Body found in car was former deputy

Authorities have identified a man found in a submerged car near Hope, Idaho, as William H. Miller, a former Spokane County sheriff’s deputy and retired deputy U.S. marshal.

Idaho State Police Trooper Jeff Jayne said the 63-year-old left his Sagle home on July 16 and told his family he was going to Clark Fork or Trestle Creek to pan for gold.

Jayne said the family called police on July 22 and said they were concerned because Miller, who had a heart condition and was diabetic, hadn’t taken his medication with him.

His family filed a missing person report on Monday. Four hours later, a driver spotted Miller’s 1988 Suzuki Samurai in the Pack River off state Highway 200, Jayne said.

The tire tracks from the road indicated Miller “just drove off the embankment into the water,” Jayne said. He said there was nothing to indicate Miller had hit the brakes or swerved to avoid hitting another car or animal.

Jayne said it appeared the car and body had been in the water for several days. Investigators are still awaiting autopsy results.

Miller was raised in Spokane and graduated from Central Valley High School, according to his obituary.

He spent 13 years working for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department and started working with the U.S. Marshals Service in 1969, according to his obituary.

– Taryn Brodwater

Hayden

Pump failure prompts water usage warning

Hayden Lake Irrigation District officials are asking people in Hayden to temper their water use at least through this weekend after a pump motor failed Thursday.

Bert Rohrbach, chairman of the district’s board of directors, said the large equipment handled about 40 percent of the pumping capacity of the district, and the motor had to be sent to Spokane for repairs.

Rohrbach attributed the equipment failure to heat and massive output during the past few weeks’ high temperatures.

“We have crews poised and waiting on standby” for the motor to be returned, he said Friday.

Rohrbach said initial requests for people to not use automatic watering systems or to stop using other irrigation equipment for a time have helped control water use.

“If we continue at this rate through the weekend, we’re going to be in good shape,” he said. “It’s a good time to consider water conservation practices.”

For more information, contact the district’s 24-hour hotline at (208) 772-2612.

– Sam Taylor