Suit dismissed alleging beating by deputies

A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit against Spokane County brought by a man who claimed that sheriff’s deputies beat him in a Spokane Valley bar on Super Bowl Sunday 2003.

U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle dismissed all of the claims made by Douglas L. Myser, essentially saying the case had no merit.

Van Sickle issued his written decision this week.

Myser said he suffered memory loss and post-traumatic stress disorder since the Jan. 26, 2003, confrontation between him and three Spokane County sheriff’s deputies, Jeff Shover, Mark Gregory and Brett Peterson.

Myser and his attorney, John Muenster, said the deputies threw him to the floor and later drove him to an undisclosed location where the deputies beat him unconscious.

Van Sickle ruled that Myser did not provide evidence to show he was assaulted.

Spokane County Risk Manager Steve Bartel said he was pleased.

“It’s still appalling for me how much money taxpayers have spent in defending a lawsuit we felt from the beginning had no merit,” Bartel said.

Thomas Clouse

spokane

Police say duo robbed teen who came to aid

Two people were arrested Wednesday on charges of abducting a 19-year-old Good Samaritan who tried to help them at a northeast Spokane gas station.

The victim had stopped for fuel about midnight at Albertsons, 6520 N. Nevada St., when she was approached by a man and a woman who said they needed help getting to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center to see their sick child.

The woman didn’t have any cash, so she used her debit card to buy the couple fuel, said Jennifer DeRuwe, Spokane police spokeswoman.

The victim told police the couple then forced her into their car and drove her around before robbing her of her debit card.

The victim gave a partial plate number to police detectives, who traced the car to a suspicious vehicle report near Sacred Heart, DeRuwe said.

It was unknown whether the couple had a sick child.

Spokane County Jail records show Jason P. Shepard, 33, and Crystal L. Fuller, were booked on Wednesday night on charges of first-degree kidnap and second-degree robbery.

Both made their first appearance in court Thursday afternoon and declined interview requests.

Sara Leaming