Body linked to local cases
Investigators have found the body of a man believed to be the victim of a convicted rapist who federal authorities suspect also killed a missing Spokane man and a Western Washington woman.
Authorities have been tracking the suspect, John Wayne Thomson, for weeks.
The body found Saturday is believed to be that of Charles Ray Hedlund, of Luncerne Valley, Calif., officials said.
Thomson, 46, is suspected in the death of Hedlund, 55, and Lori Hamm, 36, whose body was found Monday in Cowlitz County, Wash.
The FBI was also seeking Thomson for questioning in the July 7 disappearance of James Ehrgott, 73, of Spokane. His vehicle was recovered July 12 near in Lewis County.
Hedlund’s abandoned pickup was discovered earlier this week a few miles from where the California Highway Patrol found a Honda Civic that Thomson is accused of stealing in Washington.
Thomson has an extensive criminal record including three felony convictions for rape.
– Associated Press
Hayden
Shooting death may be accident
Kootenai County deputies are investigating an apparent accidental shooting death that took place Saturday in a North Idaho parking lot.
Larry G. Davis, 62, of Troy, Mont., was found behind the wheel of his vehicle in the parking lot of the Garwood Tavern, north of Hayden, Idaho, the Sheriff’s Department said.
A passer-by near the tavern spotted Davis inside the vehicle around 3:45 p.m. and contacted authorities. After responding, deputies called for paramedics, but Davis died at the scene, according to a police report.
Police believe a pistol owned and carried by Davis accidentally discharged.
An autopsy and further investigations are scheduled, police said.
– Tom Sowa
Spokane
Police agencies lose grant funds
Spokane County and city law enforcement agencies will get substantially less money than last year from one federal grant.
The U.S. Department of Justice program allocated about $170,000 for 2006, down from $301,037. The decrease reflects a roughly 40 percent cut in the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program nationwide. The formula for determining allocations takes into account crime and population statistics.
Total state funding decreased only about 10 percent, to $5,243,216.
Spokane County will use $98,252 to buy ammunition and aviation fuel for the Sheriff’s Office and to help fund its neighborhood watch program. It will also help fund prosecutions of juvenile drug-related crimes and drug- and property-related felonies through the Spokane County prosecuting attorney’s office.
The city will spend $71,148 on computer software to speed up sending data from patrol officers to detectives.
– Parker Howell