Charge filed; victim in coma

Tue., Nov. 21, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

A Colville man was charged Monday with second-degree assault against an employee who remains in a coma three months after his skull was fractured.

Gerald Alymer Tinkess, 51, is accused of punching Bennie Walter Schoenwald on Aug. 14 when Schoenwald went to Tinkess’ home on Rocky Lake Road about 3:30 p.m. to discuss a dispute over Schoenwald’s pay.

Charging documents in Stevens County Superior Court note that Tinkess had a 105-pound advantage over Schoenwald, who weighs 160 pounds and turns 60 next Tuesday.

A Spokane neurologist said Schoenwald’s injuries, which required a ventilator and a feeding tube and left Schoenwald in a vegetative state, included swelling of the brain from internal bleeding, Chief Deputy Prosecutor John Troberg said in an affidavit for an arrest warrant.

Minutes after Schoenwald’s skull was fractured, Tinkess told a sheriff’s deputy that he punched Schoenwald after Schoenwald took a swing at him, Troberg stated. Later, Troberg said, Tinkess told another sheriff’s officer that he turned and punched Schoenwald when Schoenwald shoved him from behind.

The argument occurred in Tinkess’ driveway, and Tinkess reportedly said he had turned away to go back inside his home when Schoenwald shoved him.

Sheriff’s Capt. Mike George reported that Tinkess said he threw the first punch because “he wasn’t going to let Schoenwald hit him.” George said Tinkess told him Schoenwald staggered backward, possibly striking his head on the bumper of Tinkess’ pickup.

According to Troberg’s affidavit, Tinkess told George he grappled with Schoenwald and landed on top of him when they fell to the concrete driveway. Tinkess reportedly said he hit Schoenwald “several more times while he was down.”

Spokane

Trooper dragged blocks in stop

A state trooper suffered minor injuries early Monday when he was dragged several blocks after attempting a traffic stop.

Trooper Joe Leibrechat was treated at Deaconess Medical Center for cuts and bruises suffered during the 2:10 a.m. confrontation, then released, said WSP spokesman Trooper Jeff Sevigney.

Booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of attempting to elude a police vehicle and felony assault on a law enforcement officer was 39-year-old Shane Dechenne, said Spokane police Officer Shawn Pegram.

The WSP trooper stopped the vehicle at First Avenue and Cedar Street about 2:10 a.m. and discovered the driver had a felony warrant, Pegram said. When the trooper tried to arrest the man, the driver sped away, dragging the trooper down the road.

The driver lost control of the vehicle at First Avenue and Washington Street and fled on foot, Pegram said. The man was captured a short time later when he attempted to hide along the railroad tracks.

Compiled from staff reports

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