In brief: Valley man missing since Easter sought
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a Spokane Valley man missing since Easter.
Relatives of Clayton M. Jensen, 36, went to pick him up April 8 and found his door unlocked. Inside were his medication and backpack. His vehicle was outside.
Jensen is white, 6 feet 3 inches tall and 280-300 pounds. He has blue eyes, brown hair, a mustache, beard and glasses.
Relatives told sheriff’s deputies that Jensen had been depressed. He’s known to visit casinos.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
– Amy Cannata
Two dogs shot, killed in man’s backyard
Two dogs that were part pit bull were shot to death Thursday, igniting a neighborhood uproar around a Spokane Valley cul-de-sac.
The dogs had broken out of their backyard and walked onto Gene Strunk’s freshly poured concrete driveway for a home he’s building for his mother in the east 12900 block of Springfield, said Spokane Valley police spokesman Detective Dave Thornburg.
Strunk believed the dogs were threatening him, so he reportedly went into his home and grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun. After returning to the backyard, the dogs charged him so he shot them, Strunk told police.
But neighbors and the dogs’ owner said the animals had never tried to attack anyone before.
“I’m not angry,” said owner Sally Canton. “My dogs are in heaven.”
Rosie and Honey were pit bull mixes, and Canton said she partially understands why Strunk may have been afraid.
“He’s probably constantly afraid because everyone on TV says pit bulls are scary,” she said. “I don’t blame him for what he did.”
Thornburg said property owners are allowed to defend themselves if they feel threatened by dogs.
Strunk did not answer his door when a reporter knocked Thursday evening.
– Christopher Rodkey
Spokane
Police: Man had gun, note with death threat
A Spokesman-Review custodian was booked into Spokane County Jail on Thursday morning on two counts of felony harassment – threats to kill.
John Fallows, 53, was being held in jail pending a mental health evaluation, officials said. A bail amount was not set Thursday.
According to police, Fallows walked into a Group Health clinic on West North River Drive and put a gun on a table. He then handed a health care worker a note and asked that it be read, police said.
The note detailed a specific threat to kill two of his supervisors at The Spokesman-Review, said Spokane police Sgt. Frank Scalise. Based on the threats and the presence of a weapon, Fallows was arrested.
The note also said Fallows planned to kill himself, officials said.
His actions appeared to be a call for help, Scalise said.
Fallows has worked at The Spokesman-Review since June 8, 1980. He was working a graveyard janitorial shift.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner