Briefly

Chase ends on roof of building

Spokane police arrested a 32-year-old man Monday after he led them on a vehicle chase near a school and a foot chase onto a roof that forced the Spokane Fire Department to respond, police said.

The incident began at 2 p.m. when police responded to a grade school regarding a custody dispute, police spokesman Dick Cottam said. The father of the child, Robert C. Smith, was wanted on a warrant. Officers put the child in protective custody and waited near the school for Smith to arrive.

When he did, Officer Shane Oien followed Smith’s car as he left the area without the child. When he realized he was being followed, Smith accelerated and fled the area, Cottam said in a press release.

Because children were present, Oien decided not to pursue, Cottam said.

Officers later learned that Smith had gone into an apartment in the 2700 block of South Riverton, and had climbed onto the roof.

Firefighters arrived in a ladder truck and raised the bucket to the roof but Smith refused to get in, Cottam said. He twice pushed away a straight ladder that was raised up to him, Cottam said.

Firefighters then raised four officers to the roof, Cottam said. Oien then used his Taser to control Smith, who finally gave up, Cottam said.

Oien was booked into jail on suspicion of felony attempting to elude police and possession of drugs. The child was placed with Child Protective Services, Cottam said.

Dead transient’s name released

Coeur d’Alene Police on Tuesday released the name of a transient whose body was discovered last week at a Coeur d’Alene recycling yard.

The victim was identified as 42-year-old Tabi Gordon Robb, according to a press release.

According to the release, preliminary autopsy reports ruled the death accidental and results of toxicology reports aren’t yet available.

Workers at Bluebird Recycling discovered Robb’s body Friday when they were digging into a pile of cardboard to be readied for baling. Police said the body may have been there for at least two days.

Police said it appeared Robb entered a Dumpster in north Coeur d’Alene to take shelter from the cold. When the bin of cardboard was picked up by a truck and compacted, Robb likely was crushed.

Fire station work closes road

Starting today, the contractor working on the new Fire Station No. 4 will close the Maple Street Loop that takes traffic from southbound Maple Street to First Avenue.

The street will be closed today and Friday, city spokesman Marlene Feist said. Motorists wanting to get on eastbound First Avenue will be detoured to Third, east to Walnut and then onto First Avenue, Feist said.

Man caught peeking in bathroom

A sex offender was caught peeking over a bathroom stall at a Spokane Valley restaurant Tuesday.

A woman using the bathroom at Denny’s restaurant at Sprague Avenue and Pines Road looked up and saw a man looking at her over a neighboring stall. The woman screamed and the man left, according to a press release from the Spokane Valley Police Department.

The victim reported the incident to Denny’s employees, who reportedly saw the man sneak back into the restroom a few minutes later, around 1:15 a.m., police said.

Three police officers who were parked and eating lunch on the other side of the restaurant went to talk with the suspect. He was identified as Michael B. Fleming, 47. Fleming was described as not cooperating with police and allegedly spit at officers as well, police said.

Fleming’s disposable camera and a cellular camera phone were seized as potential evidence.

Fleming had been convicted for a 1990 rape in which he pushed his way into the home of a 22-year-old woman and forcibly raped her, according to police. Fleming is considered a dangerous, untreated Level III sex offender, police said.

Liberty Lake sewer expanding

Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District has finally broken ground on an $11 million sewer treatment expansion.

After two months of struggling to get building permits for the million-gallon-per-day plant, the city issued the sewer district a grading permit on Friday.

The expansion will enable the plant to meet more stringent water quality standards and pave the way to double capacity to serve thousands of new homes that are being built in the area.

The grading permit allows the contractor to do site preparation and excavation. However, workers won’t be able to pour concrete until a building permit is issued.

“We’re doing some preliminary work over here. We’re hoping to receive the building permit, next week,” said Larry White, inspector for the sewer district.

Williams Bros. Construction is digging a 300-by-150-foot hole that’s 20 feet deep and will become an aeration basin.