Trooper dragged during stop

Tue., Nov. 21, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

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 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.

The driver lost control of the vehicle at First Avenue and Washington Street and fled on foot, Pegram said.

The man was captured when he attempted to hide along the railroad tracks.

Spokane county

Groups to serve free dinners

Area organizations are offering free Thanksgiving dinners for residents.

Salvation Army Thanksgiving turkey distribution: At the Community Center, documents needed to get assistance, picture ID for all adults, proof of current address, and some form of documentation for each child in the household. Today. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., 222 E. Indiana, Spokane. (509) 325-6821.

VFW Post 1435: Wednesday. 4:30-6:30 p.m., VFW Hall, 212 S. David. (509) 535-9315.

Jenny’s Cafe: Turkey and all the fixings served to needy families. Call to reserve a ride. No reservations necessary for the dinner. Wednesday. 4-8 p.m., 9425 E. Sprague Ave. (509) 928-8055.

Gonzaga University: Sponsored by Sodexho Campus Service, Gonzaga University and St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church. Thursday. Noon-1:30 p.m., Cataldo Hall on the GU campus, Boone Avenue at Astor St. (509) 323-7001 or (509) 323-7004.

Central United Methodist Church: Meal served to the downtown Spokane neighborhood. Thursday. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Central United Methodist Church, 518 W. Third Ave. (509) 344-4000 or 954-9292.

Mid City Concerns: Thursday, 2 p.m., at the senior center, 1222 W. Second Ave. (509) 747-3257.

Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church: “Sack dinners” will be handed out Thursday. At the church, 1703 N. Washington St. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Downtown from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at First Ave. and Jefferson St. 2-5:30 p.m.

Holiday to affect services

Here’s how the Thanksgiving holiday will affect services in Spokane County:

“City and state offices will be closed Thursday and Friday.

“Federal offices will be closed Thursday.

“Schools and colleges will not hold classes Thursday or Friday.

“Mail will not be delivered and post offices will be closed Thursday.

“Curbside residential trash collection normally scheduled for Thursday and Friday will be a day late, except for Friday’s collection in Deer Park.

“Spokane County Library District branches will be closed Thursday and Friday. Spokane city libraries will be closed Thursday and open regular hours on Friday.

“Spokane parking meters will not be enforced Thursday. Meters at Eastern Washington University will not be enforced Thursday or Friday.

“The Spokane Transit Authority will run a Sunday bus schedule Friday.

“Liquor stores will be closed Thursday.

“Shopping malls will be closed Thursday. On Friday, NorthTown and Spokane Valley malls will be open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. River Park Square will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Spokane valley

Officials’ pay topic of survey

The city of Spokane Valley is asking residents to weigh in on how much they think the mayor and members of the City Council should be paid.

A survey on the city’s home page, www.spokanevalley.org, will be forwarded to a salary commission created by the council in September. Printed copies are available at City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave.

When the city formed, state law set the monthly pay at $500 for the mayor and $400 for council members. A commission formed in 2004 suggested those amounts be raised substantially to bring pay more in line with that in similar-sized Washington cities.

Voters turned down the recommendations in a referendum last November.

The commission will take into account council pay around the state, the surveys and other factors to make recommendations that will either become law or the subject of another referendum if those who oppose them gather enough signatures. Surveys must be submitted by next Tuesday.

OLYMPIA

Party picks leaders from area

Two Eastern Washington lawmakers have been elected to Republican leadership posts in the state House of Representatives.

Rep. David Buri, R-Colfax, will be Republican floor leader, helping shape the responses of the far-outnumbered GOP caucus to Democratic-led bills and votes.

Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Otis Orchards, will be the whip, trying to ensure that Republican lawmakers are on hand and don’t vote across party lines on key votes.

The two are among the rural-leaning Republican leadership in the House: Minority Leader Richard DeBolt is from Chehalis, Deputy Leader Doug Ericksen is from Ferndale, and Caucus Chairman Dan Kristiansen is from Snohomish.

Compiled from staff reports

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