Stories by Chad Sokol for the Spokesman-Review

News > Crime/Public Safety

Suspect faces felony charge for attempted package theft in North Central neighborhood

UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 8, 2018

A 20-year-old man who was caught stealing a package from the front porch of a home in Spokane’s North Central neighborhood said he did it because he was bored, according to police.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Suspect jailed in connection with October shooting that injured 3 at Zip’s in Cheney

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 6, 2018

Federal agents have arrested a Western Washington man in connection with an Oct. 27 shooting that injured three people outside the Zip’s Drive-in in Cheney.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Man accused of wielding gun during road rage incident in Kootenai County

Tue., Dec. 4, 2018

A 38-year-old man was arrested in Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday morning, shortly after a road rage incident in which he allegedly pointed a gun at another motorist on Interstate 90, according to the Idaho State Police.

News > Spokane

WSU Provost Dan Bernardo, who filled in as president after Elson Floyd’s death, is stepping down

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 4, 2018

Bernardo plans to step down from his current role as provost and executive vice president, but will remain on the job until a permanent successor is appointed. Afterward, he will work part-time as a “special adviser” to President Kirk Schulz, according to a news release.

News > Spokane

College Republicans want to build another Trump wall at WSU

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 4, 2018

The Washington State University chapter of the College Republicans wants to build another mockup of a border wall on the Pullman campus to “own the libs mercilessly” and show support for President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration proposal.

News > Spokane

Driver found dead after crashing into field in southeast Spokane County

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 3, 2018

A man was found dead in his vehicle Sunday morning after apparently crashing into a field in southeast Spokane County, according to the sheriff’s office.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Rathdrum man returns to court on vehicular manslaughter charge, six months after deadly crash

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 30, 2018

Varsel Jarnagin, 40, appeared in Kootenai County District Court to be arraigned on a vehicular manslaughter charge on Thursday, nearly six months after a crash that killed 23-year-old Alexa Mrgich.

News > Spokane

Salvation Army finds solid gold coin in Christmas collection kettle in Spokane

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 3, 2018

The coin was discovered Thursday morning, wrapped in a $100 bill, according to the news release. It was also accompanied by an anonymous letter.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Pullman police sergeant resigns over alleged sexual misconduct with WSU student

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 29, 2018

Pullman police Sgt. Dan Hargraves submitted his resignation on Monday, a month after he was criminally charged with sexual misconduct and a day before he was scheduled to be interviewed as part of an internal department investigation.

News > Spokane

With a donation and a discount, homeless protesters build tent city outside Spokane City Hall

Thu., Nov. 29, 2018

A $500 donation went a long way to provide some comfort for the dozens of people who have been sleeping outside Spokane City Hall in protest of the city’s homelessness policies.

News > Spokane

Authorities release name of woman who died in crash west of Spokane

Tue., Nov. 27, 2018

The woman who died Friday morning when her car struck a tree west of Spokane was Felia Sharkey, 34.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Medical examiner identifies pedestrian who died after being struck by car on 29th Avenue

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 27, 2018

Gary Theodore Williams, 80, died in a hospital shortly after he was struck by a car Friday afternoon in a crosswalk on 29th Avenue.

News > Spokane

Attorney requests mental evaluation for man accused of shooting two in northeast Spokane

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 26, 2018

In response to questions from a judge, Donavan L. Gibson sounded brusk, almost annoyed, as he confirmed that he understood his rights. The 35-year-old murder suspect made his first appearance in Spokane County District Court on Monday afternoon. Police say he barged into a home in northeast Spokane on the night of Nov. 20 and shot two people, including his estranged wife.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Crash injures three people after 93-year-old driver turns at red light in Moses Lake

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 26, 2018

Richard C. Smith, of Ephrata, was behind the wheel of a Kia Optima when he tried to make the turn from Highway 17 onto Yonezawa Boulevard shortly after noon Monday, according to the Washington State Patrol.

News > Spokane

WSP tickets driver in UW marching band bus crash

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 26, 2018

The Washington State Patrol has cited the driver of a charter bus that slid off Interstate 90 and rolled onto its side on Thanksgiving, injuring members of the University of Washington marching band who were en route to perform at the Apple Cup football game against Washington State University.

News > Spokane

Man accused of vehicular assault in Spokane Valley has two prior DUIs

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 23, 2018

After hitting one parked car, the suspect’s Toyota Tundra slammed head-on into the victim’s Mitsubishi Outlander, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said. The collision pushed the Mitsubishi into the victim, who had been standing beside her vehicle, loading items into the back seat.

News > Spokane

Driver dies after crashing into tree west of Spokane

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 23, 2018

The woman’s vehicle was reportedly traveling south on Assembly Road when it left the roadway and crashed near the intersection of Assembly and Tamarack roads.

News > Spokane

University of Washington marching band cancels Apple Cup performance after bus crash

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 23, 2018

Of the 56 people aboard, 47 were taken to hospitals for evaluation or treatment. The university said Friday morning that two students remained under medical care for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Mead man accused of strangling half-sister has history of domestic violence, records say

Fri., Nov. 23, 2018

Long before he became the prime suspect in the killing of his half-sister, Ronald A. Beck was known to throw violent tantrums and exact petty revenge when he didn’t get what he wanted, newly filed court records reveal.

News > Spokane

Cellphone data, DNA match result in Spokane man’s rape conviction

Thu., Nov. 22, 2018

A Spokane County jury convicted a man of first-degree rape on Tuesday, more than a year after he was arrested for soliciting a prostitute and forcing her to perform oral sex while holding a gun to her head.

News > Spokane

Thousands prep for Thanksgiving with donated meals from Tom’s Turkey Drive

Wed., Nov. 21, 2018

The annual charity event doles out more than 10,000 free turkeys – with potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and all the other fixings – to families in need.

News > Spokane

Spokane police arrest teen who threatened middle school students

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 19, 2018

The teen, whose name was not released, allegedly made the threat to several middle school students following an argument, police said in a news release.

News > Spokane

Bear spray deters home intruder in Spirit Lake, police say

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 19, 2018

Spirit Lake residents deterred a home intruder by spraying him with bear mace Sunday night, prompting a brief chase during which the suspect hid behind cars, ran through yards and tried to enter additional homes, police said.

News > Spokane

Spokane County man accused of strangling his half-sister in May 2017

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 21, 2018

Ronald A. Beck faces a second-degree murder charge and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

News > Spokane

UW and WSU team up to tout college affordability

Mon., Nov. 19, 2018

WSU President Kirk Schulz and UW President Ana Mari Cauce said they are launching the initiative, called “Yes, It’s Possible,” to dispel the myth that students must incur massive amounts of debt to earn their degrees.

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