After A Nice Dinner, Man Turns Himself In

Thu., May 18, 2000

From Staff

A man turned himself into police on Tuesday evening because he had committed “ a bunch of felonies” in the past several days.

Johnnie A. Rossie, of Bakersfield, Calif., told police he had committed a burglary on 37th Avenue on the South Hill on Sunday and set two arson fires. He said he decided to surrender to police and started to walk to the Public Safety Building, but decided to have a meal “at a nice place” first.

He stopped at Cavanaugh’s River Inn and ordered steak and prawns, according to the Spokane Police Department. When he finished, he left a small bag with a handgun and his eyeglasses on the table. The dinner tab came to $34, not including the tip. He left without paying and turned himself in, according to police.

A detective verified the burglary and found the gun at Cavanaugh’s. The weapon had been stolen in the burglary and the Spokane Fire Department verified two small fires, neither of which caused any injury or serious damage.

Rossie was booked into jail on suspicion of first-degree burglary and theft of a firearm. The Fire Department may ask that he be charged with two arsons.

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