Theft victims in Liberty Lake point to family members

Liberty Lake police officers responded to a steady stream of mostly minor incidents from March 5-Monday. Those calls included two from residents reporting thefts by family members.

A resident in the 1700 block of North Cavalier Road called police on March 8 to report that several items had been removed from a home and storage unit, including a motorcycle, jewelry and electronic items. The resident told officers that a family member might have taken the items. An investigation turned up some of the missing property at a local pawn shop, said police Chief Brian Asmus.

The other theft was similar. A newlywed couple came into the police station early Monday to report that the woman’s wedding ring valued at more than $4,000 was missing and she believed her brother may have stolen it. “They had to catch a plane to Jamaica at noon for their honeymoon,” Asmus said.

Quick work by Detective Ray Bourgeois allowed police to locate the ring at a pawn shop. It was recovered and returned to the bride. “They made their plane,” Asmus said.

A 36-year-old Spokane woman was arrested for driving under the influence at 10:25 p.m. on March 7 near Harvard Road and Mission Avenue when she was found stopped in traffic on the wrong side of the road on the Harvard freeway overpass. She apparently realized she was going the wrong way and “just gave up driving,” Asmus said. “She didn’t know where she was at or where she was going.”

There were two arrests for driving with a suspended license during the week.

Officers also responded to the area of Appleway and Spokane Bridge Road with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office on a report of a stabbing at 9 p.m. on Friday. It was determined that there had been an argument among several people camping under a bridge but no stabbing, Asmus said.

Some property damage was reported at a construction site near Bergamont Avenue and Country Vista Boulevard on March 6. Someone spray painted the interior and exterior of an excavator.

During the week officers handed out three citations for failure to show proof of liability insurance and four for speeding. An additional citation was given for driving without a license.