Thomas Clouse

Three state appellate judges were asked Tuesday to reinstate a verdict in favor of a local doctor after five jurors in the original malpractice trial reportedly made derogatory comments about the Japanese heritage of one of the plaintiff’s attorneys.

Spokane officials announced today that Spokane Municipal Court will begin hearing cases on two Saturdays a month starting in December.

More Spokane Police officers could face criminal charges over the city’s handling of the fatal confrontation with unarmed janitor Otto Zehm, with newly filed court documents indicating a federal probe is continuing into potential obstructions of justice.

Federal prosecutors have grown increasingly critical of what they describe as questionable behavior by the Spokane Police Department’s chief legal adviser, who reportedly used his position to provide “traditionally confidential” information to the officer under FBI investigation following the fatal confrontation with Otto Zehm. In documents filed recently in U.S. District Court, prosecutors describe a pattern of behavior by Assistant Spokane City Attorney Rocky Treppiedi that raises questions about whether the city actively sought to interfere with the federal investigation that led to a grand jury indictment of Officer Karl F. Thompson. Treppiedi disputes any suggestion that he has acted improperly.

Friends of Otto Zehm wore small blue buttons that read “Otto” in support of the mentally ill janitor, after he died in 2006 following a struggle with Spokane police. Now friends of Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr. are rallying with $10 blue wristbands to raise money for Thompson’s “out-of- pocket” expenses as he awaits trial in federal court on charges of using unreasonable force against Zehm and lying to detectives who investigated the incident. Thompson has been transferred to desk duty and is still collecting his salary of about $73,000 a year, not including overtime. The city of Spokane and the federal government are paying his defense costs in the civil and criminal cases against him.

A 24-year-old man told a judge Thursday that his life changed quickly and dramatically: He went from living with his girlfriend and their 7-year-old daughter to putting a knife to a man’s throat to get a pharmacist to hand over a bag of OxyContin pills. “How did you get to this point?” Superior Court Judge Maryann Moreno asked Michael A. Miller.

A Spokane jury got its first glimpse Wednesday of the past sex crimes and current violent sexual fantasies that persuaded state officials to try to keep Shawn Dale Botner in custody for the rest of his life.

In a rare court proceeding, a Spokane man was acquitted Tuesday of stabbing his cousin to death last year. But that acquittal may require Adrian Wayne Ellenwood to remain in a mental hospital for life. Spokane County Superior Court Judge Maryann Moreno approved 35-year-old Ellenwood’s not-guilty plea by reason of insanity. Ellenwood must remain at Eastern State Hospital until doctors determine he no longer poses a threat to himself or the public.

In a rare court proceeding, a Spokane man was acquitted Tuesday of stabbing his cousin to death last year. But that acquittal may require Adrian Wayne Ellenwood to remain in a mental hospital for the rest of his life.

A Cheney man pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of animal cruelty after a witness reported seeing him throw a beagle into a kennel. According to a police report, a witness also saw 27-year-old Casey J. Price holding the female beagle, named Roxy, by her throat and holding the dog’s mouth to keep her from crying out.

Two more of Spokane’s six public swimming pools are scheduled to open Wednesday, giving kids 15 days to splash and dunk their friends before the school year starts. City officials gathered Friday to celebrate the opening of the Hillyard Pool, 5718 N. Haven St., and Comstock Pool, 800 W. 29th Ave. Construction is not yet complete on the Witter Pool, at 1400 E. Mission Ave., and the Liberty Pool, 1300 E. Fifth Ave., said Carl Strong, a recreation supervisor for the city.

The Washington State Patrol reports that crews have now cleared a two-car collision that had been blocking both directions of State Route 395 nine miles north of Spokane. The crash occurred at 9:16 a.m. and caused minor injuries.