In brief: Woman facing charge in death of Colville man

Prosecutors filed charging documents Tuesday detailing allegations against a woman charged last week with killing a man believed to be her half-brother in Colville.

Deena L. Bailey, 49, remains in jail on a $1 million bond after she was arrested last Thursday on the charge of second-degree murder in connection with the apparent beating death of 56-year-old David S. Barr.

Two witnesses said they saw Bailey, who had hitched a ride from Plummer, Idaho, a few days before, beating on Barr during a night of heavy drinking on Jan. 9. One witness said he saw Bailey swinging at Barr with a bag containing tools.

The same witness returned to the apartment later that night to check on Barr, who refused to get medical attention for his head wounds.

Colville police were summoned Thursday morning to the apartment on West Second Street by the victim’s brother, Robert Barr.

Inside, an officer found David Barr dead in a seated position on his couch.

Bailey, who was found Thursday sleeping on the couch of a local coffee shop, agreed to answer questions but claimed she had no idea that David Barr had died. She accused David and Robert Barr of sexually harassing her, according to court records.

Bailey, who is also described as a cousin in charging documents, is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 29 for an arraignment, Deputy Prosecutor Matt Enzler said.

Thomas Clouse

Valley driver jailed after road-rage gun incident

One Spokane Valley driver shot another driver’s tire in a road-rage incident on Dishman-Mica Road on Monday morning, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

The victim said he had been behind a car at a stoplight at Dishman-Mica and Schafer Road at about 6:30 a.m. When the light turned green, the front car had trouble getting moving on the snow, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. The back car, driven by the victim, went around the car in front, driven by Darren Palmer, 46, the release said.

When the two cars reached the stoplight at Dishman-Mica and Eighth Avenue, Palmer waved a handgun at the victim, deputies said. The victim said he didn’t respond, and when the light turned green, he saw Palmer reach out the window and shoot at his vehicle’s tire.

Palmer admitted he shot the other driver’s tire but told deputies he did so because the victim cut him off. He gave deputies a .22-caliber Ruger pistol for which he does not have a concealed weapon permit, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Palmer was booked into Spokane County Jail on a felony charge of drive-by shooting.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge James Triplet told Palmer he could have killed someone and set his bond at $30,000 Tuesday.

“You really took this well beyond what I think is a reasonable response,” Triplet said.

Chelsea Bannach