In brief: Bicyclist blamed in bank robberies

Federal investigators believe a serial robber is responsible for a bank hold-up on the South Hill on Wednesday that locked down two schools.

The gunman robbed U.S. Bank, 621 E. 30th Ave., about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Sacajawea Middle School and Jefferson Elementary were locked down for about an hour.

The robber is believed to have struck Dec. 22 at Sterling Savings Bank, 3000 S. Grand Blvd., then Feb. 13 and April 19 at Chase Bank, 2215 W. Northwest Blvd. On May 18, Chase Bank at 3007 E. 57th Ave. was robbed.

FBI agents believe the robber may be fleeing the banks on a bicycle, said agent Frank Harrill. The robber is described as white, 6 feet tall, in his 30s with a thin to medium build and fair complexion.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI’s Spokane office at (509) 747-5195, ext. 2. After hours, call (206) 622-0460.

Burglary suspect arrested again

A man suspected in a string of burglaries in February is accused of breaking into a convenience store early Wednesday.

Michael L. Yamaguchi, 29, and Cullen J. Snodgrass- Gibson, 30, were arrested after a chase with Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake police. A delivery driver followed the suspects after he spotted a white van parked in front of Hico Mart, 1201 N. Barker Road.

Snodgrass-Gibson jumped out of a passenger seat before a tire blew out and the van crashed in Liberty Lake, police said. A police dog tracked Yamaguchi to a residential area nearby.

Police said a cash drawer and spilled coin rolls were inside the van. Stolen from the Hico were cigarettes, coins and a small amount of cash.

Detectives sent an investigation to Spokane County prosecutors in April that recommends 30 felony charges against Yamaguchi and two 19-year-old suspects in a string of burglaries between February and November, but no charges have been filed.

Sex offenders living as transients in Spokane

Two sex offenders considered likely to reoffend are living as transients in Spokane County, the Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.

Allan R. Cruz-Masga, 23, was convicted of indecent liberties in Spokane County in May 2002. His victim was an 11-year-old girl.

Steven Garcia, 34, was convicted of second-degree assault of a child and released from prison in February 2006. His victim was his 2-month-old son.

Garcia also served 15 months in prison for third-degree child molestation involving a 15-year-old girl in Grant County. He was sentenced to prison when he was 17 on two counts of second-degree rape involving a mentally handicapped 18-year-old male.

Neither Cruz-Masga nor Garcia is under supervision, but the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office wants the public to be aware of their presence.

Both are level 3 sex offenders, the classification considered most likely to reoffend.