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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Police say stolen property included $77,000 Bobcat

A police search of a home near Moses Lake yielded more than $100,000 worth of stolen property, including a Bobcat earth-mover valued at $77,000, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Four men are jailed in Grant County.

Joel L. Wright, 46, is listed as the renter of the property searched. He faces a charge of first-degree possession of stolen property. Tate Wright, 19; Corey Sweet, 40; and Patrick Pearson, 41, were also arrested Monday.

Detectives say some of the stolen items have been traced to Spokane and Lincoln counties. The Bobcat was reported stolen from Yakima County, according to the news release.

DUI proposals move forward

OLYMPIA – A pair of proposals for tougher drunken driving laws were sent to the budget writers Monday to figure out how the state might pay for more people serving time for violations.

One proposal would make the fourth conviction – rather than the fifth – a felony. Another would allow courts to consider convictions from the past 15 years rather than seven years.

Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, said he supported the policy but wondered where the estimated $3 million would come from to pay for the additional jail and prison term.

“That is the duty of the Ways and Means Committee,” said Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, sponsor of the bill that reduces the number of convictions before a felony. “What we’re doing with these bills is saving lives.”

Police: Car strikes officer

A woman arrested in December with the aid of a smartphone tracking app is back in jail after allegedly striking a Spokane police officer with her car during a weekend traffic stop.

Laci Anthony, 27, was jailed Sunday evening, after police pulled her over near the corner of North Ash Street and West Gardner Avenue. When the officer approached Anthony and she opened her car door, police say she accelerated and knocked the officer to the pavement. The officer was not hurt.

Last month, Anthony was tracked by people who had their Apple devices stolen from their cars parked in the South Perry district. The owners say a woman sped from the scene in a purple Honda, according to court documents. Using an iPhone application, the victims were able to point police to Anthony, who was found in possession of a stolen MacBook and iPads.

As police questioned her, Anthony ran out a back door and leaped from a deck, according to court documents. She was apprehended and charged with obstruction and theft. Her failure to appear for court dates prompted the Sunday arrest, according to court documents.

Tunnel digging to resume

SEATTLE – The giant machine digging a highway tunnel under downtown Seattle is expected to resume light work this week after being stuck for nearly two months.

The state Department of Transportation said late Monday that crews plan to finish their underground inspections of the machine’s cutterhead today.