Scam victims escape unscathed
Two Spokane Valley residents handed over their financial information to telephone scammers recently, but thought better of it and closed their accounts before losing any money.
The first victim, an 18-year-old man police declined to identify, told police he got a call from a person claiming to represent “Grant Services Incorporated.” The caller said the man would get a $5,000 government grant if he gave out his address, phone number and financial information, said Spokane Valley Police Department spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan in a press release.
The man told the caller the information, but later realized he’d been a scam victim and closed his bank accounts.
The second victim, an unidentified 56-year-old woman, also answered a telephone call from a person who said he had a government grant for her. The caller said he needed her bank account number so he could deduct a $257 processing fee, Reagan said.
She provided the information, but also realized it was a fake call and closed her bank accounts.
The so-called “government grant” scan is fairly common in the area, Reagan said. People are advised to never give out financial information, including bank account numbers, over the phone unless you are sure the caller is legitimate.
Funny money
A 21-year-old Spokane man was arrested Saturday after allegedly passing fake $20 bills at the DéjÀ Vu strip club.
Employees at the club called police before 10 p.m. to report that several people were using counterfeit money, said Spokane Valley Police Department spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan in a press release. When police arrived they spotted a man running behind a nearby house on Vista Road.
Officers found Camillo D. Winfrey, 2513 N. Pittsburg St., hiding in a garage, Reagan said. He reportedly told the officers several different stories to explain his behavior, but an employee from the strip club identified him as one of the men allegedly passing fake money.
Officers reportedly found more than $3,000 cash in his pockets, Reagan said, as well as a real $20 bill that had apparently matched some of the fake money. Winfrey was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a felony charge of forgery. The other men were never found.
Meth sends man to jail
A Spokane Valley Police officer patrolling an area hard hit by car thefts spotted a man near an East Sprague used car business early Monday morning.
He stopped the man, identified as William J. Arzon of 411 S. Pierce Road, near Heads Up Auto in the 15800 block of East Sprague, said police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan. The officer was checking the man for weapons when he found a black knife case with two bags of methamphetamine, he said.
Arzon, 25, was arrested on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.
Woman found with drugs
A woman walking in a traffic lane caught the attention of a Spokane Valley police officer and ended up being arrested for possession of cocaine.
The officer spotted the woman near the 4600 block of East Sprague just after midnight Monday. The woman ran and tried to hide behind a parked car when she spotted the officer, said police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan in a press release.
When the officer stopped to talk to the woman, he saw something in her hand. The woman allegedly tried to hide the item in her sleeve when the officer asked to see it, Reagan said. When the officer grabbed her hand in case she held a weapon, the woman reportedly began reaching into a shoulder bag with her other hand, Reagan said.
The officer restrained the woman, identified by police as Frankie-Jo M. Muller of 1007 E. Lacrosse Ave., who allegedly revealed a pill bottle containing crack cocaine in her hand. The officer also found a drug pipe in her bag, Reagan said.
Muller, 34, was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of possession of cocaine.
Police attacked by woman
An officer was kicked and punched after stopping a pickup truck for speeding shortly after midnight Monday.
Two Spokane Valley Police officers saw the Nissan truck going 55 miles per hour in a 35 mph zone near Sprague and Flora and pulled it over. The woman was screaming about harassment as they approached the car, said police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan in a press release.
When the woman refused to give her name or cooperate with officers, officers told her she was under arrest and opened her door. The woman allegedly began punching and kicking one of the officers, Reagan said. The other officer fired a Tazer at the woman and handcuffed her.
Police have identified the 33-year-old woman as Holly L. Wilson of 3920 S. Schafer Road. Small amounts of marijuana and methamphetamine were reportedly found in the truck. She was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of possession of meth and third-degree assault. She may also be charged with failure to cooperate and possession of marijuana, Reagan said.
Wal-Mart popular with shoplifters
The Spokane Valley Wal-Mart was targeted again by shoplifters this week. The store has caught people trying to leave without merchandise on several occasions recently.
Store employees called police Sunday night after an employee saw a woman in the women’s restroom taking DVD movies out of their packaging and stuffing them in a backpack. They said the woman handed the backpack to a male companion after she left the bathroom and he carried it out of the store, said Spokane Valley Police Department spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan.
Police arrested Jennifer M. Jones, 21, of 9526 E. Broadway Ave. and Lonnie D. Lacey, 24, of 1612 W. 10th Ave. The two were both charged with theft. Police say the backpack contained 27 movies worth $435.