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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Gas leak evacuates Rosauers

The Spokesman-Review

A natural gas leak snarled Spokane Valley traffic and emptied a grocery store Wednesday morning for more than an hour.

No one was hurt, officials said.

Spokane Valley firefighters evacuated Rosauer’s grocery store, 10618 E. Sprague, about 10:10 a.m. after a contractor hit a gas line with a two-man auger, said Battalion Chief Dave Umthun.

The contractor was doing construction work behind the store. A back hoe had to be brought to dig under the concrete in order to get to the leak.

The southbound lanes of University Road and eastbound lanes of Appleway Boulevard were closed as a precaution while Avista Utilities repaired the gas line break, Umthun said.

The roads and the store were reopened about 11:40 a.m., officials said.

Bad bulb leads to drug arrest

A burnt out license plate light led to a Spokane man’s arrest and drug possession charge.

Shawn R. Mackey, 28, was booked on a warrant for escape from community custody and possession of methamphetamine.

The drugs were found in Mackey’s guitar case, Spokane Valley police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan.

About 11 p.m. Monday, police pulled over a 1981 Ford Mustang for a defective license plate light at Sullivan and Wellesley.

Mackey told the officer he did not have a driver’s license, proof of insurance or car registration. The officer also discovered he had a warrant for his arrest. Mackey was arrested and the drugs, as well as two syringes, were found in the backseat of the Mustang.

Mackey was also given a $638 citation for defective equipment and failure to provide proof of insurance.

Burglar ends up in the rough

A burglar gauged an 8-inch hole through the outside wall of a golf pro shop, but he didn’t score.

Police think the burglar was scared off before he could take anything from the Painted Hills Pro Shop, 4403 S. Dishman-Mica Road.

An employee arrived at the golf shop about 6 a.m. Wednesday and discovered the damage to the back of the business.

The burglar used a crowbar to bust through the plywood exterior and drywall interior of the shop, Reagan said. The damaged wall and insulation were pushed into the room.

The crowbar was left behind, Reagan said. It will be tested for fingerprints. Anyone with information on the attempted burglary should call 242-8477.

Employee accused of embezzling

Police arrested a clothing retail store employee Wednesday suspected of embezzling money by creating phony refunds.

Kelli M. Gerris, 217 S. Sullivan Road, was charged with first-degree theft, Reagan said.

The 26-year-old woman worked at Maurice’s, a store inside the Spokane Valley Mall.

Police were called to the store by a company loss prevention investigator who said a woman begun creating the fraudulent refunds in February, Reagan said. She made refunds five times more than did any other employee at the store.

She’s accused of embezzling nearly $4,000 from her employer, Reagan said. Gerris told police she owed a friend a large amount of money and that she made regular trips to area casinos.

Woman’s purse gets clipped

A woman’s purse was stolen Tuesday while she mowed the lawn.The victim lives in the 12300 block of East Fourth Avenue and the crime occurred between 5 and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Reagan said.

Police called the crime a seasonal-type burglary, because many residents don’t lock their front door while doing yard or garden work during this time of year.

Officers encourage residents to lock all doors while working outside, Reagan said. It only takes a criminal a few seconds to enter a home or garage and find something of value to steal.