Emma Epperly

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News >  Crime/Public Safety

As police-reform laws go into effect, sheriffs and activists disagree on their effectiveness

Fri., July 23, 2021

A group of 20 sheriffs and police chiefs expressed concern at a news conference Thursday about police reform legislation they say will hurt their ability to do their job, while community activists and families affected by police violence say this should only be the start of accountability.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Washington sheriffs sign letter vowing to uphold Second Amendment, but some question their messaging

Fri., July 23, 2021

Hoping to quell their constituents’ fears, the Washington State Sheriffs’ Association put out a statement last week affirming their commitment to uphold the Constitution – specifically, the Second Amendment. But a Spokane civil rights attorney is concerned the letter suggests sheriffs have powers beyond their roles as local law enforcers.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Three dead after suspected murder, suicide shooting at Kamiah hotel

UPDATED: Tue., July 20, 2021

Three people are dead after a Monday night shooting at the Sundown Motel in Kamiah, Idaho.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Hutton Settlement cottages renovated with donation from Davenport Hotel owners

Tue., July 20, 2021

When Levi Hutton set out to build a children’s home in 1919, one of his main goals was that the campus would be standing for 250 years.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane County Clerk launches electronic filing to streamline proceedings

UPDATED: Mon., July 19, 2021

Starting Tuesday a trip down to the Spokane County Superior Courthouse won’t be necessary to file documents for some case types.

News >  Pacific NW

Hutton Settlement students start coffee roasting subscription business

UPDATED: Mon., July 19, 2021

Three teenagers at the children's home in Millwood will launch the project later this month, allowing them to earn an income while also supporting Hutton's other land stewardship and sustainability programs. 

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Incoming Post Falls Police Chief hopes to strengthen department’s ties to community

Sun., July 18, 2021

Keeping the Post Falls Police Department connected to its growing community is a top priority for incoming chief Greg McLean.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Man suspected of hate crime after holding family at knifepoint at Post Falls rest stop, saying, ‘Go back to Africa’

UPDATED: Tue., July 13, 2021

A man was arrested Sunday after pulling a knife on a family at a Post Falls rest stop while spewing racial slurs, according to court documents.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Court docs: Boss threatened to kill 17-year-old employee and birds at Spokane bird shop

UPDATED: Tue., July 13, 2021

The manager of a local bird supply store allegedly threatened to kill a 17-year-old employee and the birds the store sells, according to court documents filed Tuesday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Police look for people of interest in June downtown stabbing

UPDATED: Tue., July 13, 2021

Police asked the public to help identify two people of interest in a downtown Spokane stabbing from last month.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Nespelem evacuated after lightning fire burns over 10,000 acres, 7 homes

UPDATED: Tue., July 13, 2021

When Dan Nanamkin rushed back to his home near the Colville Indian Agency Monday night he was met with an inferno.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘Piece of Americana’: Inland Empire Model T Ford Club hosts national tour

UPDATED: Wed., July 14, 2021

As line of Ford Model Ts stopped to turn onto Northwest Boulevard Monday morning, customers at the Little Garden Cafe waved and took photos.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Police investigate suspicious death of toddler, neglect of second child at South Hill apartment complex

UPDATED: Fri., July 9, 2021

When a young mother called 911 Saturday to report that a dresser had fallen on her 14-month-old girl, first responders rushed to her South Hill apartment complex only to find that the toddler had been dead for hours.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Andrus fire cleanup near Cheney continues Thursday

UPDATED: Fri., July 9, 2021

Crews worked overnight Wednesday to continue cleaning up the Andrus fire with the goal of working 200 feet in from the perimeter of the fire line and 500 feet from all structures. 

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘Every day is a struggle’: Coeur d’Alene family struggles with loss after teenage son falls victim to surge in fentanyl overdoses

UPDATED: Wed., July 7, 2021

Michael Stabile's death is just one of latest in a string of fentanyl overdoses in the Inland Northwest.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Court docs: Sleeping man beaten to death in front of Spokane Intermodal Center

UPDATED: Tue., July 6, 2021

A 34-year-old man sleeping in front of the Spokane Intermodal Center was beaten to death last month, likely by an acquaintance, according to recently filed court documents.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Man arrested for breaking Spokane Valley Planned Parenthood windows allegedly angry over sister’s abortions, suicide

UPDATED: Tue., July 6, 2021

The man arrested for smashing windows at the Planned Parenthood in Spokane Valley over the weekend allegedly was angry over a family member who had abortions and later died by suicide, according to police.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Interim director appointed as head of Washington’s Criminal Justice Training Commission

UPDATED: Thu., July 1, 2021

After months of serving as interim director of Washington state’s peace officer training arm, Monica Alexander, 59, was officially appointed to the role Wednesday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘The heat just amplifies any problem’: Spokane Fire Department’s special medical unit kept busy as heat rages

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

Less than 2 minutes after the Spokane Fire Department’s Alternative Response Unit pulled into Station 1 on Tuesday afternoon, the next call came in.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

One dead after semi truck and car head on collision on Trent Avenue

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

A 71-year-old man died after he attempted to pass a vehicle and was hit head on by a semitruck on Trent Avenue and Starr Road south of Newman Lake early Tuesday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Prosecutor rules shooting of Chattaroy homeowner in confrontation with deputy justified

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

The Spokane County Prosecutor’s office ruled Tuesday that the shooting of a Chattaroy homeowner during a confrontation with a Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy was justified.

News >  Spokane

Temperature reaches 109 degrees, making Tuesday the hottest day on record in Spokane

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

Tuesday became Spokane’s hottest day on record when the temperature reached 109 degrees at the Spokane International Airport just after 4 p.m., the National Weather Service reported.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Drug deal led to South Hill shooting that left 1 dead, another injured, court docs say

UPDATED: Mon., June 28, 2021

A drug deal gone wrong led to a shooting on Spokane’s South Hill last week that left one man dead and another injured, according to court documents.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Tyler Rambo sentenced to 10 years for assault of police officers in Fourth of July shooting in Coeur d’Alene

UPDATED: Wed., June 30, 2021

Nearly two years after the Fourth of July shooting at Coeur d’Alene’s annual fireworks display at Independence Point, the teen who was shot by police after his gun fired during a standoff with officers was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Early morning fire at downtown apartment building controlled by sprinklers

UPDATED: Mon., June 28, 2021

An early-morning apartment fire was largely controlled by the building’s sprinklers before the Spokane Fire Department arrived and finished extinguishing the flames.