In brief: Spokane inmate found in cell with sheet around neck

Jailers found an inmate dead in his Spokane County Jail cell Monday afternoon with a sheet around his neck.

The Sheriff’s Office did not disclose the man’s identity. An autopsy is pending.

The man was found in a cell he occupied by himself about 2:50 p.m., according to a news release. Jail staff, as well as fire and medical personnel, attempted to resuscitate him.

Kip Hill

Developer denies guilt in courthouse assault

Spokane developer Harlan Douglass pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he struck an opposing attorney outside the courtroom during a civil trial.

Douglass is accused of slapping Warren Robinson, a lawyer for First American Title Insurance Co., and shoving him against a wall after a heated dispute during a court recess April 15. Douglass had been testifying in court.

Court documents say Robinson told police he put his hand on Douglass’ shoulder and said he was sorry he couldn’t settle out of court. That’s when Douglass allegedly slapped him across the left ear, then grabbed his wrist and pushed him up against a wall.

Douglass spent one night in jail after the alleged assault before being released on his own recognizance. The suit was settled out of court April 16 while Douglass was in jail.

Douglass’ trial on the assault charge is scheduled for Aug. 17.

Kip Hill

Cotton begins new role with city parks

After three years at the Spokane Police Department, communications director Monique Cotton is leaving to manage outreach and public relations for the Riverfront Park redesign, as well as other parks initiatives.

Cotton, who will earn $89,533 a year, began her new role Monday.

She said she’s proud of the work she did for the Police Department, including managing communications about the Department of Justice’s collaborative reform process and organizing the Junior Police Academy.

She especially enjoyed telling human-centered stories about the work officers were doing, she said.

“That was a really cool experience for me to be able to highlight those stories and tell them to the community,” she said.

Rachel Alexander