In brief: List puts Spokane high in car theft

Spokane leads cities in Washington – and is fourth in the nation – in the rate of auto thefts.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Spokane had 2,763 car thefts in 2010. Its theft rate, based on the number of thefts per 100,000 in population, is 586.35. Yakima is second in Washington, with 1,266 thefts for a rate of 520.49. Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, in third, saw 16,192 car thefts last year, but had had a theft rate of 470.72.

Fresno, Calif., with a theft rate of 812.4, leads the nation, followed by Modesto, Calif., Bakersfield, Calif., and Spokane. Vallejo, Sacramento, Stockton, Visalia and San Francisco, all in California, and Yakima, round out the top 10.

Stabbed man found in bathtub

An anonymous tip led police to a stabbing victim in a bathtub inside a north Spokane home early Tuesday.

The man, whose name was not released, was taken to a hospital in critical condition but is now stable and expected to survive, Spokane police said Tuesday afternoon.

Officers were called to 2518 N. Hamilton St. about 2:40 a.m. by an anonymous caller who said there was a “dead person” in the bathtub inside the home, police said.

Neighbors said the home is a “clean and sober” house shared by several residents.

A person at the scene “was unaware of any problem,” police said, but officers found the injured man in the bathroom.

No suspects have been identified, and police are still investigating the circumstances of the assault. Detectives are looking for a woman who had contact with the victim about 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Fundraiser set for scholarship

A golf tournament, dinner and auction will be held July 9 to raise money for a scholarship fund established to honor a Kellogg High School graduate who was killed in Iraq in 2007.

To pay tribute to U.S. Army Special Forces Sgt. Maj. Brad Conner, his high school classmates established the memorial scholarship that helps send Kellogg students to college.

The scholarship committee is looking for businesses and individuals to contribute to this year’s event, which will be held at the Galena Ridge golf course and Gondola Village at Silver Mountain. All profits go to the scholarship fund, a news release said.

The committee is looking for golfers to play, businesses or families to sponsor holes, or people to donate auction items or cash.

For more information, visit www.bradconner memorial.com or call (509) 710-2202.

‘Bad Hair Bandit’ gets FBI poster

SEATTLE – A Washington bank robber known for wearing a variety of unattractive wigs is featured in a new wanted poster on the FBI website.

FBI spokeswoman Ayn Sandalo Dietrich says the “Bad Hair Bandit” is the first bank robber from the FBI’s Seattle division to appear on the national website in many years.

The FBI is hoping to get some help from the public in capturing the woman who has committed or attempted at least 16 bank robberies in the Puget Sound area, Ellensburg and Spokane since December 2010.

The website features a gallery of 18 surveillance photos of the “Bad Hair Bandit” in various wigs.

A reward totaling $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of and charges against the bank robber.

Battalion prepares for deployment

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – About 600 Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers are preparing for a yearlong deployment in Afghanistan.

The Army says the 14th Engineer Battalion will clear roads of improvised explosive devices and other obstacles.

This is the first deployment for the battalion to Afghanistan. It has deployed three times to Iraq.

A flag ceremony for the departure will be held Thursday at Memorial Stadium at the base.