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

In brief: Detective trial scheduled to start

The trial of suspended Spokane police Detective Jay Mehring is expected to begin today in Spokane County Superior Court.

The 40-year-old police was scheduled to go on trial Monday morning on a felony harassment charge alleging he threatened his ex-wife in March 2007.

Judge Michael Price, who is presiding, postponed the start of the trial because an unrelated civil trial that began last week had not concluded.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., to be followed by opening statements, which likely won’t occur until Wednesday morning, according to court staff.

Medical Lake

5-year-old dies in tractor accident

A 5-year-old Medical Lake boy was killed Sunday afternoon in a tractor accident.

Investigators determined the boy’s head got caught between two parts of the tractor his grandfather was operating. The child died almost immediately, said Spokane County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

The boy had been riding on his 55-year-old grandfather’s lap as the grandfather moved a pile of gravel in the 3300 block of South Ritchey Road, Reagan said. The child apparently leaned forward abruptly while his grandfather was lowering the scoop.

Pullman

Woman in hospital after two-story fall

A woman underwent surgery at a Spokane hospital after falling two stories from a fire escape at a Washington State University fraternity early Sunday.

The 20-year-old WSU student suffered internal injuries and an injured elbow in the fall, which occurred about 1:50 a.m. at the Theta Xi fraternity house, according to Pullman police.

The woman, whose name has not been released, told officers she thought the fire escape had stairs instead of a ladder, said Sgt. Dan Dornes.

She was taken to Pullman Regional Hospital then airlifted to Spokane, where Dornes said she was recovering well.

Spokane

Man accused of stabbing roommates

Spokane police arrested 24-year-old Cody Dezellem just after midnight Monday for allegedly stabbing his two male roommates in their northeast Spokane residence.

The victims were taken to a hospital, police said.

Dezellem was jailed on two counts of first-degree assault and domestic violence.

Detectives later seized 20 marijuana plants in the basement of the Spokane residence where Dezellem was living, in the 500 block of East Joseph Avenue.

Police seeking two fugitives

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information that results in the arrests of two fugitives wanted for theft and other offenses.

Danny Cecil Jones, 35, has a long criminal history, with convictions for theft, possession of stolen property, attempting to elude police, driving on a suspended license and probation violation, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan. Jones is wanted on two counts of domestic violence assault, reckless driving, second-degree assault and two counts of motor vehicle theft.

Kim Suzanne Harke, 39, is wanted for forgery, Reagan said. She has a 19-year criminal history.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these fugitives should call (800) 222-8477, or should forward the tip to www.crimestoppersinland northwest.org.

Callers can remain anonymous but should leave a code name or number to collect the reward.

Seattle

Boating fatality was Bellevue teacher

The woman killed when a power boat rammed into an anchored sailboat on Lake Washington has been identified as a 37-year-old music teacher from Tyee Middle School in Bellevue.

She’s identified as Heather DeHart, of Bothell, by Bellevue School District spokeswoman Ann Oxreider.

Police say a 17-year-old boy was driving the boat at a high rate of speed in the dark Saturday night when it hit the sailboat. Police spokeswoman Renee Witt said the boy was questioned and released.

Three others were injured.

Federal Way, Wash.

Mother of newborn turns herself in

The mother of a newborn girl abandoned at a church turned herself in Monday and was cooperating with police, a spokeswoman said.

The mother, in her early 20s, was telling police “everything they need to hear at this point,” police spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said.

“With that level of cooperation, we’ve made the determination not to book her,” Schrock said.

Police planned to release the mother and present a child abandonment case to the King County prosecutor’s office, which would then decide whether to file charges, Schrock said.

According to Schrock, the mother was remorseful and “certainly willing at this point to accept responsibility.” The spokeswoman said she did not know why the woman left the child.

The infant was found shortly before 8 a.m. Sunday at Steel Lake Presbyterian Church. Police don’t think the mother had any connection to the church.

Video surveillance tape showed a woman police believe was the mother dropping off the baby about 2:15 a.m. Sunday.

The baby was taken to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Tacoma, where physicians told police they thought she was no more than 12 hours old. The child was reported to be in fair condition on Monday.

Wrapped in a beach towel, the child spent nearly six hours alone in 49-degree temperatures before she was discovered by a parishioner, Schrock said.

The state Department of Social and Health Services has taken custody of the child.

Boise

Boise group wants ban on plastic bags

A small grass roots group wants Boise residents and merchants to stop using disposable plastic shopping bags.

The group met for the first time Sunday at Veterans Park to brainstorm ways to rid the city of the bags.

San Francisco was among the first U.S. cities to adopt such a ban in 2007. Some countries have banned the bags, and Seattle’s City Council has approved a 20-cent charge for consumers who want to bring home a disposable plastic or paper shopping bag from convenience, drug and grocery stores, to take effect in January.

B.Y.O.B.B. wants to encourage more local businesses to join the anti-disposable bag cause, and to get consumers in the habit of using them.

From staff and wire reports