In brief: Arrest may solve car burglaries

Police have arrested a suspected serial car burglar after catching him with a car loaded with allegedly stolen property, including laptop computers, purses and clothing.

Matthew D. Campbell, 26, of Post Falls is a suspect in at least 40 burglaries in the past month in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and Spokane, Coeur d’Alene police said Monday.

Police arrested Campbell on suspicion of auto burglary Sunday after receiving a call from a Super 8 Motel, where a guest saw the suspect looking into his vehicle with a flashlight. Officer John Hayes stopped Campbell and saw a pile of items in his car and the trunk held down with bungee cords, police reported.

Campbell denied burglarizing cars. But Hayes recognized a laptop computer reported stolen earlier in the night by the owner of Northwest Pony Express. Police said they verified that much of the property was stolen.

Campbell was booked into Kootenai County Jail. Additional charges are pending.

Twin Lakes

Rollover kills driver, passenger

Two out-of-state men were killed Saturday when they crashed on Idaho Highway 41 near Twin Lakes.

The crash occurred about 7:15 p.m. near the intersection with Seasons Road, between Twin Lakes and Spirit Lake.

According to a news release from Idaho State Police, driver Francisco Michel-Chapula lost control of his 1997 Chrysler Sebring and sped off the roadway, rolling the car.

Neither Michel-Chapula, 28, of Las Vegas, nor his 33-year-old passenger was wearing a seat belt. Both were thrown from the car.

Authorities did not release the passenger’s name because his family had not been contacted.

Spokane

Homicide ruled out in man’s death

A man whose burned body was found Friday by a Riverside State Park ranger has been identified as 28-year-old Joshua A. Mistretta.

An autopsy Monday morning concluded that Mistretta was not the victim of homicide. The cause of death is not yet known, said Officer Glenn Bartlett.

Mistretta’s body was found when the ranger responded to a grass fire in the park.

Police identify killed pedestrian

A 65-year-old woman killed Friday evening when she was hit by a vehicle has been identified by Spokane police as Dorothy I. LaBounty.

LaBounty was crossing Sprague Avenue at Perry Street about 10 p.m. when she was struck by a car driven by 27-year-old Vitaliy N. Kuzmenkov.

Kuzmenkov has not been charged with a crime or ticketed, said Spokane police Officer Glenn Bartlett.

Police are investigating the incident, however, and asking witnesses to call (509) 835-4567.

Reward offered to help find man

Secret Witness is offering a reward for information leading to the capture of a man wanted on a felony drug warrant.

Kenneth Mark MacDonald, 50, is wanted on methamphetamine possession charges related to a May 27 traffic stop. According to a release from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, MacDonald gave officers a fake name at the time but was later identified.

MacDonald has a number of criminal convictions. He has brown hair and hazel eyes, is 5-foot-8 and weighs 110 pounds. His last known address was in the 500 block of West Sinto Avenue. He also has a twin.

Anyone with information about MacDonald is asked to call (509) 327-5111.

Home invasion case spurs reward

Secret Witness is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of a man suspected of breaking into a home, assaulting a woman and stealing her money.

Michael D. Skinner, 35, is wanted on first-degree burglary and assault charges related to the Aug. 3 home-invasion robbery. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office contends Skinner was one of two men who entered a woman’s West Central home and hit her on the head with a handgun before taking her money.

Skinner’s past convictions include assault, drug charges, possession of stolen property and violating court orders. Police believe he is a gang member.

He is described as 5-foot-11, 175 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. His last known address was in the 2300 block of West College Avenue.

Anyone with information about Skinner’s whereabouts is asked to call 327-5111.

Figure skating event nominated

The State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships that took place in Spokane in January have been nominated as the best single sporting event of the year by SportsTravel Magazine.

The figure skating competition was nominated in the category of amateur sporting events.

Other nominees in that category include the USA Field Hockey National Hockey Festival, the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships and Disney’s Soccer Showcase.

Voting is taking place online through Sept. 15 at www.sportstravelmagazine .com/2007awardsballot _VOTING.html.

Winners will be announced at a trade show in Louisville, Ky., in late October.

SportsTravel is an industry publication serving the event industry and sports-related travel.

The eight-day figure skating championships brought thousands of visitors to Spokane in what’s typically the slowest tourism month of the year and boosted hotel revenues more than $2 million above January 2006 levels.

Spokane Valley

Sex offender moves to Edgecliff

Spokane Valley police are warning Edgecliff neighborhood residents that a 39-year-old convicted rapist is living in the neighborhood.

Douglas J. Dennis is registered as a level 3 sex offender due to his 1985 conviction for kidnapping and raping a 17-year-old girl.

Dennis has been out of jail since 1995, living in the Spokane area, but recently moved to the Edgecliff area.

He has brown eyes and red hair, is 5-foot-11 and weighs 180 pounds.

Dennis is not wanted by police.