Two Arrested For Drug Possession

These guys have green thumbs.

Spokane police responded to a call of suspicious persons at Rowan and Helena at 2 a.m. on July 4. They found two men walking near a van, one carrying a backpack, police spokesman Dick Cottam said.

The men told officers they were picking flowers from yards for their friends.

Dustin H. Garner, 20, gave police permission to search his backpack and van. Police found illegal mushrooms, scales, baggies of marijuana, a syringe, a pager and more than $500 in cash, Cottam said.

Garner, who gave his address as 2208 E. Diamond, and John T. Robinson, 18, who gave his address 1427 S. Chestnut, were booked into jail on possession of controlled substances with intent to deliver, Cottam said.

Slow thief caught

A would-be car thief was caught Saturday after a witness called police as the suspect was walking away.

Police were called at 7:10 p.m. on July 4 to the 600 block of West Mallon about a vehicle theft in progress, according to Cottam.

Officers found Scott E. Farler walking in the area. Witnesses said they saw him smash a side window of a Volkswagen Rabbit in the Flour Mill Parking lot.

They said he was busy with the wiring under the dashboard, but then walked away from the car when one witness questioned him.

Farler was carrying several items taken from the car identified by their owner. He also had a wire cutter, knife and a debit card in another person’s name, Cottam said.

He was booked into jail on attempted first-degree theft and malicious mischief.

Police bust man and his partner

Spokane police arrested a man carrying heroin and a female cohort who was packing a loaded gun in her underwear.

At 11:15 p.m. on July 3, police responded to a fight call in the 1600 block of West Mission. As officers arrived they saw a 1988 Toyota leaving the area and stopped it, Cottam said.

The driver was 29-year-old Daniel Froehlich who was driving with a suspended license. Police found a small amount of heroin in his pocket, he said.

Meanwhile, Jacque K. Thome, 26, was searched by a female officer who found a loaded .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun hidden in her underwear.

Froehlich and Thome have convictions for felonies, so both were arrested for unlawful possession of a handgun and Froehlich for possession of an illegal substance, Cottam said.

Froehlich gave his address as 2412 W. Clark; Thome gave hers as 1230 E. Bismark. Both were booked into jail and the vehicle was impounded.

Maffia busted in Spokane

Spokane police arrested Matthew P. Maffia at 12:15 a.m. on July 3.

A police sergeant spotted a stolen pickup near Lincoln and Colton and stopped it. The truck was listed as stolen. Maffia, 20, told the sergeant he borrowed it from a friend, Cottam said.

Police found a wallet under the driver’s seat with eight Social Security and identification cards, none of which belonged to Maffia.

A set of burglary tools, five cell phones, a pager, four knives and a home-made device designed to quietly break car windows was also found, Cottam said.

Maffia was booked into jail for possession of stolen property. A 17-year-old female passenger was booked into juvenile detention for possession of stolen property, Cottam said.

The stolen truck was returned to its owner.