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

Deputies chase recently released inmate into alfalfa field

A Spokane man who was released from jail less than a week ago led Kootenai County Sheriff’s Deputies on a high-speed chase through an alfalfa field Thursday morning.

A car was reported stolen near the Walmart on Honeysuckle Avenue just before 11 a.m. and deputies spotted the vehicle a few minutes later being driven west on Prairie Avenue near Atlas Road. Deputies attempted to pull over the car but the driver drove off at high speed, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.

A set of spike strips was used to flatten three of the tires on the car, which then went through an alfalfa field at Prairie Avenue and Highway 41. The driver ran away but was tracked down by deputies and a police dog, the news release said.

The driver has been identified as 19-year-old Alec T. Malinak, who was released from jail on May 20 after serving time for arson. Malinak set fires in trash bins at the Coeur d’Alene City Library and at the base of Tubbs Hill last year. His criminal record also includes convictions for burglary and battery.

Malinak was booked into the Kootenai County Jail on suspicion of grand theft and felony eluding.