Man jailed after giving false name

A Spokane man’s attempt to avoid arrest backfired when he gave his brother’s name to a sheriff’s deputy who questioned him.

Marshall Balduff, 21, thought his brother had a clean record when he gave his brother’s name while being questioned about drinking in High Bridge Park on Tuesday morning when the park was closed, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Reagan said Deputy Tom Litts was about to take Balduff to the Stevens County line for a rendezvous with Stevens County deputies, who had a warrant for Balduff’s brother. Then Balduff admitted the deception and went to the Spokane County Jail – on his own warrants for second-degree malicious mischief, third-degree theft and resisting arrest.

Balduff also was charged with methamphetamine possession when Litts found drug paraphernalia and a baggie of meth in Balduff’s clothing and backpack, Reagan said.

Man accused of racist attack

A 43-year-old Spokane County man has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault and malicious harassment, the Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

Sgt. Dave Reagan said the incident occurred Monday evening at the Airway Express Motel, 3809 S. Geiger Blvd., when Daniel Norman Rolle used a racial epithet to address a 27-year-old Spokane Valley man who is black. Rolle also allegedly shoved the victim, causing him to fall and scrape his hands.

Reagan said the victim then punched Rolle in the eye. Rolle grabbed a tree saw from the motel office and tried to hit the victim with it, but the victim outran Rolle, Reagan said.

Several witnesses corroborated the victim’s account, and Rolle admitted his actions were racially motivated, according to Reagan.

Kootenai County

Fire agencies to stop open burning

Fire agencies in Kootenai County have put a stop to open burning because of hot weather and high fire danger.

No new burn permits will be issued, but residents with current permits may still burn through Friday, according to the agencies. The ban applies to slash piles and open burning of yard waste.

“We are seeing fires get quickly out of hand due to the extremely dry conditions,” said Jim Lyon, information officer for the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue District in Post Falls.

“Lots and lots of grass fires. We’ve had some open burns that have gotten away from folks.”

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue covers 113 square miles of land in the county.

The Northern Lakes Fire District, covering the Rathdrum and Hayden areas, and the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department also have stopped issuing burn permits.

With a current permit, use of approved burn barrels may still be used, Lyonsaid. Recreation and camp fires are still allowed, too.

Group to discuss CdA preservation

The Mica Kidd Island Property Owners Association is having its annual membership meeting Tuesday and will discuss ways to preserve the rural area south of Coeur d’Alene.

The nonprofit group also will elect three of its six board members. The association is a coalition of property owners in the Mica Kidd Island Fire Protection District. Its members keep tabs on all development in the area that might change the character of the large fields, small farms and waterfront homes.

Association President Chris Shelton said in a press release that it’s imperative for the group to have a “unified voice that represents the desires of the community.”

The meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday will be held at the Mica Flats Grange Hall, 7465 W. Kidd Island Road. For more information, call (208) 444-0033 or e-mail mkipoa@verizon.net.