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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Suspect arrested in May 31 home invasion

Spokane police today arrested a suspect in a May 31 gunpoint home-invasion robbery. David F. Smith, 40, is believed to have robbed a home in the 1600 block of West Spofford Avenue. Police say a resident was hit with a handgun, but no shots were fired. The Spokane police Patrol Anti-Crime Team arrested Smith at an apartment in the 800 block of West Cora Avenue after investigating a tip that Smith was involved in the crime, said Spokane police Capt. Dave Richards. Smith’s accomplice in the Spofford Avenue robbery still is at large. Investigators believe the men may be involved in other home invasions, but they don’t believe he was involved in takeover-style robberies at McDonald’s at 4647 S. Regal St., on May 25 and Zip Trip, 1523 W. 10th Ave., on June 8. Those robberies involved four men in ski masks with guns. Police urged other victims of home-invasion robberies to contact them. “We don’t care necessarily what type of items were stolen from their home, i.e., drugs,” Richards said “We want to try to wrap up as many of these as we can.” Sgt. Joe Peterson said home-invasion robberies targeting drugs in the Spokane area happen on a daily basis and don’t get reported. Richards agreed. “I think it happens more often than people realize,” he said. Victims are asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.