In brief: Drugs, cash found at border

About 100 pounds of methamphetamine and $20,000 in cash were found near the Canadian border Sunday. 

Border patrol agents found the drugs and cash in three backpacks and a duffel bag in a field at the border just west of the Danville port of entry.

The seizures “were the result of effective tactical planning” and the use of “advanced surveillance technology,” according to a news release.

“This seizure is yet another example of the good work exercised daily by our highly trained Border Patrol Agents,” said Gloria Chavez, chief of the Spokane Border Patrol Sector.

No other details were available. The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating.

Tips sought on missing man

Spokane police need assistance finding a missing Eastern Washington University student.

Jonathon Potapenko, 20, has been missing since Sunday, according to police. He missed three finals this week and his family is concerned.

Potapenko is 6 feet 3 inches tall, 175 pounds, with brown hair and eyes.  He drives a gray 2006 Toyota Camry with Washington license plate number AFR7355.

Anyone who has any information on his whereabouts should call 911.

Bystander aids with arrest

A bystander helped a Spokane police officer in a struggle with a wanted felon outside a grocery store recently.

Police say retiree Dennis Greer will be nominated for a chief’s citizen award for helping Officer Nick Geren apprehend Timothy Alan Williams, 46, outside Fred Meyer at Thor Street and Third Avenue last month. 

Williams pleaded not guilty to a second-degree assault charge Tuesday in Spokane County Superior Court for the fight, which left Geren with a dislocated thumb.

Geren was in the area of Fifth Avenue and Thor about 9 p.m. on Nov. 20 when he recognized a car driven by Williams.

Geren tried to arrest Williams after he pulled into a parking spot at the store, but Williams struggled, according to court documents.

Greer said Tuesday that he had pulled into the lot with his wife when he saw the fight. He realized Geren was a police officer and got out to help, despite his wife’s pleas to stay back. 

“I was afraid that the guy was going to get away if I didn’t intervene,” Greer said.

Williams was wanted for violating his probation through the Department of Corrections for a second-degree robbery conviction.

Sewage backs up into homes

Crews responded to the area of Crestline Street and Decatur Avenue Tuesday after sewage began backing up into people’s homes.

A sewage pipe either broke or became blocked, according to Marlene Feist, a spokeswoman with the city of Spokane.

Street department crews rerouted the sewage around the pipe’s problem area and will finish repairs today, Feist said. She said the sewage leak wasn’t affecting traffic flow in the area.

A claims adjuster was on the scene talking to homeowners Tuesday evening. Anyone who was affected and did not talk to the adjuster can call the Spokane Street Department at (509) 625-7900.