Hole Digger Arrested On Gun Charge

Fri., July 17, 1998

A man digging on the side of a northwest Spokane County road was jailed Wednesday after sheriff’s deputies found a stolen pistol in his possession.

Daniel L. McElfish, 49, of 10627 N. Waikiki was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of possession of a stolen firearm as well as an outstanding warrant for possession of a dangerous weapon.

Deputies were called to Rutter Parkway near Waikiki about 9:50 p.m. Wednesday after someone reported a suspicious man digging a hole along the road, deputies said.

As Deputy Jack Rosenthal approached the man, he saw a partially hidden gun holster under his shirt. Rosenthal ordered the man to get on the ground and called for backup, deputies said.

Deputies found a fully loaded .357-caliber pistol on the man. It was determined to be a gun stolen from Stevens County in February 1996.

Deputies searched the hillside with flashlights. They were unable to determine where or why the man had been digging.

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