Briefly

Police searching for robbery suspect

Spokane Valley police were searching Thursday night for a man who reportedly robbed his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint earlier in the day in Spokane, said Lt. Rick VanLeuven.

The robber approached his ex-girlfriend at about 3:45 p.m. in the 1400 block of E. Fairview Ave. He displayed a silver handgun, and stole her money and red Chevy Blazer, VanLeuven said.

At 9:15 p.m., a Spokane Valley police officer saw the Blazer while patrolling the Maple Tree Motel and RV park, 4824 E. Sprague Ave., VanLeuven said. The officer checked its plates, which were from Texas.

By the time the officer found out it was stolen, a man who had been sitting in the driver’s seat left the Blazer and fled on foot, VanLeuven said. He is suspected to be the same man who robbed the woman on Fairview. A man who was sitting in the Blazer’s passenger seat did not leave, and was detained for questioning.

The suspect, whom police did not identify, was described as white, 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds. He wore a gray, long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans.

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

Red Cross emergency vehicles burglarized

Two Red Cross vehicles that are used to help people affected by fire and tragedy were broken into late Wednesday or early Thursday, the Inland Northwest Chapter of the American Red Cross reported.

Windows were broken in a Mazda Navajo and the chapter’s Emergency Response Vehicle, which resembles an ambulance. First-aid kits, snack trays, emergency flares, tools, jumper cables and other items were stolen, said Jim Welch, operations manager of the chapter.

Welch estimated the loss at between $500 and $1,000.

The vehicles were parked at the chapter office, 315 W. Nora Ave.

The vehicles were repaired and back in service Thursday. Speedy Glass donated the labor to fix the windows, Welch said.

This is not the first time Red Cross vehicles have been broken into, he said.

“We may have to secure our vehicles at another site,” Welch said. “It might be more inconvenient, but we have to do what we have to do to protect that property.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation to help make up for the loss can call the Red Cross at (509) 326-3330.

Spokane man dies of crash injuries

A 42-year-old Spokane man has died from the injuries he sustained Wednesday in a motorcycle collision that occurred near Marshall.

Ryan K. Wasmund, 42, was riding an off-road motorcycle at Castle Materials, 10710 S. Cheney-Spokane Road, when he ran into the back end of another motorcycle about 3:30 p.m., Spokane County sheriff’s spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said.

According to a 20-year-old man riding with Wasmund, the two were riding up a gravel road with the 20-year-old man in the lead. When the lead rider suddenly slowed to make a turn, Wasmund drove into the back of his motorcycle, Reagan said. The lead rider was not injured.

Wasmund died shortly after he was transported to a Spokane hospital, Reagan said. The autopsy Thursday showed that Wasmund suffered fatal internal injuries when his abdomen struck the lead motorcycle’s tail pipe, Reagan said.

Freya Way Bridge set to reopen today

Commuters in east Spokane will find their trip a little easier this morning.

The Freya Way Bridge, the middle of three bridges between Sprague Avenue and Mission Avenue, is scheduled to reopen at 7 a.m., more than a week ahead of schedule, said Paul Clary, civil department manager for Shea Graham Construction.

The bridge closed in mid-April so crews could replace the deck, sidewalks and barriers.

The project cost about $3 million, mostly in federal and state funds.

Crews have already resurfaced the Greene Street Bridge to the north of the Freya Way Bridge and plan to completely replace the Freya Street Bridge to the south in coming years.

Teens injured in rollover in stable condition

Three teenagers injured last week in a rollover accident had their conditions upgraded to stable Thursday.

Brian J. Reynolds, 17, was driving a Ford Bronco away from a drinking party Friday night in the Horseshoe Lake area of Stevens County when the truck rolled at high speed on Sherman Road just north of Bridges Road.

Reynolds suffered spinal injuries and was initially listed in critical condition. He has been upgraded to stable condition, but he will be paralyzed as a result of his injuries, Spokane County sheriff’s spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said.

Reynolds’ 15-year-old cousin was in the passenger seat. He, too, has been upgraded to stable following neck surgery and could be released from the hospital soon, Reagan said.

Brandon A. Baynes, 18, who was in the Bronco’s back seat, is also listed in stable condition. However, Baynes remains in a coma as a result of head injuries, Reagan said.

Arrest made in officer-impersonation case

Spokane police have arrested a man they believe impersonated a police officer in High Bridge Park earlier this month.

Detectives began investigating the case after three residents reported that they were pulled over Sept. 11 by a man driving a truck that had a siren and amber and orange overhead lights, police spokesman Dick Cottam said.

The three victims said the man pointed a gun at them and ordered them out of their car. When the man demanded identification, one of the victims refused, saying he didn’t believe the man was a real police officer, Cottam said.

The man handcuffed that victim, went back to his car and claimed he was calling for backup. The man returned and said the three victims were lucky they weren’t going to jail. He uncuffed the male victim and left in his truck with the flashing lights.

Spokane Detective Jerry Wood investigated the case and talked to an Airway Heights officer who had pulled over the truck earlier this year. The driver of the truck at that time was Michael K. Bonthuis, Cottam said.

Wood then contacted the three victims from the Sept. 11 incident and showed them a photo montage of six men. They identified 34-year-old Bonthuis as the man who had pulled them over, Cottam said.

On Tuesday, Airway Heights Officer Kelly Justice arrested Bonthuis on a charge of first-degree unlawful imprisonment for handcuffing one of the victims. Additional charges may follow, Cottam said.

Trucker accused of trying to rape his trainee

A 37-year-old California truck driver was arrested for allegedly trying to rape his trainee.

Officers arrested Sung Min Mo at the Flying J Truck Stop, 6606 E. Broadway Ave., Thursday morning. The 40-year-old female trainee called police and alleged that Mo held a pocket knife to her throat and tried to take off her clothes.

The two fought inside the sleeper compartment and Mo eventually ordered the woman out of the truck, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department. The woman called police from inside the truck stop.

She had a slight scratch on her wrist, according to police. The suspect allegedly admitted to trying to take off the woman’s clothing and a knife was discovered in the man’s bag, police said. Mo was arrested at 1:30 p.m. on a charge of suspicion of felony first-degree attempted rape.

Roper thrown from horse in critical condition

The 61-year-old professional roper who was thrown from his horse Wednesday south of Spokane remained in critical condition Thursday.

Richard Leroy Paulicheck, 61, was riding a 2-year-old cutting horse near the intersection of Spangle Creek Road and Valley Chapel Road.

As a Spokane County dump truck approached, Paulicheck’s horse spooked and began bucking. The horse spun around and bumped the truck’s trailer before throwing Paulicheck to the pavement.

He suffered serious head injuries and was airlifted by MedStar to a Spokane hospital, sheriff’s spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said.