Chase suspect sought

Police are seeking a suspect in an early morning vehicle chase that started in Kootenai County and ended in Liberty Lake Monday.

Officers in Liberty Lake were told by Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies that a stolen GMC Sierra pickup was headed into town on Appleway, said Police Chief Brian Asmus.

An officer tried to stop the truck with spike strips near Appleway and Samantha, Asmus said. But the pickup went off the road and into a field south of Appleway, he said.

Two more officers attempted to stop the stolen truck, which nearly ran into the police cruisers near Mission Avenue and King James Lane, Asmus said. Eventually the truck got stuck in a field, and the driver and passenger ran.

Officers soon caught up with the passenger, a juvenile wearing latex gloves and carrying a backpack full of tools. The juvenile was arrested and booked into jail on possession of stolen property charges.

The driver was tracked by a police dog for two miles before the scent was lost. Police are asking anyone with information to call 218-4899.

Man charged with shoplifting

A suspected shoplifter was arrested Sunday when he tried to steal several shirts and a jacket, then assaulted a store security officer, police said.

A security guard saw a man in the Old Navy store at 14022 E. Indiana Ave. stuffing shirts and a jacket into his clothes, said Sgt. Dave Reagan, spokesman for Spokane Valley Police.

The guard tried to confront the man, who shoved the officer, threw the jacket at her, and ran to his car and drove away, Reagan said.

Officers found Donald H. Ford, 46, near Indiana and Pines Road, where they arrested him and booked him on a felony count of second-degree robbery.

A woman who was in the store with Ford, Krissy Lynn Tailfeathers, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for driving with a suspended license, Reagan said.

Two car chases result in arrests

Two car chases ended in separate arrests Friday.

In the first, a deputy tried to stop a 1991 Nissan NX that was speeding in the rain about 9 a.m. Friday. The deputy tried to stop the car but the driver sped away, reaching speeds of 90 mph on Thorpe Road near Abbott, Reagan said.

Eventually the car stopped at a motorcycle business, and the deputy ordered the drive, Michael David Hatton, out of the car. Hatton told the deputy he “panicked” when he saw the cruiser.

He was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a felony eluding police charge.

Later that afternoon, a 47-year-old Missoula man gave his license, registration and proof of insurance to a Spokane Valley Police officer during a traffic stop then drove quickly away, Reagan said.

The suspect, Layne Thomas Ostwald, drove through several stop signs before stopping again on the side of the road, Reagan said.

The officer arrested Ostwald, and discovered the passenger, Deborah J. Johnston had felony warrants for theft and drug possession charges. Officers arrested her and discovered methamphetamine in her coat, Reagan said.

Ostwald’s car had marijuana in it, Reagan said. Ostwald was arrested and booked into jail on eluding charges as well as drug possession charges.