year-old boy Monday in connection with a homicide in north Spokane.

Police found a woman’s body at a bottom floor unit at the Crosspointe apartment complex on East Hawthorne Road near Highway 2 that afternoon. No identities have been released, and the investigation is still in its early stages.

Authorities believe the killing happened overnight or early Monday morning.

The crime scene was discovered by Spokane police who were following up on information about a possible homicide. When officers arrived, though, they realized they were in unincorporated Spokane County and called the Sheriff’s Office.

An autopsy is being planned.

The crime scene is a block and a half from a home where two young people were found dead in February. That’s been the only other homicide case in Spokane County outside of Spokane city limits this year.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Boundary County

Missing man found dead near Priest Lake

A hunter found a missing Spokane man dead in a forested area of Boundary County, Idaho, north of Priest Lake, late Sunday. Relatives say 88-year-old William James apparently drove into the woods and walked away from his car. He’d been missing since Friday.

Andy James, one of James’ three sons, said his father had twice before become confused behind the wheel and needed help finding his way home. Investigators hadn’t determined the cause of death, but foul play is not suspected, according to the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office.

Spokane County

Burn ban lifted in county, Valley

Spokane County and Spokane Valley have lifted their burn bans.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Natural Resources has issued a similar order for all state and national forest land across Washington, the county said in a statement.

The decision to lift the ban was made by the county’s interim building director, Mark Holman, who consulted with the Inland Empire Fire Chiefs Association.

Kevin Miller, fire marshal for the Spokane Valley Fire Department, made the decision for Spokane Valley. Miller said Liberty Lake and Millwood were considering whether to lift their bans.

From staff reports

Coeur d’Alene

New deputy forest supervisor appointed

A U.S. Forest Service district ranger in Montana has been named Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Maggie Pittman, the Lolo National Forest’s Missoula District Ranger since October 2004, will report to her new position in December and be based in Coeur d’Alene.

Pittman said she emphasizes partnerships and collaboration with the public, including groups interested in recreation, watershed restoration and reducing fire fuels. She cited the Upper Lolo Watershed Restoration project, where Trout Unlimited was a critical partner, as one of the most important examples of successful collaboration.

Spokane

Thieves vandalizing vehicles at Manito Park

More than three dozen vehicles have been broken into at Manito Park during the last two months, officials reported Monday.

Spokane park operations staff has been working with police and neighbors in the Manito Park area regarding a recent rash of thefts and vehicle vandalism in parking lots.

Anyone with information about the recent break-ins or vandalism should call (509) 242-8477.

From staff reports