Man refuses to fight, hands over clothes
A Spokane man lost his clothes and watch Thursday night after his girlfriend’s former beau arrived at an apartment and threatened to fight.
Officers responded at about 11 p.m. Thursday to the 2000 block of West Pacific to a report of a man with a weapon at an apartment.
There they found a female who said her former boyfriend, 24-year-old Christopher Wayne Hardwick, had pushed his way into her apartment and wanted to fight her current boyfriend, police spokesman Dick Cottam said in a press release.
When the current boyfriend refused to fight, Hardwick, who appeared to have a handgun, ordered the boyfriend to hand over his trousers, shoes, sweat shirt and wristwatch, Cottam said.
When the boyfriend complied, Hardwick left the apartment.
Officers then went to Hardwick’s residence at 911 E. Indiana where several people apparently told officers that Hardwick was not home. After finally locating Hardwick there, the officers found the boyfriend’s watch and clothing but not his shoes, Cottam said. A gun was never found.
The officers booked Hardwick on the charges of second-degree robbery and residential burglary, Cottam said.
Stray balloons could trigger Capitol’s fire alarm
Olympia
Balloon bouquets for Valentine’s Day are just too hot for the state Capitol.
Officials warned Friday that stray helium balloons could trigger the newly renovated Capitol’s laser-powered fire alarm.
As part of a $118 million renovation, the building that houses the House, Senate and governor’s office got a new fire detection system. Invisible laser beams create a smoke detection net in the upper reaches of the grand old Capitol.
“I know, it sounds like something out of ‘Ghostbusters,’ ” said House Chief Clerk Rich Nafziger. A wayward heart-shaped helium balloon could trip the alarm on the way up or the way down, forcing a full evacuation.
Nafziger said Capitol officials haven’t tested the balloon-fire alarm theory, but they decided to play it safe. Balloons delivered on Valentine’s Day will be quarantined in an office, rather than delivered to legislators at their desks. After that, balloons will likely be banned.
“We try to anticipate every possible problem,” Nafziger said.
Flowers, cards and chocolates are still appreciated.
Police find marijuana in raids on houses
Spokane Police detectives raided two houses on East Mallon Friday, finding one small and another larger marijuana grow operation.
In the first raid, at 1614 E. Mallon Ave., detectives from the department’s Special Investigations Unit found 11 marijuana plants. The 59-year-old man who lives at the house said he was growing the plants for medical purposes, police spokesman Dick Cottam said in a press release.
Officers arrested the 59-year-old man, but Cottam said he did not have his name.
The second raid was at 1717 E. Mallon. In that case, one man had leased the two floors including the basement.
Inside, detectives found 269 plants and about 3 pounds of harvested and packaged marijuana, Cottam said.
The basement contained lights, ballasts, fans and other equipment commonly used on grow operations, Cottam said.
The man who lives on the second floor, Terry L. Brown, was not home when officers arrived. He is being sought by detectives at this time, Cottam said.
Man in stable condition after being shot
The 38-year-old man who was shot after police said he swung a baseball bat at a gun-wielding citizen has been upgraded from serious to stable condition.
William “Dean” Keele, 38, suffered gunshot wounds to the foot and chest Thursday morning when a homeowner went outside to investigate suspicious noises behind 3818 W. Walton Ave., and found Keele leaning into a neighbor’s pickup, police spokesman Dick Cottam said in a press release.
Keele underwent several hours of surgery Thursday and was initially listed in critical condition. Detective Tim Madsen was able to interview Keele Friday and obtained his version of what happened, Cottam said.
Detectives continue to investigate the case and will turn it over to prosecutors to decide if any charges should be filed, Cottam said.
Police seek information in road rage assaults
Spokane Police investigators are seeking information from anyone who saw two road rage assaults on Jan. 12, in which two vehicles rammed the victim’s SUV, causing injuries to a pregnant female passenger.
The incident occurred at Third Avenue and Freya Street, police spokesman Dick Cottam said in a press release. The victims were driving a red Jeep Cherokee when it was approached by suspects in a full-size Ford pickup and a green Dodge van.
After ramming the Jeep, two suspect vehicles followed the Jeep a few blocks. At Freya and Pacific Avenue, the two suspects attacked the driver of the Jeep with a hammer and then fled in their vehicles.
Detectives with the Targeted Crimes Unit have arrested 34-year-old Cory L. Taylor and 34-year-old Patrick Edward Kaluza in connection with the crime.
The injured woman has since experienced problems with her pregnancy, Cottam said. The investigation is continuing.
Anyone who witnessed either or both collisions is asked to call the TIPS line at 242-8477, Cottam said.
Teen hoped to trade gun for skateboard, game
Sedro-Woolley, Wash.
A seventh-grader was arrested after bringing his older brother’s gun to school in hopes of trading it for a skateboard and video game, police said.
The 14-year-old boy was arrested Thursday at Cascade Middle School after pulling the gun from his backpack to show other students while in the restroom, said Doug Wood, interim police chief. Some of the students who saw the gun either told school authorities or told other students who told teachers, Wood said.
The gun was a .22-caliber Ruger and police said they pulled the student out of class and retrieved the gun with no problems. There were no threats made. The 13-year-old who had hoped to acquire the gun told police he was going to use it for target practice.
“They all seemed pretty honest about it,” Wood said. “It appears to be nothing more than a very bad decision.”
The boy who brought the gun was held in the Skagit County juvenile detention facility in Mount Vernon for investigation of possession of a dangerous weapon at a school facility.
It is a gross misdemeanor under state law to bring a firearm onto a school campus.