In brief: Suspect arrested in Arena break-ins

Spokane police arrested a man with a lengthy criminal record for allegedly breaking into cars outside a Spokane Chiefs hockey game Saturday night.

Kristopher Roybal, who police say he has about 125 separate bookings into the Spokane County Jail, attempted to hide in his red Cadillac in the Spokane Arena parking lot as police closed in.

Roybal, 34, was seen driving in the area by police, who knew his license was suspended. When they found his car, they also discovered a woman’s purse and a car stereo, according to police.

Three people had reported vehicle prowling in the neighborhood. Two cars had windows broken and purses stolen. Police also found shaved keys and other tools used to gain entry into cars.

Roybal’s criminal record spans 21 years and includes stealing cars, forgery, possession of stolen property and possession of illegal drugs.

John Stucke

Cop blames stress for sex crimes

KENNEWICK – Stress from an on-duty shooting prompted a former Portland police officer to start committing sex crimes, he wrote in a letter to Washington prison officials.

Ryan Graichen served as a Portland officer from 1998 to 2006. In 2000, a 71-year-old lawyer suffering from dementia pointed a shotgun at him, and his partner shot the man dead.

In a 49-page, handwritten letter to the Washington state Department of Corrections, Graichen said he couldn’t get the shooting out of his mind, the Tri-City Herald reported. He became addicted to pornography as he tried to deal with the stress and sleepless nights, and the shooting was the “root cause” of his legal problems, he said.

Graichen, 36, pleaded guilty in October to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of commercial sex abuse of a minor. He admitted paying an underage girl for sex and offering alcohol, marijuana and money to other girls or young couples for sex acts.

Associated Press

Gas money fight leads to killing

TACOMA – Witnesses say a fight over gas money between two women led to a deadly hit-and-run.

Witnesses watched in horror as the argument escalated Friday night, with one woman getting into her sport utility vehicle and running over the other, KOMO-TV reported. The driver, identified as 33-year-old Denise Larkins, turned herself in and has been booked for investigation of first-degree murder.

Police say the driver and victim were friends.

Associated Press