In brief: Grant County victim was 17-year-old boy
A 17-year-old Ephrata boy killed last weekend in what officials describe as a gang-related shooting was identified Tuesday as Michael Flores, according to the Grant County Coroner’s Office.
The boy died of a single gunshot wound to the head and was found about 1:45 a.m. Saturday in the community of Desert Aire, four miles south of Mattawa, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office said.
A Mattawa police officer found Flores’ body near a vehicle at the intersection of Riverview Road and Hoose Street.
Sheriff’s deputies believe the boy was shot during “an all-out mayhem fight” at Desert Aire Drive and Thunderbird Way in Desert Aire, then taken to the Riverview intersection, according to a news release.
Anyone who has information that might help with the investigation can call the Sheriff’s Office at (509) 754-2011, ext. 468.
Meghann M. Cuniff
Home burns as crews head wrong direction
Fire destroyed a home in the Spirit Lake area Monday night after fire crews initially were dispatched in the wrong direction, officials said.
The fire was well under way when it was discovered in the home by residents at 2656 Clagstone Road, Fire Marshal Wayne Nowacki said.
He said Spirit Lake Fire District crews might not have been able to save the structure even if they had arrived sooner.
No one was injured in the 8:30 p.m. blaze, the cause of which was under investigation. Nowacki said the cause appeared to have been accidental.
Mike Prager
Authorities checking child safety-seat use
Spokane sheriff’s deputies and Spokane Valley police are monitoring traffic at several locations this month to increase enforcement and public awareness of child safety restraint laws.
The emphasis patrols continue today from 1 to 6 p.m. at 57th Avenue and Regal Street in Spokane.
Other patrols will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Boulder Beach area along Upriver Drive and at the Spokane Valley Mall; from 1 to 6 p.m. July 24 at Division Street and Francis Avenue; from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 25 at Valley Mission Park; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 31 at Harvard Road and Wellesley Avenue.
The patrols, funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, are part of a statewide effort to improve compliance with the child safety restraint laws. Fines for violations are $124.
Mike Prager
Police say suspect hit man with liquor bottle
The FBI is asking for help finding a man who might be in Coeur d’Alene and is wanted for assault in Missouri.
Trenton Michael Faulkner, 20, is accused of hitting a man in the head with a bottle of vodka after being asked to leave a home in Ashland, Mo., according to the Boone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.
Faulkner was arrested, but he hasn’t shown up for his court dates and was last known to be living in Coeur d’Alene, according to the FBI and North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force.
A reward is offered for information that leads to Faulkner’s arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call (208) 665-1471. Tipsters will remain confidential.
Meghann M. Cuniff