Bored Youths Blamed For Plague Of Mischief

Sheriff’s deputies blame bored young people for the waves of malicious mischief in the Spokane Valley during the past year.

Whether they’re driving through neighborhoods smashing mailboxes or shooting out car windows with BB guns, the restless youths add to the growing numbers of property crimes in the Valley.

“They just go down the road and bash a whole bunch,” said Sgt. Gary Waterhouse.

Investigators at Valley Fire Department also blame youths for part of the huge arson season this year.

Of the 128 fires investigated this year, about 66 were suspicious, said Eric Olson, an inspector. That’s up from 77 investigated in 1993, with 30 listed as suspicious.

Inspector Paul Chase said the overloaded juvenile justice system releases too many youths who commit crimes.

“(An arsonist) probably wouldn’t be doing the fire if he got whacked for the other things,” Chase said. “These are the same three, four or five kids that are busting windows out.”

Young people who break the law also are more violent these days, said Cpl. Jim Wakefield. He’s been working off-duty as a security guard at a popular Valley youth hangout for about six years.

The number of incidents has not increased at the Sports Page, E12828 Sprague, but the severity has, he said.

“We never had anybody shooting guns at the Sports Page when I first started working there,” Wakefield said. “If something does happen, the results can be worse because of what people carry.”

The most recent incident was last week, when shots were fired in the Sports Page parking lot. Witnesses told deputies one man was firing at a group of people, said sheriff’s Lt. Clyde Ries. Six spent casings from a 9mm handgun were found on the ground, but no one was injured.