Man injured trying to stop thieves
A man was injured Monday when he unsuccessfully tried to stop thieves from stealing his dirt bike.
The 45-year-old victim had a gash on his head that required stitches, as well as a lump and bruises from being hit by rocks.
The man told police he’d woken up about 1 a.m. to find two men stealing his dirt bike. He had the Yamaha chained to his mailbox in the 1700 block of North Vista Road. The bike was for sale.
When the man demanded the motorcycle back, he was assaulted, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department. One man threw a rock at the victim’s head. The other smashed him in the head with a rock, according to a press release.
Both assailants appeared to be teenagers and 5 feet 10 inches tall. One, whom the other called Brian, had dark hair and dark complexion and weighed about 200 pounds. He may have facial injuries caused by a fight with the victim. The other weighed about 160 pounds and had brown hair and a lighter complexion, Police said.
The victim estimated the value of the motorcycle at $1,700, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Check at 456-2233.
Taser used on accused snow blower thief
Spokane Valley Police used a Taser to subdue a theft suspect Tuesday afternoon.
The incident started around 12:45 p.m. when neighbors near Valleyway and Bowdish Road told police that a man was talking to himself and gesturing, said Spokane Valley Police Department Sgt. Martin O’Leary.
The man was seen going into a garage and taking a snow blower.
A short time later, a Spokane Valley police officer in the area spotted a man matching the description of the thief. The man ran when he saw the officer, O’Leary said.
After a search, police found Todd Losh, 42, in the back yard of a house on the 300 block of North Van Martyr Road. The snow blower was found nearby, police said.
Losh was jolted with a Taser after refusing to be handcuffed, O’Leary said.
He was taken to the hospital because he complained of difficulty breathing, O’Leary said. After a medical checkup, he was expected to be booked on a burglary charge, O’Leary said.
Woman who let air out of deputy’s tires arrested
A woman was arrested for allegedly deflating the tires on a deputy’s vehicle and trailer.
Jay Bailey, a marine deputy for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, was patrolling the Spokane River Sunday afternoon. Bailey left the Ford Expedition and boat trailer in the public parking area of Sullivan Park.
A woman and man allegedly let the air out of one tire on the Ford and one on the trailer after becoming upset that Bailey was ticketing people for not wearing life jackets, according to a press release from the Spokane Valley Police Department.
A citizen saw the alleged tire deflation and tried to block the suspects’ gray Porsche from leaving. The citizen delayed the pair long enough for the deputy to get a good look at them and the license plate number, police said.
Bailey identified the residence of the car’s registered owner and arrested Patty A. Benavidez, 43, 18006 E. Mission Ave., on charges of felony malicious mischief.
The male suspect has been identified and the investigation in continuing, according to police.
Small fire won’t delay school opening
A fire was set inside Greenacres Middle School over the weekend.
The school is in the midst of a major remodel. It appears that someone pried open the plywood securing the door on the west entrance and built a small fire inside using pallets and scrap wood, said Deputy Valley Fire Marshal Kevin Miller.
The fire was set sometime Saturday evening or early Sunday. Anyone with information should call Crime Check at 456-2233.
The damage was minimal, thanks to sprinklers that quickly doused the fire.
The school district will look at improving security on the site, Central Valley School District Superintendent Mike Pearson said during a board meeting this week.
The fire is unlikely to delay the scheduled opening of the school in September.
The same night, a car was set on fire at a nearby used-car dealership.
No arrests have been made in either fire.
Burning motor home ignites homes
A motor home caught fire and scorched two nearby homes in Otis Orchards on Sunday.
The fire was spotted just before midnight in the 4800 block of North Karen Road.
The burning motor home caught the siding of one house on fire and started a blaze in a neighboring house. The attic and roof of that house sustained damage.
No one was home at either house.
The fire started inside the 21-foot motor home near the back. The cause is unclear, said Kevin Miller, deputy fire marshal for the Spokane Valley Fire Department. The fire remains under investigation.
Two injured in traffic collision
A Spokane Valley man allegedly drove his white Ford Bronco through a red light and collided with a minivan Tuesday morning.
The driver, Roy Stenson, 77, turned onto Mission Avenue from Sullivan Road, cutting off a green Ford minivan. The two occupants of the minivan, Gilfred Stone and Jamie Stone were injured and taken to an area hospital, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department.
Stenson was cited for failing to obey a traffic signal and for not having insurance, police said.
Gilfred Stone had possible back and neck injuries. Jamie Stone had possible neck and face injuries, police said. Stenson was unhurt.