Man accused of rape, kidnap of bar worker

A 26-year-old man has been arrested in the alleged kidnapping and rape of a woman taken from a Spokane Valley bar early Saturday.

Investigators believe Gary Wayne Austin, 26, robbed the Corner Club Tavern at Park Road and Trent Avenue about 2:15 a.m. and abducted and raped a bar employee who was at the business alone.

Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Corner Club after 7 a.m. when the bar’s owner noticed the front door open and cash register gone, said sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Earl Howerton. The owner checked the security video and saw the robbery and kidnapping.

Investigators say Austin left with the victim in her car. Howerton said he did not know where Austin took the victim.

About 8:45 a.m., Austin drove the victim in her car to an area just west of the tavern, Howerton said. He fled on foot, and the woman went to the bar and found deputies. She provided a name and description of Austin.

“There is no indication at this point that she knew this man” before the attack, Howerton said.

In the manhunt that ensued, deputies requested assistance from Felts Field, and a helicopter was sent up to look for the suspect.

Investigators found Austin after a deputy called the Red Top Motel, which is a few doors from the tavern, and asked if he was there, said Patel Jigesh, Red Top manager.

A Gary Austin was registered at the motel – the wanted man’s father, Jigesh said. Both Gary Austins, father and son, had been staying at the Red Top for about three weeks and had caused no problems, he said.

Deputies arrested the younger Austin at the motel. He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of first-degree rape and first-degree kidnapping. He declined a jailhouse interview Saturday evening.