Man arrested on reckless driving charge

Spokane Valley Police arrested a man Christmas Eve after he allegedly ran over and killed a dog while driving his Jeep Cherokee recklessly in a snowy parking lot.

Dustin A. Youker, 11009 E. 25th Ave., was taken to jail about midnight and was booked on misdemeanor counts of obstructing a public servant and reckless driving. Youker, 21, also was cited for failure to stop after striking a domestic animal with a motor vehicle.

Youker’s passenger, Jayci L. Roberts, 8322 E. Broadway Ave., was cited for possession of controlled substance after marijuana was discovered in her purse.

Officers were called to an apartment complex at 3205 S. University Road about 10:25 p.m. by a man who said a Jeep had been spinning circles in the snowy lot and had struck and killed his 4-month-old bull terrier.

The dog had been on a leash, but pulled free and ran in front of the Jeep. About 10:45 p.m., Officer Sean Walter spotted the Jeep in a car wash at 1200 South Pines Road. The vehicle had a dent in the bumper and the dirt and grime had been smeared away.

Youker eventually admitted driving in the parking lot, breaking traction to allow the back of the Jeep to swing around and hearing a man yell at him as he left, police said.

The dog’s owner drove to the car wash and told officers that he recognized Youker as the man who “killed my dog.”

Roberts, 32, also admitted to the officers that Youker had been speeding and sliding around, but she denied knowing that the dog was struck, police said.

Roberts was released after being cited for the marijuana violation.

Driver of stalled vehicle arrested on drug charges

A Spokane Valley man was arrested Christmas night after a Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy found crack cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana on him during a traffic stop on Upriver Drive.

Deputy Robert Satake was called to the 9000 block of Upriver Drive about 9:30 p.m. by a resident who reported that an intoxicated driver was stalled in her driveway. She said the man was attempting to restart the car and drive away.

Satake found that Olaf James Hanson, 7007 E. Carlisle Ave. had an outstanding felony warrant for second-degree possession of stolen property.

The deputy arrested Hanson, 37, and found four plastic baggies in his pants pockets. One contained a chunk of rock cocaine, the second a rock of methamphetamine and the third and fourth small amounts of marijuana.

Hanson was booked on the warrant and two felony counts of possession of controlled substances.