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

In brief: Teen still critical after bike collision with patrol car

A teenage boy remained in critical condition Sunday after being struck by a Spokane Valley police patrol car as he was riding his bike.

Ryan Holyk, 15, was riding south across Sprague Avenue near Vista Road on Friday night when he was struck by a police car about 10:30. The officer, who has not yet been identified, was heading to a scene.

The crash is being investigated by the Spokane Police Department because of the severity of the teen’s injuries.

Holyk was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Man leaves ‘anthrax’ envelope at Davenport

A man is in police custody after dropping off an envelope marked “anthrax” at the Davenport Hotel on Sunday.

The envelope was dropped off at about 12:20 p.m., according to Frank Harrill of the FBI.

“There was some writing on the envelope that required a combined police and hazardous materials response,” Harrill said. “The envelope was assessed and it did not present an immediate threat to public safety.”

Robert W. Malley, 43, was booked into Spokane County Jail on a second-degree charge of malicious placement of an imitation device, which is a felony.

According to Spokane police, the envelope was dropped off with a Davenport security guard, who flagged a police officer.

Harrill said the FBI’s involvement in the matter is likely over.

Floatplane pilot dies in crash on Banks Lake

GRAND COULEE, Wash. – The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said a floatplane pilot died Saturday evening when he crashed on Banks Lake near Steamboat Rock State Park.

KPQ radio reported 60-year-old Kenneth A. Berger, of Monroe, was attempting to take off from Banks Lake around 5 p.m. Witnesses say the plane went nose-down in the water and sank.

Nearby boaters dove into the lake, released Berger’s seat belt and brought him to a waiting ambulance on shore. He was pronounced dead a short time later.

An investigation into the cause of the crash was continuing Sunday.

Area services affected by Memorial Day today

The following offices and services will be affected by the Memorial Day holiday today:

• Garbage won’t be collected in Spokane, Spokane County and Coeur d’Alene today. Collection will take place one day later than scheduled throughout the week.

• City, county, state and federal offices will be closed, as will Spokane Public Library branches. The East Side, Hillyard, and Indian Trail library branches also will be closed Tuesday.

• Most banks will be closed.

• Idaho state liquor stores will be closed.

• Post offices will be closed and no deliveries will be made.

• Spokane parking meters will not be in operation.

• The Spokane Transit Authority will be running on Sunday hours on Memorial Day.

Inmate escapes from Adams County Jail

BOISE – The Idaho Department of Correction said a 47-year-old inmate has escaped from the Adams County Jail in Council.

The department identified the inmate as Robert Michael Williston. It said Williston escaped Saturday night by apparently scaling a fence.

The agency describes Williston as an Asian-American with a shaved head, brown eyes and an olive complexion. He is 6-foot-1, and he weighs 195 pounds.

Williston’s criminal record includes convictions for burglary and attempted strangulation in Kootenai County, grand theft and first-degree burglary in Madison County, and grand larceny and fraudulent use of a financial transaction card in Ada County.

His sentence was to be completed in August 2025.

ATV passenger, 23, dies after accident

EPHRATA, Wash. – A 23-year-old man from Auburn has died from injuries received during an all-terrain vehicle accident near Soap Lake in Grant County.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office reported Collin D. Murdock was the passenger in a ATV being driven Friday on private property about 7 miles east of Soap Lake. The vehicle hit a skid and Murdock apparently jumped off and hit his head on irrigation equipment.

KPQ Radio reported Murdock’s friends drove him to Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata, where he died Friday evening.

The driver of the ATV, 24-year-old Matthew J. Giandalia, of Kent, suffered minor injuries. He was treated and released from Columbia Basin Hospital. Neither Giandalia nor Murdock was wearing a helmet.