In brief: Spokane Valley woman claims she hurt autistic son, records say

A Spokane Valley woman faces a first-degree assault charge after allegedly telling a dispatcher she cut her autistic son’s throat with a knife because she was “desperate for help.”

According to court documents, the 58-year-old woman called 911 around 11:20 p.m. Feb. 12 and said she cut her 17-year-old son because she wanted to get someone to come to her house for help.

Deputies responded and found the woman unconscious on the floor but were unsure if she had taken anything to cause that, according to court documents.

Her son’s injuries were not life-threatening, but he was unable to give a statement due to his “severe” autism, court documents said. A bloody knife with a 6-inch serrated blade was found in the kitchen. The woman was transported to Valley Hospital for treatment.

Her bond was set at $5,000 during a brief court appearance Tuesday. Attorneys said the woman has mental health issues. She has no criminal history.

Bill would change state’s presidential primary

OLYMPIA – Washington’s presidential primary would award at least some delegates to each major party’s national conventions under a bill supported by Secretary of State Kim Wyman. 

If both parties don’t agree to do that by October, the primary could go forward without requiring voters to state their party preference.

Or it could be canceled, saving the state an estimated $11.5 million.

“We need the results to mean something,” Wyman said Tuesday.

The presidential primary, which voters approved in 1989, has a checkered history with the parties, which for decades used the caucus system to award delegates to their presidential candidates.

It has been canceled twice – in 2004 and 2012 – to save money.

State elections officials also have moved it around in an effort to draw maximum attention from candidates and voters.

Wyman is proposing that the 2016 presidential primary be held March 8, a week after Super Tuesday, and hopes to interest elections officials in nearby states to join in a regional primary on that day. 

Rosauers employee wins bagger championship

A Rosauers employee was scheduled to appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” on Tuesday after being named the top grocery bagger in the country.

David Tochinskiy works at the supermarket chain’s Five Mile store and recently won top honors at the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Championship.

Tochinskiy, of Spokane, defeated 24 competitors from across North America in the contest, held at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last week. He took home $10,000 in prize money along with a “Golden Grocery Bag” trophy.

Judging included bagging speed, technique, style, attitude and appearance. To compete at the national level, Tochinskiy had to first win the state competition.

Man says assailant used screwdriver, rocks

A man waiting to have breakfast with his wife on Valentine’s Day told police he was assaulted by another man who spit at him, cut his arm with a screwdriver and threw rocks at him.

Siddapa R. Tall, 44, is facing a charge of second-degree assault for his alleged role in the attack in the 1200 block of West Summit around 9:45 a.m. Saturday.

The couple told police that the man spit at their feet and then said “get out of my head” before lunging with a 7-inch screwdriver, according to court documents.

The victim received a long cut on his forearm and told police that he ran when Tall began throwing rocks at him.

Other witnesses told police they saw the victim running away while Tall threw rocks, according to court documents. Officers found at least one car that was damaged by the thrown rocks.

Tall told police that the victim was “in his head” and may have “bumped into” the screwdriver when he took it out to defend himself, according to court documents.