In brief: Detectives pursue tips in stabbing

Spokane police continue to investigate the stabbing death of Sharlotte McGill in May, including whether the attack was random.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Annette Plese this week sealed several search warrants related to the investigation, which began May 3 when McGill was stabbed while walking her dog near the Spokane River in east Spokane.

Detectives say they are investigating tips that could point to a suspect in the area.

McGill, 55, a Costco employee, died at a hospital later that day. She described her attacker as a black male in his 30s with a “bad eye.”

Cheney councilman McKeehan dies at 67

Cheney City Councilman Mike McKeehan died suddenly at home on Thursday. He was 67.

Serving on the Cheney City Council since 1998, McKeehan also served as mayor pro tem since 2010.

“Mike was a very positive force in our community and a pleasure to work with,” Mayor Tom Trulove said in a statement. “Few have devoted more of their lives to public service or cared more about their community.”

The cause of death was not released. City Administrator Arlene Fisher said city leaders have not discussed when and how a replacement will be selected for McKeehan’s council seat.

Memorial services will be Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 460 N. Fifth St., Cheney.

Grain commission hires chief executive

Glen Squires has been chosen to lead the marketing and policy efforts of Washington’s wheat industry.

The Washington Grain Commission hired Squires as chief executive officer. The job is a promotion for Squires, who has worked for the Spokane-based organization for the past 19 years. He takes over for Tom Mick, who earlier this year announced his retirement.

Squires will be responsible for the oversight of the commission and the wheat industry’s lobbying and education arm, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers.

Mail thief’s gun goes off during arrest

A convicted mail thief wanted for violating his probation shot a round from a firearm after being shocked with a stun gun Friday northwest of Airway Heights, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

No one was injured, and Tony L. Gust, 33, was arrested without further incident, authorities said.

Marshals were looking for Gust after a warrant was issued Friday in U.S. District Court. They found him at his home in the 22000 block of West Jacobs Road about 4:20 p.m. and watched as he ran into his trailer and armed himself with a firearm, according to a news release.

“Deputies deployed a Taser, striking Gust. Subsequently, a round was fired from the weapon Gust was holding,” the release said.

Gust was arrested in January 2011 after a postal inspector recognized him from surveillance video that showed him breaking into post office boxes at the Opportunity office.

He was sentenced in June to three years of probation, but that was revoked in October and he was sent to jail for six months. He was released in April and was to participate in a treatment program.

Authorities noted his “troubling history of violence and offenses involving firearms” in court documents, which Gust’s lawyer attributed to his “physical, mental and dependency problems.”