Liberty Lake police: Teen with fake gun held by man with unloaded gun
A man driving in the area of East Country Vista Drive and Pinehurst Lane called Liberty Lake police Saturday afternoon to report seeing a teenager on a skateboard carrying a .45 caliber handgun and an assault rifle.
The man had an unloaded handgun in his car and pulled it on the teen, ordering him to the ground, Police Chief Brian Asmus said. The man told the 911 operator that he later realized the teen’s guns were fake, Asmus said.
Asmus said individuals shouldn’t take such actions themselves – a situation where a person pulls out a gun could have had a much different outcome, Asmus said.
Sunday morning, police received calls about nine vehicle prowls clustered around the 22000 block of East Valleyway, East Settler Drive and East Country Vista Drive.
Usually the vehicles involved are targets of opportunity – left unlocked with valuables visible inside. But in this case, four locked cars had windows broken out.
“The breaking out of windows is unusual,” said Police Chief Brian Asmus. Items reported missing include purses, a cellphone and a knife. Several unlocked vehicles were rummaged through but nothing was taken.
Officers went house to house on each street to take reports.
Police think the thefts are related. “They were all the same night, all the same area,” he said.
Other incidents
Oct. 21: A vehicle prowl was reported in the 19000 block of East Caufield Avenue. A spare key and vehicle registration were taken.
A woman reported her car stolen from the 22000 block of East Country Vista Drive. She called the police back later in the day to report that her car wasn’t stolen, she had just forgotten where she parked it.
Oct. 22: A set of keys were found on the top of mailboxes at North Ormond Road and East Sharp Avenue.
Several golf clubs were found strewn in the roadway in the 24000 block of East Maxwell Avenue.
Oct. 24: A resident in the 19000 block of East Deschutes Avenue reported the theft of a bicycle valued at $2,750 from his garage, which had been left open.
Oct. 25: Safeway employees called police to report detaining a 17-year-old girl suspected of trying to steal alcohol. The same girl was captured on video surveillance three previous times allegedly committing the same offense. The girl is now facing charges of theft, retail organized crime theft and minor in possession of alcohol. The case is under investigation.
Oct. 26: Police were called to a report of a dead cat in the 1800 block of North Aladdin Road. A resident told police that he heard two gunshots and then found his cat dead on the front lawn with an apparent gunshot wound. The animal cruelty case has been turned over to SCRAPS.
Arrests: Officers made four arrests for driving with a suspended license, one for driving under the influence, one on a fugitive warrant and one on charges of both driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.
Citations: Officers handed out three citations for expired vehicle registration, three for failure to show proof of liability insurance and three for speeding.