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

In brief: Spokane assault suspect disputes cause of girlfriend’s injuries

From Staff And Wire Reports

A man sought by Spokane police officers last week now faces assault charges for allegedly pushing his girlfriend into a sink, causing serious head trauma.

Police began looking for James A. Bench, 24, on Thursday after a neighbor reported seeing him carry his unresponsive girlfriend to a car outside their home on the South Hill about 7:30 p.m. Officers found Bench about five hours later. Prosecutor Gayle Ervin said in court Monday that Bench told officers his girlfriend was injured in a bar fight and said he was taking her to the hospital.

The victim told detectives Bench had struck her head against a sink during an argument at their home. She could not walk on her own and had slurred speech and issues moving because of head trauma.

Ervin said workers at the hospital found broken ribs they believe are from a prior assault.

Authorities want to detain sex offender

State officials want to keep a convicted child molester in custody after his prison sentence ends this year.

The Washington Attorney General’s Office has filed a petition in Spokane to have 37-year-old Travis Fields civilly committed as mentally ill and sexually dangerous.

Fields has been convicted of two sex crimes: the first in 1993 for first-degree attempted child molestation, and then in 2008 for second-degree child molestation. A judge sent him to prison for seven years and three months.

State law allows for convicted sex predators deemed to be likely to commit new sex crimes upon release to be detained beyond the end of their prison terms.

Council approves Pike Place upgrades

SEATTLE – The City Council has approved $34 million for an expansion of Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market.

Construction on the project, which totals $73 million, could start as early as May. It will add more selling spaces, 300 underground parking spaces, expanded walking spaces and better access from the city’s waterfront once the Alaskan Way Viaduct is torn down.