Police seeking suspect in attack on roommate

Coeur d’Alene police are searching for a 45-year-old man who allegedly killed a roommate’s cat and attacked another roommate with a hammer Sunday.

The suspect, Tracy G. Swing, is white, 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 210 pounds and has gray hair.

Officers charged Swing with cruelty to animals after being called to his home in the 500 block of 15th Street at 1:41 a.m. Sunday. According to a police news release, Swing had killed one of his roommate’s cats.

Swing apparently was angered by the citation and later began yelling at the roommate who called police. Another roommate tried to calm Swing, but, police say, Swing hit that man on the head with a hammer.

The victim was treated for a cut and swelling, but when police arrived at 3:46 a.m., Swing was gone.

Police say alcohol was a factor in the attack.

Anyone with information on Swing’s whereabouts is asked to call police at (208) 769-2320.

– Amy Cannata

Lewiston

Part of U.S. Hwy. 12 closed by mudslides

Mudslides closed U.S. Highway 12 Sunday evening just east of Lewiston.

Two slides, caused by heavy rain, happened at the 29 mile marker of the highway.

Crews were working to clear the roadway Sunday night, but officials were uncertain about when it would reopen.

– Amy Cannata

Spokane

Meeting to focus on Native Americans

Issues affecting the American Indian community will be discussed Thursday during the annual Spokane meeting of the Washington state Human Rights Commission.

Sponsored by the NATIVE Project, the gathering will explore the proposed federal elimination of health-care funding for urban Native Americans, as well as employment, housing and other topics. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Room 226 of Gonzaga University’s Law School, 721 N. Cincinnati St.

– Virginia de Leon

SEATTLE

Darts, Tasers end up killing bear near UW

Seattle police were called to fraternity row just north of the University of Washington campus early Sunday after receiving reports of a marauding young black bear.

Police found the bear hiding underneath someone’s back deck. Wildlife officials moved in with tranquilizer darts loaded with powerful drugs to calm the bear, a 3-year-old male weighing 150- to 200 pounds.

But when the bear put up too much of a fight and tranquilizer hits to the shoulder and rear did not immobilize the bear, police shocked the animal with Taser guns. It died.

“I think that combination just didn’t work out right,” said Sgt. Kim Chandler of the state Fish and Wildlife Department.

– Associated Press