Apartment maintenance worker faces assault charges

An apartment complex maintenance worker was arrested for assault this week after he allegedly grabbed a 9-year-old boy by the neck. Liberty Lake police were called to the complex in the 25000 block of Hawkstone Loop at noon on Dec. 10.

A group of children playing were reportedly throwing rocks and the worker allegedly grabbed one of the boys by the neck and pushed him, telling him to go home, said police Chief Brian Asmus. The boy had a scratch on his neck and the maintenance worker was arrested on a charge of fourth-degree assault, Asmus said.

Residents in the 25000 block of Hawkstone Loop called police at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 to report hearing a couple fighting. Officers arrived as the man involved in the fight tried to leave. He was uncooperative and officers had to handcuff him to keep him from leaving, Asmus said. Police determined a physical assault had occurred and the 27-year-old man was arrested on a charge of domestic violence assault, Asmus said.

A driver called police at 2:45 p.m. on Dec. 8 to report that he was following a possible drunk driver on Liberty Lake Road. As the witness watched, the car hit a tree at Country Vista Drive and Wright Road. When officers arrived they suspected the driver was having a medical problem and called paramedics, Asmus said. There was no arrest.

The arrests for the week of Dec. 5-12 included seven for driving with a suspended license and three for driving under the influence. A Liberty Lake officer also assisted the Washington State Patrol by pulling over a car driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 at 4:15 a.m. on Dec. 11. The WSP arrested the driver on a charge of driving under the influence.