In brief: Suspicious fire burns trees, garage, car in Spokane Valley
Several trees, a garage and a car burned in a suspicious fire early Wednesday morning in the 1600 block of South Virginia Road, according to the Spokane Valley Fire Department.
Crews arrived shortly after 1 a.m. to find a row of ornamental trees on fire as well as a detached garage, said Fire Department spokeswoman Melanie Rose.
Damage is estimated at $70,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation but it is considered suspicious. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to the call the department at (509) 928-1700.
Senate passes bill requiring heart defect check for babies
OLYMPIA – Hospitals would be required to screen newborn babies for congenital heart defects under a bill that the Washington Senate passed unanimously Wednesday.
Sponsored by Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, the bill would require hospitals to check for heart defects using a noninvasive sensor placed somewhere on a newborn’s skin, such as a fingertip or foot.
One in three babies is born with a congenital heart defect, one of the most common causes of death among infants, Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, told her colleagues.
Becker said the screening is painless and effective. The sensors work by estimating the amount of oxygen in a baby’s blood.
Doctors or nurses would have to perform the screening and record the results before discharging a baby from the hospital. If the test shows a potential heart defect, they would have to refer the baby to an appropriate care provider.
The bill now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee.
Neighbor says girl in park mouthed the words ‘help me’
The 11-year-old girl who was grabbed by a stranger Tuesday night in Coeur d’Alene Park in Browne’s Addition begged a neighbor who was at the park for help, according to court documents released Wednesday.
The neighbor said she was with her family at the park around 7 p.m. when she saw the 11-year-old. A man had used both his hands to grab one of the victim’s hands and the woman said the girl looked terrified and mouthed the words “Help me,” according to court documents.
The woman ran over and yelled at the man, who was speaking Spanish. He left the area but was tracked down by police in front of a nearby grocery store.
The girl told police that she tried to pull away from the man but he only gripped her harder, according to court documents. She said she didn’t know what he wanted but was afraid that he was trying to take her from the park.
Jose L. Jimenes, 42, is in Spokane County Jail facing a charge of unlawful imprisonment. He was ordered held on $50,000 bond during a brief court appearance Wednesday afternoon.