Man arrested after standoff, homicide

Authorities arrested a man Wednesday in connection with a homicide in Ferry County.

The suspect, who is from the Seattle area, was being treated at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

The victim was also from the Seattle area, according to the Ferry County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office called the Washington State Patrol for assistance with a standoff at a home on Art Creek Road in Malo about 10:30 a.m., Trooper Mark Baker said.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the suspect set the home on fire and fled but was captured by Ferry County detectives with help from the WSP and a U.S. Border Patrol helicopter.

The suspect was transported to Ferry County Memorial Hospital, then flown to Sacred Heart.

Sheriff Pete Warner asked the WSP to investigate the case, Baker said.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Coeur d’Alene

Police seek help finding kidnapper

Police released a sketch Wednesday of a man who kidnapped and assaulted a woman Saturday in Coeur d’Alene.

The man shoved a 31-year-old woman into his white van about 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Lakewood Animal Hospital, 272 W. Hanley Ave., after asking for her help putting a collar on his pit bull.

The man drove around for a while, then got out and opened the back door while partially undressed. He punched the woman several times. She escaped when the dog distracted the man, according to police.

The man was described as 28 to 30 years old, tall, about 180 pounds, and clean shaven with buzzed blond hair. He wore dark-blue jeans and a button-down shirt. His white van had grass stains and other discolorations, oversize heavy-terrain tires and dark-tinted windows. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (208) 769-2320.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Spokane

Ex-wrestler sentenced for attack on wife

A former Colville High School wrestler who made headlines for head-butting a referee in 1996 pleaded guilty Wednesday in Spokane Superior Court to felony domestic violence.

Chad Hilderbrandt, 30, attacked his wife in April and later tried to intimidate her in a phone call from Spokane County Jail. Judge Sam F. Cozza sentenced him to 27 months in prison.

When he was 17, Hilderbrandt was convicted of fourth-degree felony assault for knocking official Bob West unconscious.

Hilderbrandt had just lost a wrestling match was confronting his opponent when West tried to defuse the situation, newspaper reports say. After being head-butted, West fell to the floor and remained unconscious for a short time. A videotape of the incident was widely broadcast, and West unsuccessfully sued the Colville School District.

Hilderbrandt received a 30-day jail sentence for that assault.

Paula Davenport