‘Suspicious’ fire destroys 2 garages

Two garages were destroyed and a house was damaged early Wednesday morning by a fire that authorities said was “highly suspicious” and possibly related to a string of recent garage fires. The cause was under investigation.

Fire Department Battalion Chief Bruce Moline said the fire at 516 E. Montgomery was one of “numerous” recent fires – mostly garage fires – in that general area.

Moline said two garages were aflame when 25 firefighters arrived about 2 a.m. Wednesday, and the fire was spreading to two other nearby garages and an unoccupied house.

Firefighters couldn’t save the two fully involved garages, but the other two sustained only “minor to moderate” damage, Moline said. He said the house had “major exterior damage.”

Moline estimated the overall damage at $50,000.

Police chase ends with crash on Hamilton

A 26-year-old man was arrested Wednesday evening after allegedly leading police on a chase that ended with a crash about 6:45 p.m.

Spokane police Cpl. Michael Carr said an officer attempted to end the chase by nudging the fleeing vehicle into a spin, but the stolen 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass fishtailed into a Toyota pickup in the turn lane of Hamilton, south of Boone.

Neither driver was injured, but two passengers in suspect Clifford R. Sain’s vehicle suffered cuts and bruises, and one had a possible broken bone, police said.

Sain was booked on suspicion of attempting to elude police and possessing stolen property.

Kennewick man held in rape of girl, 14

A 20-year-old Kennewick man was booked into the Spokane County Jail on Tuesday on a warrant charging him with raping and impregnating a 14-year-old girl who had a miscarriage.

McClaine Quincy Luck is charged with third-degree child rape because the girl couldn’t legally consent to the yearlong sexual relationship she described to Spokane police. Court documents say Luck had known the girl since she was 8 years old and admitted having sex with her at various locations in Sprague, Wash., and Spokane.

Kootenai County

Duncan not expected in court for hearing

Homicide suspect Joseph Duncan is not expected to appear in court next week during two days of arguments over motions in his triple-murder case, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger said Wednesday that Duncan, set to go on trial in October for the 2005 slayings of three members of a North Idaho family, will not be in the courtroom for the hearing on pretrial motions scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Duncan is charged with killing Brenda Matthews Groene, her 13-year-old son, Slade, and her fiancé, Mark McKenzie, in May 2005.