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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Incorrect ballots must be fixed to be counted

More than 40 percent of the voters in Spokane County have already cast their ballots. But more than 700 of those voters didn’t sign their envelopes properly, and their ballots can’t be counted until that problem is corrected.

In some cases, voters simply forgot to sign the envelopes. In others, the signatures don’t match those on file with the county.

Those voters are being sent letters from the county asking them to fill out an affidavit to fix the problem. Voters also can go to the Elections Office, 1033 W. Gardner Ave., and fix it in person.

A list of voters whose ballots have signature problems is at www.spokesmanreview.com .

So far, Spokane County has received nearly 108,000 ballots. The county has 258,316 registered voters.

Ballots must be postmarked or placed in drop-off boxes by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Police wear riot gear to escort prisoner

Cole Strandberg, awaiting trial in Spokane County Jail in the slaying of a 22-year-old woman, was escorted to court by four deputies dressed in riot gear this week because of his history of violence – in and out of jail, officials say.

“He is dangerous,” said Capt. Jerry Brady, Spokane County Jail commander.

Strandberg triggered a lockdown at the jail Sept. 26 when he attacked deputies who were trying to remove him from his cell under a court order. Deputy Daniel Leonetti was knocked into a wall, fracturing his neck and injuring his shoulder, officials said Wednesday.

Leonetti has not returned to work, Brady said. Prior to that incident, Strandberg head-butted a visiting psychologist, Brady said.

Strandberg is accused of killing 22-year-old Jennifer Bergeron in January using a crossbow and tools.

Her body was found after the man went to Sacred Heart Medical Center and told officials he had hurt someone. Bergeron’s body was found in Strandberg’s apartment. Strandberg told hospital officials he was mentally ill, according to a court document.

Strandberg could face at least two counts of custodial assault in connection with physical confrontations with deputies, according to jail records.

Movie crew loses body bag in river

Police responding to several calls reporting a body in the Spokane River on Wednesday evening instead found a body bag used as a prop in a movie filming in Spokane.

The movie crew told the Fire Department it had lost the bag in the river near Post Street earlier in the day.

Police went to the area about 7 p.m. to confirm there was no body, but they planned to wait until today to fish it out, a fire dispatcher said.

Filming of “Give ’em Hell, Malone,” about a private investigator who squares off with gangsters and thugs, is expected to continue until Nov. 7.

Jim Camden Jody Lawrence-Turner Meghann M. Cuniff