Three Arrested After Shots Fired At Apartment Complex

Thu., Dec. 14, 2000

By Kristen Kromer kristenk@spokesman.com

Spokane police arrested three people who were involved in a handgun incident after shots were fired at two locations on the North Side Dec. 6. There were no injuries, and apparently the shots were not fired at anyone, Cottam said.

Police responded to an apartment complex at 6600 N. Addison about 6 p.m. after a resident reported hearing three shots fired in rapid succession near his apartment.

After questioning witnesses, police determined a woman had fired the weapon, which she had just received, into the air to demonstrate it. Police found three shell casings outside a window. The woman, Patty June Starkey, 32, of 6616 N. Addison, said she had fired the weapon, and that she and another woman had driven to a house near Holy Family Hospital just after that and fired a fourth shot, also into the air, Cottam said.

Starkey was booked into jail for a drive-by shooting, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm in the city limits. Two men - Ronnie Lacey, 20, and Carl Lee Mitchell, 29 - were arrested and booked for unlawful possession of a firearm. Lacey and Mitchell live at the same apartment complex as Starkey.

Police confiscated the weapon and a box of ammunition from the apartment.

Three Gators gone

A North Side John Deere dealer recently lost his third Gator to thieves, and detectives are seeking tips regarding the crime and its suspects.

The manager of Mack’s Outdoor, 4009 E. Francis, reported Dec. 5 that suspects had cut a hole in the chain link fence surrounding his yard and stolen his Gator all-terrain vehicle, said sheriff’s spokesman Dave Reagan. The ATV is a John Deere product and is the same green color the company uses on its tractors. The value of the 2000 Gator is about $8,000.

The stolen ATV was apparently hot-wired and several other units in the yard had damaged ignitions, Reagan said. The manager said this is the third such theft. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Crime Check at 456-2233.

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