In brief: Day care workers accused of theft

Five women who worked in a day care in Mattawa, Wash., were indicted Wednesday in Spokane on charges of theft of public funds and tampering with a federal witness.

Indicted were former day care worker Soledad Ramirez, 71, and current employees Silvia Farias, 36; Maria Puentes, 39; Maria Ruiz, 42, and Maria De La O, 35. .

The indictment alleges that they stole public funds through fraudulent billing for day care services between 2002 and 2006, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Rice said.

The women are also accused of conspiring in 2006 to cover up their crimes by attempting to influence the testimony and statements a witness gave to federal agents and a federal grand jury, Rice said.

County, Starbucks face suit for arrest

A man who was cleared of charges that he exposed himself at an Airway Heights Starbucks drive-up window has filed a lawsuit against Starbucks, Spokane County and Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich.

Douglas J. DiBiasi alleges his January arrest and the events that followed caused him mental, emotional and physical harm and distress, including damage to his reputation, according to his complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court. DiBiasi also alleges that Sgt. Dave Reagan, public information officer for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, defamed him in a press release that Reagan sent to news media.

Claims against Knezovich and Deputy Thomas Edelbrock, who arrested DiBiasi, charge inadequate training and supervision in the Sheriff’s Office, according to court documents.

DiBiasi also alleges that Starbucks barista Leslie Ruff gave an incorrect statement to sheriff’s deputies when she told them DiBiasi, a regular at the Airway Heights coffee shop, exposed himself at the drive-up window and refused to leave when asked.

DiBiasi also alleges that Starbucks lost video proof that he never exposed himself, the documents state.

Reagan said Wednesday that neither he nor the Sheriff’s Office will comment on the suit.

In June, county prosecutors dropped three indecent exposure charges against DiBiasi after other Starbucks employees stated they never saw the reported exposure and after DiBiasi passed a polygraph test. Deputy Prosecutor Brian O’Brien said in June that the case was an example of extreme miscommunication among all parties involved.

Motel search puts six in jail

A search for one wanted man turned into six arrests Wednesday.

The original hunt was for Matthew E. Baumrucker, a 24-year-old man wanted for driving with a suspended license, domestic violence, malicious mischief and a probation violation, said Spokane County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan. The Eastern Washington Joint Fugitive Task Force began its search at the Red Top Motel, and the arrests snowballed from there.

When it was all over, Baumrucker was booked into jail for his warrants, as were two men with Department of Corrections warrants: 18-year-old Cameron M. Franklin and 28-year-old Ryan C. Kuntz.

Two people – Joel A. Ballard, 22, and Kyle Steven Simpson, 21 – were arrested on drug charges, and one woman – 26-year-old Tiffany A. Stanowski – was taken to jail for obstruction of justice, Reagan said.

“Then the team broke for lunch,” Reagan said.

Washington

Drugs seized, 12 arrested in sting

More than 60 law enforcement officers swooped through Grant, Kittitas and Yakima counties Tuesday to arrest a dozen suspects and seize at least $9.8 million worth of illegal drugs.

Police raided five homes near Mattawa, where they found several pounds of marijuana, 5 pounds of cocaine, 1 pound of meth and $135,000 in cash, according to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office news release. Eight miles south, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency helicopter helped locate and move 2,500 marijuana plants – totaling $3.75 million – near Beverly.

Twelve people were arrested in the sting operation, according to the release.

The helicopter also helped Kittitas and Grant county sheriff’s deputies harvest 4,000 marijuana plants – totaling $6 million – from wooded areas near Kittitas, at a growing operation connected to the Mattawa arrests, the release states.

Yakima County officials raided a home in Sunnyside where they found a small marijuana-growing operation, also connected to the Mattawa search, according to the release.

But there, nobody was arrested because no one was home.

Federal, state, county and city law enforcement agencies cooperated for the sting.

Stevens County

18-year-old killed in two-car crash

A Rice, Wash., teen was killed and a woman seriously injured in a crash in Stevens County, officials said Wednesday.

Richard S. “Rick” Crosby, 18, died in the two-car crash at the intersection of Orin-Rice and Pleasant Valley roads about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Rick Anderson, a spokesman for Stevens County Emergency Services.

Ross and Terry Tyler, also of Rice, were in the other vehicle, Anderson said. Terry Tyler was airlifted to a Spokane hospital because of her injuries.

Her condition was unavailable Wednesday night.

The crash remains under investigation, Anderson said.

From staff reports