Man assaulted outside hotel as pair attempt to steal car
Two men attempted to steal a car from a man leaving a downtown hotel Friday night, Spokane police reported.
The 25-year-old victim told police he was confronted by two men as he walked to his car from the Red Lion River Inn, 700 N. Division St., about 9:45 p.m., police spokesman Dick Cottam said in a press release.
The men were carrying firearms, and one of them hit the victim in the head with a gun, Cottam said.
The men ordered the man to give up his keys and attempted to handcuff him, Cottam said.
The victim resisted, and they wrestled in the grass.
The victim, who was not injured, told investigators that after he broke away and was running back to the hotel, one of the men fired at him.
The men fled in a dark sports car with a small rear spoiler, Cottam said.
Investigators found a pair of broken toy handcuffs and evidence of a shotgun being fired into a tree.
Police ask anyone with information on the case to call (509) 242-8477.
Tons of drywall spill onto wetland
About 21.5 tons of drywall spilled onto a protected wetland east of Sandpoint on Friday night, after the driver of a semi tractor towing two trailers lost control on a curve.
Terry Switzer, 49, of Hayden Lake, was westbound on State Highway 200 when he failed to negotiate a corner, according to the Idaho State Police.
Switzer’s double trailers overturned. He was cited for driving too fast.
Alcohol was not involved, and Switzer was not injured, police said.
Rouse’s Towing and Recovery of Spokane cleaned up the spilled cargo Saturday.
Information sought on theft suspect
A reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of a repeat offender wanted on suspicion of theft.
Angela Marie Brian, 32, has past convictions on drug charges and seven for theft, said Spokane Police Department spokesman Dick Cottam in a press release.
Brian is 5-foot-3 and 120 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
She has used the names Angela Marie Dickson and Angela Ford. Anyone with information can call Secret Witness at (509) 327-5111.
Callers do not have to use their name to receive the cash.
New Year’s Day closures Monday
With 2006 starting on a Sunday, most closures and service disruptions for New Year’s Day will come Monday.
Here’s a look at what’s open and closed:
• Government offices: Closed Monday.
• Garbage pickup: Delayed one day in Spokane County.
No change in Kootenai County.
• Postal service: Express mail delivered Sunday and Monday. No regular service Monday.
• Parking: No meter enforcement Monday in downtown Spokane.
• Malls: NorthTown, Spokane Valley, Silver Lake and River Park Square open at 11 a.m. today.
• Buses: Spokane Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule both today and Monday.
• Ski resorts: Open all weekend.
• Libraries: Closed today and Monday.
• Liquor stores: State-operated stores closed Monday.
Input sought on Medicaid reform
The public will be asked for opinions on Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s Medicaid reform plan at a forum Thursday in Coeur d’Alene.
The meeting will start at 4 p.m. at Kootenai Medical Center’s Fox Auditorium.
It is scheduled to last two hours.
Kempthorne’s proposal would simplify Medicaid in Idaho by dividing the joint state-federal health care system for the poor and disabled into three programs. The new categories would separate healthy children and adults, the disabled and the elderly.
Each patient would have an initial health assessment to determine medical needs.
The governor has said the reform plan will be a key part of his State of the State message to the Legislature in January.
The report is available at www.modernizemedicaid.idaho.gov.