Assault leads to foot pursuit, arrest

Officers arrested a 32-year-old Spokane man on an outstanding felony warrant Wednesday afternoon, but car lot employees had chased him into the waiting arms of law enforcement, said Spokane Valley Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Christopher E. Williams, 1600 E. Jackson Ave., was taken into custody about 1 p.m. Wednesday following a foot pursuit that put nearby Greenacres Middle School into lockdown status for several minutes.

The incident began about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday with a 911 call of a robbery at Alki and Greenacres roads in Spokane Valley. A witness reported that a woman had been assaulted and robbed of her cell phone.

Officers swarmed the area and witnesses pointed the way to the suspect, who had fled southbound on foot. He ended up at a car sales business where employees began chasing him. They herded the suspect toward the officers already on his trail. Williams was taken into custody without incident.

Williams was arrested and charged with attempting to elude a police vehicle. Initial investigation into the purported robbery indicated that it had been a domestic dispute between the suspect and his girlfriend.

Cell-phone talker arrested

Police arrested a 50-year-old Spokane man Tuesday night after he nearly caused a collision while talking on a cellular phone. During the course of that investigation, they discovered methamphetamine hidden beneath the driver’s seat, said Spokane Valley Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Officer Jeff Thurman was patrolling along Pines Road about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when he saw a Chevrolet pickup pull out in front of another vehicle. The second vehicle had to make an abrupt stop to avoid a collision.

As he passed the pickup, Thurman saw the male driver talking on his phone. The officer stopped the truck and identified the man as Martin E. Wood, 1200 W. Eighth Ave. During the investigation it was learned Wood was driving with a suspended license. The driver failed to cooperate in the arrest and had to be physically subdued.

In a subsequent search of the truck, the officer discovered a small baggie of methamphetamine beneath the driver’s seat where Wood had been reaching with his hands.

Wood was booked into jail for possession of methamphetamine, driving while license suspended, obstructing a police investigation and resisting arrest.

Pair in custody after mall theft

A pair of Idaho residents were arrested Tuesday evening after they allegedly attempted to steal more than $450 worth of clothing from a Spokane Valley Mall business, said Spokane Valley Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Officer Mark Benner was called to Macy’s about 7 p.m. after security staff witnessed two women select numerous items of women’s clothing, leaving the store without paying.

Summer M. Johnston, 22, of Laclede, Idaho, allegedly attempted to steal $372 worth of clothing and swimwear. Monica D. Judd, 23, of Sandpoint, allegedly stole $106 worth of swimwear.

Benner cited and released Judd on a charge of third-degree theft, a misdemeanor, and drove Johnston to the Spokane County Jail where she was booked on second-degree theft, a felony.