Cops seek leads on two burglaries

Two northwest Spokane burglaries early Saturday were likely committed by the same person, police said Sunday.

Police responded about 2:25 a.m. to the first call at a physical therapy office at 1403 W. Garland.

According to a Spokane Police Department press release, officers found a smashed glass door at the business, but a police dog did not find anyone in the offices.

A computer and flat screen monitor had been stolen from the ransacked building.

Officers then responded to a burglary at the First Free Methodist Church at 1725 W. Courtland, where a brick thrown through a glass door set off the church’s alarm.

Again, no one was in the building, but a small amount of cash had been stolen.

Police are asking anyone with information about these crimes to call 242-TIPS.

Several cited after police questioning

One slashed tire and some bad attitudes led to riot charges early Sunday for several north Spokane young adults and minors.

According to a Spokane Police Department press release, officers questioned about a dozen people at a home on the 1500 block of N. G Street after two young women reported that several people there had run out at about 2:45 a.m., slashed a tire on their car, and chased them as they drove away.

When the officers arrived, they saw one young man sweeping up glass in the street in front of the house.

Officers questioned the man and several others at the home.

They denied cutting the tire, but said they did chase the young women as they left the area because they believed they had been part of an earlier confrontation at the house.

One man, Patrick J. Perry, 19, was booked into jail on charges of riot and obstructing an investigation.

Perry refused to cooperate with the investigation and kept interrupting the officers at the scene, police said.

Another six people, including two minors, were cited on riot charges, but released until their court appearances.

Rescuers find missing snowboarder

Moose, Wyo. A snowboarder was found safe Sunday after he spent the night alone in the Grand Teton National Park backcountry.

Rescuers spotted Jason Valento, 25, of White Bear Lake, Minn., about 8 a.m. Sunday as he was walking out of Granite Canyon, according to a park news release.

Valento had become separated from his three companions on Saturday afternoon while they were skiing and snowboarding outside the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski area boundary.

Visibility was poor, and Valento had mistakenly gone into Granite Canyon while the others went into the nearby Rock Springs Canyon.

Valento’s companions reported him missing at about 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

Valento was spotted by rescuers from a helicopter, which landed and picked him up.

Valento, who was in good condition and didn’t require medical treatment, told park rangers that he made a small snow cave shelter where he stayed overnight, the park news release said.