In brief: Mail carrier assaulted outside Spokane apartment

Witnesses told police that a mail carrier was brutally assaulted as he was delivering the mail to an apartment complex just south of downtown Spokane on Tuesday.

The mail carrier told police that a man came out of an apartment at 1226 W. Fifth Ave. and kicked him, punched him repeatedly in the head and face, and ripped out a large clump of hair. Several witnesses who heard the noise told police they saw the beating and heard the man threaten to kill the mail carrier. They held the front door closed when the man left the building and tried to re-enter, according to court documents.

An officer who arrived at the scene said the man, identified as 22-year-old Henry P. Owens, appeared to be “delusional and disoriented,” according to court documents. Owens was taken to a local hospital and treated for dehydration and “acute delirium,” documents say.

Owens was ordered held on $5,000 bond Wednesday on charges of fourth-degree assault and harassment.

A woman who identified herself as Owens’ mother spoke in court Wednesday and said her son suffers from mental illness and recently told her he had been inhaling THC oil vapors. “It makes him crazy,” she said of the marijuana extract.

Man detained after carrying rifle in front of courthouse

A Yakima man arguing that he has the right to carry guns on federal property was detained by federal officers Wednesday after carrying a rifle in front of the federal courthouse in downtown Spokane.

Anthony Bosworth was cited for failing to disperse, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said.

His arrest was captured on video by his wife, and conservative websites took up his cause. At least one asked readers to call federal and local authorities to demand his release.

Knezovich said he was downtown having lunch when he heard about the incident and went to the scene to assist. He said he helped communicate what was happening to protesters.

“This became an instantaneous social media event,” said Knezovich, who added that his office was slammed with calls about the incident. “So I went down there to make sure this did not get out of hand.”

Video of the arrest, which was posted on multiple blogs, shows federal officers giving Bosworth a chance to leave federal property before detaining him.

“We’re exercising our rights,” he said when asked by an officer why he was there.

The U.S. Marshal’s Office in Spokane referred a request for comment to the U.S. attorney’s office. Attempts to interview an office spokesman and U.S. Attorney Mike Ormsby were unsuccessful.

Rathdrum man named Idaho’s principal of the year

A Rathdrum elementary school principal has been named Idaho’s principal of the year by the Idaho Association of School Administrators.

BJ DeAustin has served as principal at Garwood Elementary School since fall 1993.

“He has amazing rapport with his students. They light up when they have a chance to interact with him,” Lakeland School District Assistant Superintendent Lisa Sexton said. Katie Foresman, the parent of a Garwood student and herself a former student of DeAustin’s, also praised him.

“He always stops to greet parents, grandparents and siblings. He always seems to know which children need a little extra encouragement, a hug or a Hershey’s kiss,” Foresman said.

Councilman Mike Allen won’t seek re-election

Spokane City Councilman Mike Allen will not seek re-election.

Allen was a leader in the effort to have police oversight placed in the City Charter. He was active in the work of last fall’s park bond and street levy.

He was appointed to the council in 2007. He lost the seat in the 2009 election but returned after defeating Councilman Richard Rush in 2011.