In brief: Authorities suspect female inmate committed suicide
The woman found hanging at the Spokane County Jail on Tuesday died Friday afternoon, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said.
The family identified her as Amanda Cook, 25. Cook had been in the jail awaiting trial on a domestic violence charge. A mental evaluation had been ordered by the court.
Cook’s stepfather said authorities told the family she’d been hanging about 30 to 40 minutes when she was found Tuesday afternoon by jail staff, and had shown no brain activity since being taken to the hospital.
The family thinks Cook committed suicide. Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office are investigating. Cook was alone when she was found Tuesday, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.
Bail set at $150,000 for man accused of stealing SUV
Bail was set at $150,000 for a North Idaho man accused of stealing an SUV and firing at Kootenai County sheriff’s deputies Thursday during a high-speed chase that ended near Farragut State Park.
Dillen James Endres, 22, is facing charges of burglary, grand theft, driving without privileges and driving without insurance. He made his first appearance Friday in Magistrate Judge Scott Wayman’s courtroom.
Endres is homeless and has a history of prior convictions and failure to make court appearances, according to the Kootenai County prosecutor’s office, which recommended the bail amount.
The chase began when a Spirit Lake police officer attempted to pull over the SUV for a traffic violation. The driver fled, firing on the officers, according to police reports. Gunshots hit the patrol cars of sheriff’s deputies and the Spirit Lake officers.
The SUV crashed into a woodshed near Farragut State Park and caught fire. The driver fled on foot. Endres was later apprehended.
S-R seeks nominations of homes decked out for holidays
Come across a particularly festive holiday house? Does your neighbor put up enough lights to be seen from the International Space Station? We want to know about it.
We’re creating a database of holiday homes. Visit www.spokesman.com/holidaylights and click the “Add a location” button. There, you’ll be asked to provide an address for the festive home as well as a brief description of the display. We’ll need your contact information, too, but don’t worry – we’ll keep that information to ourselves.
The list will be posted on the Spokesman website, where you can see all of the addresses, sort them by neighborhood or even create maps for your own personal tour. We’ll publish a roundup of the decorated homes Dec. 21 in the Today section.
‘Toys for Tots’ needs donations for Kootenai County families
“Toys for Tots” is seeking donations of new, unwrapped toys for needy families in Kootenai County.
Toys for ages 7 and older are in greatest need. They can be dropped off at more than 200 locations in the county, including many local churches and retail stores. The toy drive is being managed by the Marine Corps League Pappy Boyington Detachment. Donations for toy purchases are also welcome.
Parents who wish to receive toys for their children should visit the Toys for Tots application center in Post Falls, 920 N. Highway 41, Suite 8. They must provide proof of public assistance or proof of income, and proof of residency in Kootenai County, and they must be the custodial parent.
The application center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday until Dec. 17. Volunteers will call families when their orders are ready for pick up.
Recipients will get a slip to redeem for their toys at the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Training Center Warehouse, 5721 E. Seltice Way, Post Falls.
Attempted murder suspect thought to be around Spokane
The U.S. Marshals Office says a man wanted on an attempted murder charge in Idaho is thought to be in the Spokane area.
Authorities are asking the public to be on the lookout for Britton Michael Hanson, 31. Media reports indicated Hanson is wanted for firing a gun at a Benewah County sheriff’s employee.
Anyone who sees Hanson, described as 5-feet 9-inches tall with blond hair and blue eyes, should call 911.
Allen foundation will match donations to buy coastland
SEATTLE – The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation says it plans to match contributions up to $500,000 to help a nonprofit group conserve land on the Washington coast.
The Nature Conservancy in Washington is trying to buy and preserve three miles of private land along the Queets River on the Olympic Peninsula. The group says the land supports important salmon runs and a rich forest ecosystem, and the landowner is willing to sell.
The nonprofit group said Friday that the foundation is offering a 50 percent match on all donations toward the acquisition through the end of the month.