Liberty Lake officers assist SVPD in foot chase

It was a busy week for Liberty Lake police officers July 23-30, topped by a foot chase, drug use, vandalism and the arrest of an Idaho man wanted on several warrants.

The foot chase started in Spokane Valley on the evening of July 24, and police there asked for help from Liberty Lake officers. The man was tracked down in the 12600 block of East Valleyway Avenue, police Chief Brian Asmus said.

There were several reports of theft during the week involving unlocked cars, unlocked garages and an iPod left on top of a backpack at Pavillion Park. The list of stolen items include laptop computers, a wallet, a GPS unit and a red 2012 Specialized bicycle.

An officer on patrol spotted a parked car on the south side of the Kia dealership in the 21000 block of East Mission Avenue at 5:10 p.m. Saturday. Two people were in the car and the officer watched one of them smoking from a glass device, Asmus said. “Officers watched them light up,” he said. “They were a little preoccupied.” A 37-year-old Spokane Valley man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

An empty car was spotted in a field at Appleway Avenue and Signal Road on July 26. Officers determined the registered owner lived near Worley, Idaho, and had warrants out for his arrest for parole violations for murder, robbery and burglary convictions, Asmus said. Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police contacted the man, who said he didn’t know his car was missing, Asmus said. He was arrested on the warrants.

On Saturday, someone noticed numerous handprints all over Pump House Park left by someone who dipped their hands in paint. They were on playground equipment, the pump house, pavement and trees in the small park at Boone and Simpson. “They’re probably teenager-sized hands,” Asmus said. Anyone with information on the vandalism is asked to call the police department at (509) 755-1140.

An employee at McDonald’s called police at 4:30 p.m. Saturday to report a customer who was trying to pay for an order with a counterfeit $20 bill. Employees worked slowly, Asmus said. “They tried to keep him there until we got there,” he said. But the man became suspicious and asked for his money back, which employees refused to give to him, Asmus said. He and another man reportedly left on bicycles before an officer arrived. Employees said both men appeared to be drunk, Asmus said. Video surveillance footage of the incident has been requested.

Officers were called to help the Spokane Valley Police Department with an armed robbery in the 17000 block of East Coach Drive on Sunday. An officer spotted a car that matched the description of the one involved in the robbery in the area of Boone Avenue and Barker Road. Two people were seen coming from the car into a Wendy’s, Asmus said. When the officer followed them inside, employees said the two had run out the back door. Both suspects were found and arrested.

There were three arrests for driving with a suspended license during the week, which is fewer than in recent weeks. During the Liberty Lake Days celebration, police gave out 12 tickets for parking in a no-parking zone and one ticket for parking on a bike path. Twelve of the 13 tickets were given at the intersection of Country Vista Drive and Swing Lane.

During the week officers handed out four citations for license and plates required, five for failure to provide proof of liability insurance and eight for speeding. Additional citations were given for driving without a license with identification, failure to stop at a red light, prohibited turn, failure to wear a safety belt and vehicle use permit required.