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

In brief: Cliff fall takes life of Pullman man, 23

From Staff And Wire Reports

A Pullman man fell 50 feet to his death early Friday at the Granite Point cliffs along the Snake River.

The man was identified as Andrew P. Duke, 23, of Pullman, according to a Whitman County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Deputies received a report around 2 a.m. that a man fell accidentally when he walked away from a group. Duke’s body was found at the bottom of the cliff.

The injuries were consistent with a fall, the news release said, and authorities believe alcohol was involved.

Illnesses trigger frozen food recall

A national E. coli outbreak has been linked to frozen snacks and meals, including products widely distributed throughout Washington. Several products made by Farm Rich, Market Day and Schwan have been recalled due to contamination, according to a Washington state Department of Health news release. The foods include mini-cheeseburgers, meatball sandwiches and quesadillas.

Any recalled products should be thrown away. The recalled products are detailed at http://goo.gl/C1rVS.

The strain has sickened 27 people in 15 states, including a Pierce County woman in her 20s, the news release said.

It causes bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever and vomiting, and can sometimes be life-threatening.

Man held, 1 sought in armed robbery

Spokane police arrested career criminal Maxwell D. Jones, 33, for a recent armed robbery and are seeking the whereabouts of 35-year-old Albert D. Williamson.

Both men have multiple felony convictions ranging from car theft and bail jumping for Williamson, to robbery, assault and drugs for Jones, according to a Spokane Police Department news release.

Police say Williamson burglarized the home of an elderly couple who had allowed him to do his laundry in their home. He is suspected of stealing family heirlooms.

Williamson and Jones are both suspected of using a gun to rob someone this week outside of A Taste of India restaurant along North Division Street.

Police ask anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Williamson to call Crime Check at 456-2233.

Children ordered to give depositions

Five pre-teens have been ordered to provide information that may be used against their father, who is accused of strangling their mother at their Deer Park home.

A Spokane Superior Court judge issued subpoenas Thursday to the children, ordering them to give video depositions. Prosecutors want to know what the children know before the murder trial begins May 6 for Clay Starbuck. He’s accused of killing his ex-wife Chanin Starbuck in December 2011. The couple had a contentious divorce and a dispute over child support.

News reports say the children are now in the care of an adult brother and they are standing by their father and resisting questioning.

Construction worker seriously injured

The Spokane Fire Department rescued a construction worker who fell from a ladder and was trapped inside 12-foot walls of a partially constructed home this morning.

Ron Apperson said he and his son, 29-year-old Nick Apperson, were working on the foundation for a new duplex in the 900 block of East Sinto Avenue when his son appeared to have a seizure.

He said his son was trying to climb a ladder out of the structure when he fell back into it.

Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said Apperson was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center with serious trauma injuries.

His father said he was talking and alert as paramedics loaded him into an ambulance.