Suspect arrested in home robbery

Spokane police on Friday 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 Department’s Patrol Anti-Crime Team arrested Smith at an apartment in the 800 block of West Cora Avenue after investigating a tip that he was involved, said Spokane police Capt. Dave Richards.

Smith’s accomplice in the Spofford Avenue robbery is still at large.

Investigators believe the men may be involved in other home invasions, but they don’t believe Smith was involved in takeover-style robberies at a McDonald’s at 4647 S. Regal St. on May 25 and a Zip Trip at 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 types 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.