In brief: Man accused of beating father with bookcase

A man slammed a bookcase on his father and threatened to kill his father’s caregiver at his father’s home in Spokane Valley, authorities say.

Richard G. Ross, 53, is accused of pushing his father, Richard L. Ross, to the floor Tuesday, sitting on top of his father and punching him in the face and head, according to court documents.

While the caregiver dialed 911, the younger Ross threatened to kill her before he picked up a bookcase and slammed it on top of his father’s face and chest, the documents say. The son picked up a gun and kicked his father, shouting, “I will kill you. You are dead to me,” according to the documents.

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies said the father suffered from bleeding in the brain and a fractured eye socket, as well as several cuts requiring stitches.

The prosecution said it has probable cause to charge Richard G. Ross with first-degree attempted murder, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm and harassment-threats to kill. In his first appearance in court Wednesday, they asked the judge to set bond at $200,000.

The defense said the incident only called for a second-degree assault charge, and Richard G. Ross’ last felony conviction was in 1993.

Judge James Triplet set bond at $75,000.

Ross will be arraigned Feb. 5.

Injuries, hit-and-run reported Wednesday

A mix of freezing rain and snow caused a smattering of accidents in Spokane during Wednesday evening’s commute.

Crews responded to an accident at U.S. Highway 2 and Spotted Road where responders extricated at least one person with injuries from their vehicle. Along Interstate 90 a driver slid off the freeway and into a median.

At Highway 195 and Thorpe Road, a two-car hit-and-run accident sent the driver of one vehicle to Deaconess Medical Center. Washington State Patrol is looking for a white vehicle, possibly a Subaru Legacy, with a broken window on the passenger side and significant front end damage.

In Spokane County, there were about 60 crashes due to slick roads Wednesday between 3 and 8:30 p.m. Lt. Bill Drollinger of the Spokane Police Department said crews responded to about 17 of those.

He said when the roads are slick and there are many collisions, they ask those involved just to exchange insurance information if there are no injuries.

In Kootenai County, only two accidents were reported during the same period, according to the Idaho State Police.