Sirens & Gavels Blog." /> Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Meghann M. Cuniff

This individual is no longer an employee with The Spokesman-Review.

All Stories

News >  Spokane

Inmate who hanged himself identified

A man accused of helping Charles Wallace, who shot two sheriff’s deputies before shooting himself to death last month, is the inmate who tried to kill himself at the Spokane County Jail on Friday. Robert Lee “Bo” Ruth, 42, who is charged with rendering criminal assistance in the Wallace shooting spree and was jailed last week after his girlfriend told police he had assaulted her, remains on life support at a local hospital.
News >  Spokane

Con man facing prison for fraud

A federal jury convicted a Spokane man of 20 felonies Thursday for a scheme that cost a Coeur d’Alene woman her high-end riverside home. Samuel Thomas Geren Jones, 31, faces up to 20 years in prison for each of 19 wire fraud counts when he’s sentenced Oct. 5, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He’s allowed to stay out of jail until sentencing.

News >  Spokane

Candidates discuss views on policing

Three men vying to be the city of Spokane’s next police chief touted their experience, integrity, commitment to the job and their ability to solve tough problems in a series of interviews Wednesday with city officials and community leaders. Only one of the five interviews with each candidate was open to the public, but the candidates said questions largely focused on the same issues: building trust, not just with the community but within the Spokane Police Department.
News >  Spokane

Alleged thief arrested while awaiting trial

A 13-year-old boy home alone came face to face with a man police describe as a “prolific burglar” after the thief smashed in a basement window Monday, authorities allege. The boy was at his home in the 400 block of West Carlisle Avenue while his mother was at work when he heard a knock on the door at about 12:35 p.m. He looked out the window and saw a man walking away.
News >  Spokane

Blog commenter reveals identity

A woman who claims to have posted a comment on a Spokesman-Review blog that triggered a defamation lawsuit has revealed her identity. Linda Cook said her suggestion to ask Kootenai County Republican Party Chairwoman Tina Jacobson about alleged missing money in the Kootenai County GOP coffers, which Cook posted under the moniker “almostinnocentbystander,” was based on information she’d heard from a board member.
News >  Spokane

Police chief finalists stress public’s trust

City leaders hope one of four candidates for Spokane police chief has the management skills necessary to tackle the challenges facing the department. The four men from police forces in San Francisco, Indianapolis, Rochester, N.Y., and Stockton, Calif., will be in Spokane July 25 for five interviews, including one that will be open to the public. Panelists for the interviews will include government executives, elected officials, current and retired law enforcement professionals, community and business leaders, members of the Public Safety Committee, the mayor’s transition team and the Police Advisory Committee.
News >  Spokane

Council addresses recent downtown assaults

An ordinance that bans sitting or lying on downtown Spokane sidewalks during a 14-hour period of the day could be expanded to include more hours after a surge of assaults in the area. “If we can make the environment uncomfortable for people who are committing crimes or are contemplating committing crimes, I think that’s a good thing,” Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart said Monday at the city’s Public Safety Committee meeting.
News >  Marijuana

Police looking for alleged thief

A man who police say was arrested leaving a suspected robber’s home with a bag of marijuana is now wanted on charges stemming from a gunpoint home-invasion robbery two days earlier. Oladejo B. Olajoyegbe, 24, is accused of robbing a home in the 1700 block of East Columbia Avenue on July 3 with Derek L. Wilson, 25, and Christopher M. Comer, 24. Wilson and Comer were arrested July 5.
News >  Spokane

Murder case goes to judge

Patrick Kevin Gibson made big money robbing banks. A dozen gunpoint heists in the 1990s netted him $850,000. He was a professional robber who didn’t need to bother with a small-time holdup at a furniture store, claims the attorney representing him in a murder trial.
News >  Spokane

Police tackle case of stolen football rings

A former pro football player whose championship rings were stolen when his Spokane home was ransacked says he’s hopeful he’ll see the memorabilia again. “But we’ll see,” said Stefan Humphries, former director of St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute. “It’s like a nightmare.”
News >  Spokane

Ex-Chicago Bear hopes for return of championship memorabilia

A former pro football player whose championship rings were stolen when his home was ransacked in Spokane says he’s hopeful he’ll see the memorabilia again. “But we’ll see,” said Stefan Humphries, former director of St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute. “It’s like a nightmare.”
News >  Spokane

Alleged card cheaters face felony charges

Small bets at poker games at the Hooters casino in Spokane Valley have led to felony charges against two North Idaho men accused of the rarely prosecuted crime of cheating while gambling. “Part of our mission is to keep gambling legal and honest so when the public goes in there to play, they know we have done everything in our power to make sure the game is fair on both sides,” said Gary Drumheller, spokesman for the Washington State Gambling Association in Spokane. “That the house is doing their part but also that the players aren’t in there doing things they shouldn’t.”
News >  Spokane

Alleged card cheats face felony charges

Small bets at poker games at the Hooters casino in Spokane Valley have led to felony charges against two North Idaho men accused of the rarely prosecuted crime of cheating while gambling. “Part of our mission is to keep gambling legal and honest so when the public goes in there to play, they know we have done everything in our power to make sure the game is fair on both sides,” said Gary Drumheller, spokesman for the Washington State Gambling Association in Spokane. “That the house is doing their part but also that the players aren’t in there doing things they shouldn’t.”
News >  Spokane

Suspects in brothel case released from jail pending arraignment

Five women and one man arrested in a sweeping anti-prostitution investigation at Spokane-area spas and massage parlors have been released from jail. The suspects, who own four of eight suspected brothels raided Tuesday, have no criminal records and were allowed to leave without posting bond. Prosecutors did not object to their release, and they were ordered to return to court July 23 to be arraigned on charges of second-degree promoting prostitution and money laundering.
News >  Spokane

Eight suspected Spokane brothels raided

A yearlong investigation into widespread prostitution in Spokane County culminated Tuesday with raids at eight suspected brothels in what authorities say is an attempt to permanently close the longtime businesses. Complaints from Northern Quest Casino officials about prostitution activity prompted the Airway Heights Police Department to conduct undercover stings of suspected prostitutes who in turn agreed to work as confidential informants.
News >  Spokane

Man in jail after shots fired at house

A Spokane man remains in jail on $100,000 bond following a weekend standoff with police. Ernest Earl Strebeck, 46, who is believed to have fired several rounds at an elderly woman’s front door, was arrested after a sheriff’s corporal shot him with beanbags in front of another would-be victim’s home early Saturday.
News >  Spokane

Gunman subdued after shots fired at woman’s home

A Spokane burglary suspect believed to have fired several rounds into an elderly woman's front door was arrested after a sheriff's corporal shot him with bean bags in front of another would-be victim's home early Saturday.
News >  Spokane

Police arrest seven in serial robbery case

Seven people have been arrested in connection with a series of brazen gunpoint robberies that targeted not only drug homes but a fast-food restaurant with customers inside. More arrests are expected as part of an ongoing investigation that began May 25 when four masked robbers burst into the McDonald’s at 4647 S. Regal St. and robbed four employees and six customers of cash, phones and other valuables.