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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels archive for March 3, 2011

THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2011



A sheriff's patrol car in service for about a month was destroyed in this crash Sunday at Francis and Freya. The other motorist happened to be a retired Spokane County sheriff's sergeant. (KHQ-TV viewer)

Retired sergeant will be cited for crash

A retired Spokane County sheriff's sergeant blamed for a crash that destroyed a new patrol car Sunday will receive a $175 ticket, officials said today. Clifford Berry, 63, will be cited for failing to yield right of way after he turned in front of Deputy…

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Ex-car dealer accused of identity theft

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for tips that lead to the arrest of an ex-car salesman accused of ripping off his former place of employment. Jeremy M. Frechette, 37, was to buy a 1999 Dodge Durango from TCS Auto Wholesale, 2915 E. Sprague Ave.,…

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Pete's civil suit against Olsen dismissed 

Former Spokane Police Officer James “Jay” Olsen won’t face any civil penalties for shooting a fleeing, unarmed man in the head in 2007. U.S. District Court Judge Edward F. Shea agreed with a request by Olsen’s attorney, Rob Cossey, to dismiss the civil lawsuit brought…

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Grand jury indicts man for 71lbs of coke

A Canadian man arrested with 71 pounds of cocaine near the U.S. border last month faces at least 10 years in prison under a grand jury indictment filed Tuesday. Jonathan Darren Smith, 39, has been in custody without bail at the Spokane County Jail since…

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Jail changes postcard-only mail policy 

Restrictions on inmate mail have loosened at the Spokane County Jail in response to a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of a prisoner rights publishing group. While mail sent to inmates from friends and family remains limited to postcards, with jail staff citing security precautions…

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Public safety news from the Inland Northwest and beyond.