Assault Suspect Faces $150,000 Bail

Thu., April 29, 1999

Bail was set at $150,000 Wednesday for a Republic man suspected of assaulting a neighbor and shooting a Ferry County sheriff’s deputy who responded to the disturbance.

District Court Judge Lynda Eaton granted Prosecutor Steve Graham’s request for a high bail after finding there was probable cause to hold Kenneth T. Atwood on suspicion of second-degree assault and attempted second-degree murder.

Atwood, 38, is to be arraigned on those charges Tuesday. He remained in the county jail Wednesday afternoon.

Graham said Atwood struck neighbor Melody Roofner in the mouth with a rifle barrel after she complained to police that his dog was running loose. Atwood accused Roofner of killing the dog when he couldn’t find it, and threatened to kill her, Graham said in a court document.

Then, Graham said, Atwood shot Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Lane in the cheek when Lane ordered Atwood to surrender. Lane remained in satisfactory condition Wednesday at Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane.

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