More garage burglaries reported in Liberty Lake

Only two garage burglaries were reported in Liberty Lake the week of Jan. 17-24, but the crime wave seems to be spreading, said Liberty Lake Police Chief Brian Asmus. “Just outside the city limits there have been several more,” he said.

One such burglary was reported the morning of Jan. 20 in the 200 block of North Lindeblad Lane. The resident said that someone entered his truck, which was parked in the driveway, and took tools and a garage door opener. The resident believed the thieves had used the garage door opener to enter the garage, but nothing appeared to be missing, Asmus said.

The one reported the morning of Jan. 21 in the 24600 block of East Sinto was a bit different. Someone used a side door to enter a garage and rummaged through the vehicles parked inside. Only the registration of one vehicle appeared to be missing, Asmus said.

An officer was responding to assist the Sheriff’s Office with a burglary call when a car matching the description of the suspect in the call was spotted in a driveway in the 23900 block of East River Road. The officer knocked on the door and asked who was in the residence, Asmus said. The name of a 16-year-old boy was given and a check revealed that there was a felony warrant out for the boy’s arrest. It could not immediately be determined if the boy was involved in the burglary, Asmus said, but he was arrested on the warrant.

A vehicle was stopped at Harvard and Mission at 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 for having no headlights on. The driver immediately told the officer he was going to jail, Asmus said. He reportedly admitted he was drunk and the officer could see an open can of beer in the cup holder next to him, he said. The officer could also smell the odor of marijuana and the driver reportedly admitted to smoking it all day. The 20-year-old Spokane Valley resident was arrested for driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and being a minor in possession of alcohol.

A female juvenile in the car was released to her parents and police have recommended that she be charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, Asmus said. Both items were reportedly hidden in her boot.

The department received a tip through the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children late in the week. A Liberty Lake resident called the center’s cyber tip line to report a crime involving the possible possession, manufacture and distribution of child pornography, Asmus said. The crime allegedly happened in June 2010. “This was something that was just reported,” Asmus said. “We’re just learning about it.”

The department is working with the sex crimes detective at the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the case, Asmus said. “The Sheriff’s Office has much better resources,” he said.