Wanted man arrested after struggle with police

A man wanted by the Department of Corrections was arrested at his residence Wednesday after a chase through the heart of Spokane Valley, according to press release by Spokane Valley Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Plainclothes sheriff’s deputies had been watching a man under surveillance at an East 28th Avenue residence after learning DOC wanted him arrested. However, he drove away from the residence before a marked patrol car could arrive.

Officers tried to stop the man on Mullan Road at Broadway Avenue, but he ignored them. Officers pursued him to Vista Road, where an officer attempted to push Birnel’s van to a forced stop with his patrol car. The maneuver failed. The man continued to his home.

Reed S. Birnel, 47, was arrested for failure to obey and resisting arrest after a short, violent battle in his driveway at 9715 E. Garland Ave.

Birnel suffered cuts and scrapes in his fight with officers and was checked by paramedics prior to being transported to jail.

Suspects sought in business burglaries

Burglars struck several businesses over the past several days in Spokane Valley, and investigators hope someone can identify a suspect. Monday morning, the owner of Central Valley Beauty Salon arrived and discovered someone broke through a rear door and stole a small amount of cash, said Spokane Valley Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.

The suspect opened a lockbox inside the store at 16702 E. Sprague Ave., but didn’t take any of the pennies or receipts stored inside. Officer Scott Bonney seized the lockbox and parts of the back door handle to check for fingerprints.

Then on Tuesday about 1:50 a.m., Spokane Sheriff’s Deputy Dale Moyer responded to Papa Murphy’s Take and Bake pizza store at 8901 E. Trent Ave., where an alarm was triggered. Bonney discovered the front door unlocked and a piece of metal stuck in the key aperture. A 2-foot-by-3-foot combination safe containing cash, checks and receipts had been stolen. The manager said it appeared the front door lock had been picked and that the suspect had dragged the heavy safe out the rear door.

Anyone with information regarding either break-in is encouraged to call the Spokane Valley Police or Spokane County Sheriff’s Office at 242-TIPS.