Eddie Ray Hall wanted once again
A notorious Spokane County criminal who has more than 40 convictions on his criminal record is wanted by police again.
Secret Witness is offering a cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of Eddie Ray Hall, 40.
Hall recently was released from jail, but now is wanted for jumping bail and possession of drugs.
He is 6 feet, 2 inches, 170 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on Hall’s whereabouts is asked to call Secret Witness at 327-5111. Callers do not have to give their name to be eligible for the reward.
House fires leave five people homeless
Spokane firefighters doused two separate burning houses early Saturday.
Both fires were determined to be accidental. One was caused by a cigarette, officials said. One firefighter was injured, but no one else was hurt.
The fires at 1719 W. Gardner and 2227 E. Diamond left five people homeless, according to the American Red Cross. Volunteers responded to assist the fire victims.
Joel Fielder, a battalion chief with the Spokane Fire Department, said about 25 firefighters responded to the blaze on East Diamond at 3:54 a.m. to find the upper portion of the 2½-story house engulfed in flames.
Three upstairs bedrooms and the attic were destroyed, Fielder said. The exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation. A firefighter injured his back after responding to the blaze. The three adults who lived in the home were not hurt.
The second fire was reported about 6:20 a.m. on West Gardner, Fielder said. The blaze caused by a cigarette was put out within a few minutes and flame damage was contained to a bedroom on the second floor of the 1½-story home. Two adults lived in the home.
The two morning fires were the fifth and sixth responses by the Inland Northwest Chapter of the Red Cross, which assists disaster victims with emergency needs such as food, clothing and shelter, said Jim Welch, operations manager of the chapter. The Red Cross needs financial help to continue to assist victims.
To donate, call 326-3330 or send contributions to American Red Cross, Inland Northwest Chapter, 315 W. Nora Ave., Spokane, WA 99205.
Suspect pleads guilty in woodcutter’s slaying
One of three suspects in the robbery and slaying last November of an Okanogan County woodcutter pleaded guilty last week to reduced charges.
Ryan William Adolph Louie, 21, pleaded guilty Thursday in Okanogan County Superior Court to first-degree theft, first-degree rendering criminal assistance, unauthorized removal or concealment of a body, and tampering with evidence in the shooting of Tonasket-area resident Leonard J. Bauer. One count of first-degree robbery was dismissed.
Superior Court Commissioner Chris Culp sentenced Louie to 17 months in prison.
Authorities say Louie’s half-brother, 18-year-old Seymour Xavier Reuben Jr., shot 40-year-old Bauer in the head with a .22-caliber pistol while Bauer was giving Louie, Reuben and 18-year-old Devin Duran Palmanteer a ride. The suspects allegedly had been drinking and were stranded when their vehicle rolled off the road Nov. 7 in a wooded location about 20 miles northeast of Omak.
According to court documents, Palmanteer rode in the cab of Bauer’s pickup while Reuben and Louie sat atop a load of wood in the pickup bed. As they went down the mountain road and rounded a corner, some of the wood fell off and Bauer stopped to pick it up.
Then, authorities allege, Reuben pulled out a pistol and shot Bauer in the head without provocation.
After his arrest, Reuben led officers to Bauer’s body, which had been concealed in the forest near where he was killed, Rogers said. In addition to stealing Bauer’s truck, the suspects took his wood and chainsaw, the sheriff said.
Reuben is scheduled for trial on June 28. He is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree theft, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and tampering with evidence.
Palmanteer, whose trial date has not been set, is charged with the same counts Louie originally faced.