In brief: Man allegedly uses clothes as weapon

A burglar reportedly used a bag of clothes as a weapon Thursday night after stealing them from a north Spokane Wal-Mart.

An employee at the Wal-Mart on 2301 W. Wellesley Ave. said he saw Jeriah R. Erickson, 27, taking several pieces of clothing from the men’s clothing department, according to an affidavit. She told detectives she saw him remove hangers from the clothing and shove them into a plastic bag.

The employee followed Erickson past the registers and out of the store, according to the affidavit. When she tried to stop him, he ran away. Two employees chased him, and he allegedly smacked one of them in the chest with the bag of clothing.

Erickson has been banned from all Wal-Mart stores since January, according to the affidavit.

Erickson was booked into jail on charges of first-degree burglary.

Suspected DUI crash hurts pair

Two people were injured in a crash in Pend Oreille County on Thursday night, the Washington State Patrol said.

Gilbert Smolik, 25, of Texas, was southbound on Viet Road about 12 miles west of Newport just after 8 p.m. when the 1990 Dodge Dakota pickup failed to negotiate a curve and went off the roadway, striking a tree, the WSP said.

Smolik and his passenger, Robert Meyers, 37, of Newport, were both injured and taken to local hospitals.

Neither was wearing a seat belt, according to the WSP.

Smolik faces possible charges for vehicular assault, the WSP release said, as drugs or alcohol are suspected to be factors in the crash.

Stray bullet hits man’s rental car

SEATAC, Wash. – A Texas man says a stray bullet hit the rental car carrying his family as they stopped at a red light in the city of SeaTac, Wash.

The man and his wife heard a loud “pop” Thursday, but neither they nor their 2-year-old daughter were hurt.

Shane Simpson told KOMO-TV he first thought someone was throwing rocks. He pulled over to investigate and realized the car had a bullet hole.

King County sheriff’s Sgt. Cindi West said it’s virtually impossible to determine where the bullet came from. She said celebratory gunfire on holidays like July 4 “is pretty common” – although dangerous.

Teens arrested, charged in killing

RICHLAND – Two Richland teenagers have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy.

Court documents said 19-year-old Joshua H. Hunt shot Josh Snapp with a revolver multiple times Thursday, including in the chest. Hunt then allegedly handed the gun to 18-year-old John C. Young, who shot Snapp in the head.

The Tri-City Herald reported both suspects were arrested Thursday.

Court documents say Hunt and Young lured Snapp to the desert off Beardsley Road in Richland to smoke marijuana, then shot him.