In brief: Child says man attempted to lure her into Suburban

Police warned parents about a man reportedly attempting to lure a child into a vehicle near Midway Elementary School on Tuesday morning.

A female sixth-grade student was waiting for her bus near Bridle Trail Road and Lidgerwood Street when a gray Suburban pulled up next to her and a male passenger rolled down his window and asked if she needed a ride into town, according to a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office news release.

The student backed away from the car, and the man opened his door but never got out. The driver sped away shortly after, she told police. She described the passenger as a white male in his 20s with blond hair, a beard and a mustache.

The driver was described as a white male in his 20s with blond hair and no facial hair. The car also had a gray decal on the back window with black flames, the victim told police.

Deputies searched the area but did not find the vehicle.

EWU band seeking guest musicians for football game

With students gone for Christmas break, Eastern Washington University is looking for guest musicians to play at this Saturday’s football playoff game.

The Eagles host Sam Houston State on Saturday in an FCS semifinal playoff game in Cheney.

Eastern needs about 50 musicians and is asking interested people to register online at the alumni site, https://ewu.site-ym.com/.

Band members need to provide their own instruments, although there are two tubas and some percussion equipment available.

Volunteers need to be able to meet at 11 a.m. Saturday for a short rehearsal and instructions.

State to pay $11 million in foster home abuse case

OLYMPIA – The state will pay $11 million in a case filed by six people who claimed they were abused by their foster parents.

The settlement, announced Tuesday, resolves a lawsuit against the Department of Social and Health Services and 21 social workers filed in August 2011. The suit claimed the children were sexually and physically abused over a period of years while they resided in the Tacoma foster home of Jose and Juanita Miranda, who are both now deceased.

According to the lawsuit, DSHS approved Juanita Miranda as a foster parent despite a long history of drug use and criminal violations. An investigation began in 2005 after Jose Miranda confessed to a nurse while he was hospitalized. Jose Miranda was charged in 2007 with three counts of first-degree child rape, two counts of first-degree child molestation and two counts of third-degree assault of a child.

The lawsuit had been scheduled to go to trial in U.S. District Court early next year.

Prison on lockdown after assault on guards

WALLA WALLA – The Washington State Penitentiary put four units on lockdown after three correctional officers were injured during an altercation with multiple inmates.

Spokeswoman Shari Hall said the injured officers were taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Hall said two officers will be released, while one would remain hospitalized overnight Tuesday for observation. No other information was available about the nature of their injuries.

No inmates were seriously injured.

Hall said nine inmates from the prison’s West Complex were segregated from the general prison population following the incident Tuesday afternoon.

She said the West Complex would remain on lockdown while staff members and local law enforcement investigate the incident.

The West Complex is a close-custody unit that houses about 800 offenders, including the prison’s gang units.

County commissioner pleads guilty to charges

LEWISTON – A Nez Perce County commissioner charged with sexually assaulting an acquaintance has pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges.

Michael A. Grow pleaded guilty Monday to unlawful entry, second-degree stalking and battery. He was fined $3,000 and sentenced to a year in jail. The fine was suspended as was nearly all of the jail time, the Lewiston Tribune reported.

Grow had been scheduled to go to trial Monday on a felony charge of forcible penetration with a foreign object for an alleged assault on a woman at a private residence at Tamarack Resort in April 2011.

Grow is finishing his first term as a county commissioner.

He was defeated in his bid for a second term in the May primary and will leave office early next month.