In brief: 20 charges filed in pet abuse case
A Spokane Valley man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to 20 counts of animal cruelty-related charges after several cats were found in late May starving and sick in his travel trailer.
Denzil E. Twitchell, 67, pleaded not guilty to two counts of animal cruelty in the first-degree, seven counts of animal cruelty in the second degree, 10 counts of transporting or confining animals in an unsafe manner and one count of operating a private kennel.
The cats were discovered on May 24 when Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service investigated a complaint of cats being kept at 918 N. Bowman Road. On May 25, a SCRAPS employee returned with a search warrant and removed eight cats and two kittens, all of which were suffering from starvation and illness. Two of the cats were immediately euthanized.
Superior Court Judge Annette Plese set a trial date for Sept. 26 and ordered Twitchell not to own any cats as a condition of his release.
Police arrest six in Hillyard raid
A Spokane police SWAT team and the Special Investigations Unit on Wednesday raided a Hillyard home and arrested at least six people, including the home’s owner.
Officers served a search warrant at 3012 E. Olympic Ave. shortly before 7 p.m. There were 14 people inside. The home has been under surveillance for some time, police said.
“There have been tons of people in and out (of the house), and we’ve had neighborhood problems,” said Spokane police Lt. Dave Richards.
County records show the home is owned by Thomas W. Grosstueck. Wednesday’s raid was the third time in six months that search warrants have been served at the home, Richards said.
Grosstueck, 51, was arrested for delivery of controlled substance - methamphetamine, said police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe. Kelly R. Monroe, 26, Leah A. Long, 48, Teresa S. Stoddart, 43, and Gary B. Olive, 43, were also arrested for possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine, police said. Thomas F. Deboise, 47, was arrested for a felony Department of Corrections warrant.
Richards added that because Grosstueck has been unwilling to clean up the problems with the house, the city may attempt to abate the property.
Talks scheduled on land use codes
Kootenai County is preparing to begin what’s expected to be an 18-month process to update its land use codes.
After the yearslong process to update its comprehensive plan, approved by the Board of Commissioners in December, the county now will revise the ordinances that establish the enforceable rules for property use and development.
The county hired the nationwide planning firm Kendig Keast Collaborative to lead the effort under a $311,500 contract, said Scott Clark, the county’s director of community development.
Clark said members of the public will have numerous opportunities to get involved. In addition, regular updates will be available on a website devoted to the effort at www.kccode.com.
Three initial public meetings have been set, all at 6 p.m.:
• July 18 at Athol Community Center, 30355 N. Third St.
• July 19 at Harrison EMT Building, 108 Fredrick Ave.
• July 20 at Kootenai County Administration Building, Room 1, 451 Government Way, Coeur d’Alene.
UW firebomb suspect arrested
SEATTLE – A fugitive wanted in connection with the 2001 firebombing of the University of Washington’s horticulture center is now in federal custody.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle says 31-year-old Justin Solondz was arrested in Chicago on Wednesday following his expulsion from China, where he had been serving a prison sentence on drug charges.
Solondz is alleged to have built the firebombs that started the $6 million blaze in Seattle. The former student at the Evergreen State College in Olympia is charged with conspiracy, arson, making an unregistered destructive device and using a destructive device during a violent crime.
He will make his first court appearance in federal court in Tacoma once he is transported from Chicago.
The UW fire bombing was part of a string of arsons across the West by the radical environmental groups, the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front.
Tribes seek unused Hanford lands
RICHLAND – If Hanford Nuclear Reservation lands are no longer needed, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation says it has the first claim under treaty rights.
The Tri-City Herald reports tribal officials have objected to the Tri-City Development Council’s request to the Energy Department to transfer 1,300 acres of land next to the Richland city limits for economic development.
The council hopes to attract businesses to offset future staff reductions on the nuclear reservation.
The tribes propose a field station for botanical research. The land was used for farming before World War II.
Family evacuated as church burned
LEWISTON – A fire inspector says an illegal firework is believed to have ignited a blaze that significantly damaged a northern Idaho church.
A family was sleeping inside the basement of the church and evacuated from the burning building early Tuesday in Lewiston. Emergency crews arrived to find the roof and a wing of the church in flames.
There were no reported injuries.
Lewiston fire inspector Julian Sorrell told the Lewiston Tribune an illegal firework is believed to have ignited the blaze after striking the church roof, where witnesses saw a smoldering fire erupt into flames.