The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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In brief

The Spokesman-Review

Police building purchase OK’d

Spokane Valley may not employ its own police force just yet, but when it does the city will soon own a place to house it.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council gave final approval to purchase the Spokane Valley precinct building on Sprague Avenue near Pines Road.

Since then, the city has leased just over half of the building for the Spokane Valley Police Department, which is a branch of the county Sheriff’s Office under contract with the city.

Spokane County bought and renovated the building for about $2.4 million in 2001 before the city incorporated and will sell the building for that much.

The county estimates that Valley taxpayers contributed $975,000 to the purchase of the building before incorporation. Spokane Valley used $336,000 of that as lease payments up to this point and will apply the rest toward the purchase.

The city also will pay the county a $500,000 down payment for the building from a civic facilities fund.

The county now will lease the portion of the building it uses for a district court branch from the city. Instead of paying the city directly, it will credit lease payments against the city’s remaining $1.2 million debt for the building until it is paid off in 2017.

Peter Barnes

Public Safety

Theft charges filed against pair

It was no laughing matter when two people tried to steal a set of Mel Brooks DVDs from the Spokane Valley Costco on Sunday afternoon.

Officers arrested the pair after employees at Costco told police they entered the store, stuffed several cartons of cigarettes and two DVD packages into their clothes. The pair left without paying, Spokane Valley Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan said in a news release.

Employees stopped the thieves and recovered the movies, which included the HBO series “Deadwood” and a collection by comedy director Mel Brooks.

Officers arrived and arrested Donnie R. Havens and Teresa J. Scutchfield, both 36 and living at 1221 N. Monroe St. Because the stolen goods were worth more than $412, both were booked into the Spokane County Jail on felony theft charges.

Chris Rodkey