Police Find Airplane Engine In Stolen Car’S Backseat

Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies found a small airplane engine in the backseat of a car that two men drove into a ditch on Saturday.

In the encounter with the suspects in North Spokane County, a deputy suffered minor injuries.

The deputy was released from a local hospital after being examined for possible broken bones in his wrist or forearm, said sheriff’s spokesman Dave Reagan.

An X-ray was negative, but the deputy left with soreness in his shoulder, elbow and wrist.

The deputy responded to the area of 20200 N. Austin Road at 11:30 a.m. after a resident saw two men coming out of her barn carrying her husband’s toolbox, Reagan said.

She called neighbors who confronted James J. Gifford and a companion, later identified as Frank D. Facinelli, witnesses said.

The two men tried to escape but lost control of a stolen Geo Metro and drove it into a ditch while trying to flee, witnesses said.

The neighbors tried to keep the two at the stranded car until deputies arrived, but the burglars began walking away, Reagan said.

The deputy arrived and confronted Gifford who put up an “extremely violent” fight, the deputy said. The deputy used a chemical spray during the struggle and injured his arm while trying to control the suspect, Reagan said.

Three witnesses helped a deputy subdue, handcuff and load Gifford in a deputy’s car.

Facinelli fled on foot running south on Austin. After witnesses helped corral Gifford, the deputy found Facinelli and arrested him without incident, Reagan said.

Deputies believe the Geo was driven by Gifford, whose sister reported the car stolen on Jan. 20. They were also trying to determine who owns the airplane engine in the backseat of the car.

Gifford and Facinelli were booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of second-degree burglary.

The investigation is continuing.

Suspect spotted

A North Spokane man featured on TCI Cable’s Sheriff’s CrimeLine program was arrested last Tuesday evening after he was pointed out by citizens and then tried to elude police.

A carload of people recognized the suspect and flagged down a sheriff’s deputy and told him the suspect was at an East Sprague motel in a black car.

The deputy tried to stop the suspect but he sped off. The pursuit continued from the area of Sprague and Havana to the 3600 block of East Frederick where a city police car nudged his car into a spin and the suspect was then surrounded.

Jerry M. Bailey, 44, of 8112 N. Jensen, was arrested on a charge of attempting to elude police. He was also arrested on an outstanding warrant charging him with domestic violence assault and unlawful imprisonment.

Police investigate fight

Spokane police are looking into an incident in which a man and a juvenile suffered knife cuts, apparently when they fought each other outside an apartment in the 1800 block of West Gardner early Sunday.

One victim, a 17-year-old, had knife wounds to his chest. He’s listed in satisfactory condition at an area hospital, said police spokesman Dick Cottam.

The other participant, 32, had cuts to his hands and face. He was treated and released at another area hospital, he said.

The case will be forwarded to the Major Crimes and Gang Units. No arrests have been made. A half-dozen people were at the scene when police arrived but denied seeing a stabbing, according to Cottam.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Check at 456-2233.