Assault victim accused of pointing gun at boy offering help

A domestic violence call in an Airway Heights trailer park this morning quickly turned into a brief hunt for a man and assault charges against a woman for pointing a gun at a boy who came to her aid. Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Craig Chamberlin said someone inside a trailer at West Prairie Villa, 2201 N. Craig Rd., called 911 around 11 a.m. to report an assault. The dispatcher could hear a man in the background say that if police came, he would “shoot it out” with them, Chamberlin said. At some point during the assault, he said, a boy walking by heard noise from inside the trailer and knocked on the door to see if anyone needed help. It was then the woman in the trailer pointed a gun at the boy, Chamberlin said. He did not know the boy’s age, only that he was a juvenile. Deputies responded and discovered that the man, who is accused of assaulting the woman, had fled the area. Law enforcement set up a perimeter and quickly apprehended the man, Chamberlin said. Police did not find a weapon on him. The woman was bleeding from the assault and was treated at the scene. The man who ran, identified as 29-year-old Steven Mulinex, was taken into custody on outstanding drug warrants. Chamberlin said charges for domestic violence assault and malicious mischief are pending. The woman, Rhyllie Stoddard, 20, was taken into custody and will be charged with assault, Chamberlin said.