Police Arrest Five On Multiple Charges

Spokane police arrested five people - four of them juveniles - on several charges, including destroying the windows in a neighbor’s car Monday about 11 p.m.

A couple in the 5300 block of North Cannon told police they heard the sound of breaking glass, and heard a screen door slam in a house nearby, said police spokesman Dick Cottam. When officers went to 5304 N. Cannon to investigate, no one responded, but they could hear people moving around inside.

A young woman finally answered the door and allowed police inside. Officers said everyone in the basement pretended to be asleep, though they had been persistently knocking on windows and calling, Cottam said.

Police found a hatchet, some clothing and shoes with small shards of glass inside. After interviewing the five, police booked Richard R. Sheppard, 21, who lives at the address, on a charge of felony malicious mischief. He was uncooperative during the booking process and was placed in a holding cell, Cottam said.

Police also booked a 14-year-old male and a 13-year-old male on charges of felony malicious mischief and being minors in possession of alcohol by consumption. The 14-year-old was also booked on a charge of assaulting one of the officers, Cottam said. One of the males was too intoxicated to be allowed into juvenile detention, and had to be checked at a hospital before the booking was allowed.

A 15-year-old female and a 13-year-old female also were booked on a charge of being minors in possession of alcohol by consumption.

Sheppard has two convictions: one for a drive-by shooting and another for a residential burglary.

Another mailbox explodes

Spokane sheriff’s deputies responded to a home in the 300 block of North Austin Road Monday night about 11 after a woman was awakened by what she thought was a shotgun blast.

The 84-year-old victim told deputies she heard the sound, looked up and down the road, but saw no one, said sheriff’s spokesman Dave Reagan. The woman’s mailbox was curved out and dented, and deputies found black and green residue inside, which indicated an explosive - probably a large firecracker, Reagan said. The woman reported that she had lost several mailboxes in the past.

Deputies talked with other neighbors who also heard the blast, but saw no car. Others also reported having lost several mailboxes in the past year.

Anyone who may have seen a vehicle in the area Monday night is asked to call Crime Check at 456-2233.

Drugs, stolen car land man in jail

Spokane police stopped a man for speeding Sunday morning about 1:30 at Division and Longfellow. They discovered he had a suspended driver’s license and a bag of marijuana in his possession, Cottam said.

After police booked Jared M. Jeremias, 19, into jail, they learned the car he was driving was stolen, Cottam said. Jeremias, who gave his address as 308 E. 23rd, was additionally booked on a charge of possession of stolen property, a felony.

Thief makes off with day’s mail

Spokane sheriff’s deputies responded to a house in the 13400 block of North Norman Road March 29 after the residents discovered they had been robbed.

Deputies found the suspect had broken in through a living room window, after an unsuccessful attempt to kick in the front door, said Reagan. The thief took a Sharp digital video player worth $200 and a Sony camcorder worth $500. The thief then left through the front door, went into the garage and took a Stiehl chain saw worth $350 and two horse saddles valued at $800, Reagan said.

The resident discovered all the mail also was missing from the mailbox, and when he called his neighbors, they realized their mail was gone, too, Reagan said.

A 15-year-old neighbor said he saw a small, two-door hatchback in the area at about 6:45 that morning and a white male, age 20-25, with a long face, a goatee and brown hair sitting in the car.

Because he knows all the neighbors’ cars, he knew the hatchback didn’t belong in the area, Reagan said.