Difficult Shutdown Interests Officer

Thu., Jan. 13, 2000

At about 9 p.m. Saturday, Spokane police stopped a speeding car at Pittsburg and Pacific.

The officer became suspicious when the driver had to use gripping pliers and a screwdriver to turn off the car’s ignition, police spokesman Dick Cottam said.

The driver was identified as Harold Anthony Mazzei, 32, who gave his address as 1714 W. Borden Road.

A check of the license plate showed the car had been reported stolen earlier that night from South Division, Cottam said.

The officer found that the ignition had been punched, Cottam said.

Mazzei was booked into jail on a charge of taking a vehicle without the owner’s permission.

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