Information Sought On Nevada Food Shop Robbery

Two masked men robbed the Nevada Food Shop last Thursday evening.

Employees told officers two men walked into the store at 5438 N. Nevada at 7 p.m. and pulled ski masks over their faces.

One of the robbers displayed a handgun and placed it against the head of an employee, demanding cash from the register.

The robbers took some cash and left the store.

Police found tracks outside the store in the snow that indicated the two left east on Rowan in a vehicle that was parked on the north side of the store.

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

Deputies happen on meth package

A 38-year-old north Spokane County woman was arrested on a felony drug charge Dec. 13 after she gave a sheriff’s detective permission to check her purse for forgery evidence and he found a package of methamphetamine instead.

Melody E. Ray, 42204 N. Darknell, was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.

Detective Mike Ricketts was following up leads in connection with a check fraud investigation when he contacted Ray at a north Spokane address. He asked for and was granted permission to check her car for evidence, then asked if he could look in her purse as well, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dave Reagan.

Ray went into a nearby residence, retrieved the purse and handed it to the detective. Inside was a small plastic baggie of meth, Reagan said.

Ricketts arrested Ray and transported her to jail for booking. The check fraud investigation continues.

Officers find stolen van, loot

Spokane police found a stolen van parked outside a North Side home last week and ended up arresting a woman inside the house.

Officers spotted the vehicle at about 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 11 in the 1300 block of East Sanson Avenue. When they knocked at the door at 1327 E. Sanson, a woman who had an outstanding warrant for her arrest answered.

Police found four women inside the residence, including Genine Mayree Zielke, 35. She was arrested on that warrant.

While searching Zielke’s purse, officers found several items of interest, said police spokesman Dick Cottam, including a loaded .45-caliber semiautomatic, four cell phones and a glass crack pipe.

Police also found court appointment slips for Zielke and for Tracy R. Wrotenbery, 23, who said she lives at the same address.

Officers also found Zielke’s Idaho Department of Corrections identification papers. She had been convicted of possession of a controlled substance in Idaho. Because she is a convicted felon, it is illegal for her to possess firearms.

Zielke was booked into jail on the warrant and as a felon in possession of a firearm.