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

Tri-state patrols set for weekend

Dishneau (The Spokesman-Review)

State troopers will keep a close eye this weekend on Super Bowl partygoers who imbibe and drive in Washington, Idaho and Montana.

This is the second year the three agencies have joined for the special enforcement.

In addition to drunken driving, troopers will look for aggressive drivers and speeders, Washington State Patrol Trooper Mark Baker said.

“Motorists should expect to see extra tri-state patrols on I-90 and secondary highways between Ritzville and Missoula on Super Bowl Sunday,” Baker said.

“It is our goal to have no serious injury or fatality collisions.”

“We don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun,” WSP Chief John Batiste said in a press release. “But getting in a collision is not the way to celebrate a major sporting event. Have a designated driver, a taxi, or call a friend.”

Grant County

Tattoo helped identify victim

Martin Calixto Gallardo has been identified as the homicide victim found earlier this month in Grant County.

On Jan. 19, a resident spotted Gallardo’s body face down off a gravel farm road about eight miles southeast of Mattawa in the southern part of the county, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office said.

Gallardo, 31 or 32 years old, died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to a coroner’s report. He was not carrying any identification. Police released a picture of his tattoo last week to solicit information, which helped identify Gallardo.

Anyone who knew Gallardo or anything about him is asked to call (509) 989-6902 or (509) 760-5275.

Spokane County

Robbery suspect arrested on I-90

A suspect in a Monday bank robbery in Seattle was arrested Friday after members of the Eastern Washington Fugitive Task Force stopped his car on Interstate 90 near Spokane.

Phillip J. Landry, 34, was arrested without incident after police received information that the suspect may be heading to Spokane, said Robert Doty, a criminal chief for the U.S. Marshals Service.

Investigators set up surveillance on the freeway east of Spokane and spotted Landry driving eastbound in a white 1997 Jeep Wrangler about 2:15 p.m., according to a news release.

Landry was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a warrant accusing him of robbing a KeyBank branch in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood, Doty said.

Police seek owner of flash drive

Detectives are trying to identify the owner of a flash drive containing child pornography found at Spokane Valley Mall.

A mall security officer found the small, portable computer storage device Nov. 29, and a colleague called police after finding it contained photos of what appeared to be a topless girl, according to a search warrant filed in Spokane County District Court on Friday.

The drive also contained a letter from someone named “Alex” discussing his arrest for rape of a minor in June 2008, the warrant said.

A judge approved the search warrant Wednesday, granting a Spokane County sheriff’s detective and a computer forensics specialist permission to search the flash drive.

Search for iPhone leads to arrests

A stolen iPhone from Wal-Mart led to the arrest of three fugitives and the discovery of a possible identity theft ring.

Surveillance cameras at the store near Airway Heights showed a man stealing the $450 device Jan. 23, then cashing a personal check with his name and address on it.

The Eastern Washington Fugitive Task Force raided Robert J. Childress’ home at 12311 S. Clear Lake Road on Thursday after they discovered the 33-year-old parolee had warrants for drug possession and forgery.

There they found Childress and fugitives Brittaini C. Dorman, 22, and Eli P. VanSickle, 31.

Dorman and VanSickle each had Crime Stoppers rewards for their capture: Dorman for a drug warrant and VanSickle for 26 warrants on crimes ranging from theft to malicious mischief. Also seized from the house were stolen credit cards, driver’s licenses and checks.

“Detectives did not find the stolen iPhone,” Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan said in a news release. “Childress told them he discarded it out of remorse.”

Assault suspect also sought in burglary

A man scheduled to go to trial next month for allegedly breaking a Ridpath Hotel security officer’s jaw is wanted on suspicion of second-degree burglary, and Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information that leads to his capture.

Nathanial J. Dishneau, 28, has a 15-year criminal history that includes convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, riot and disorderly conduct.

He was charged in May with second-degree assault for the February incident outside the Ridpath after a Spokane police detective used photos found on Dishneau’s MySpace page to identify a coat the guard said his assailant wore.

Anyone with information on Dishneau’s location is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS or submit the tip online at crimestoppersinland northwest.org.

Tipsters do not have to give a name to collect the reward but should give a code name or number.

Vandals shoot vehicle windows

More than 35 vehicles have been vandalized in Spokane since last Saturday.

Vandals are shooting out windows with BB or pellet guns, said Tom Michaud, a Spokane police crime analyst. South, northwest and northeast neighborhoods have been targeted.

“One area that was hit hard was 34th Avenue,” where at least a dozen vehicles were vandalized, Michaud said.

A late 1970s to early ’80s black Ford Bronco has been reported as a suspicious vehicle used in the crimes.

Anyone with information about the vandalism or who has been victimized is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

From staff reports