Deputies probe unrelated deaths

Sat., May 6, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

Okanogan County sheriff’s deputies Friday were investigating two unrelated deaths, at least one of which was a homicide.

Sheriff Frank Rogers said the apparent murder occurred Thursday night at a home in Coulee Dam, Wash., where city police called the sheriff’s office for assistance.

The other death involved a woman whose body was found along the shore of the Columbia River in Pateros, Wash.

Rogers said the body, discovered shortly after noon Friday, appeared to have been in the water for several weeks. There was no sign of foul play, but an autopsy was planned, Rogers said.

He said the woman had been identified, but her name was being withheld until relatives could be notified. For the same reason, Rogers declined to identify the man who was killed in Coulee Dam.

The sheriff said detectives were pursuing several leads in the homicide, declining to release any additional information.

Spokane

Man allegedly stole, crashed cars

Spokane police say a 49-year-old man stole and wrecked a Mercedes-Benz Thursday, less than two hours after getting out of jail in a case in which he was accused of stealing and wrecking a brand new Ford Mustang.

Stephen J. Sincere was released from jail Wednesday when prosecutors failed to charge him within 72 hours after his arrest for allegedly stealing a Mustang from Empire Ford and wrecking it at the corner of 14th and Carnahan.

Police say Sincere quickly stole a Mercedes-Benz after his release, and they used the car’s satellite tracking system to find him. Officers were closing in on Sincere Thursday afternoon when he spotted them near Garland and Monroe and fled, spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee said.

Sincere crashed into a passing car moments later, Lee said. No one was hurt, but both vehicles were heavily damaged.

Sincere was booked back into jail on suspicion of second-degree burglary, first-degree possession of stolen property, eluding police and probation violation. He remained in jail Friday night.

Washington, D.C.

Senate rejects aid to fishermen

The Senate rejected emergency assistance for West Coast salmon fishermen as part of a giant spending bill approved this week, but the senator who pressed the issue says he will continue the effort.

Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., tried to add $81 million in disaster assistance for the fishermen to the $109 billion emergency spending bill, but the effort was shot down under Senate rules that limited assistance to natural disasters.

Bills by Smith and Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein of California and Ron Wyden of Oregon are pending that would provide much the same relief.

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