In brief: Lynch leave extended to end of February
Spokane Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch is expected to remain on paid medical leave through the end of February, city officials said Friday.
The office of Mayor Dennis Hession received a letter from Lynch’s physician earlier this week that said that Lynch would not be able to return until March 1, said Marlene Feist, city public affairs officer.
Initially, Lynch went on leave through the month of January, but last week he extended the leave for an unspecified length of time. The nature of his illness has not been disclosed.
Lynch has enough sick time since his hiring in 2001 to remain on paid leave through mid-April. Lynch is expected to earn $147,000 this year.
John Pilcher, the city’s economic development director, is serving as acting deputy mayor in Lynch’s absence.
This year’s medical leave is the second for Lynch in recent months. He went on an unexplained medical leave last September for about a week.
– Mike Prager
Police say man, 23, had sex with girl, 13
Spokane police arrested a 23-year-old man early Friday morning after he allegedly admitted having sex with a 13-year-old girl he met on the Internet.
Anthony George Herbert was booked on suspicion of second-degree child rape. Children younger than 16 can’t legally consent to sex with adults.
Court documents say the girl was drunk when police found her with Herbert in a downtown motel room at 1420 W. Second Ave. Officers said Herbert admitted having intercourse with the girl at least twice on Thursday.
Herbert claimed he thought the girl was 18 although she appeared younger, according to a police affidavit.
The affidavit doesn’t give details, but it said officers located the girl about 10 p.m. with help from a woman — apparently the girl’s mother — who became concerned after discovering the child hadn’t gone where she said she was going when she took a bus about 4 p.m. Thursday.
– John Craig
Lewiston
Cell phone 911 calls now give locations
People in need of emergency assistance can now dial 911 in Lewiston and Nez Perce County, and operators will be able to determine their locations.
The enhancement will assist law enforcement responding to calls by providing latitude and longitude coordinates.
About 40 percent of 911 calls in that area are now made from cell phones, according to the Lewiston Police Department.
Since 2003, the state of Idaho has collected $1 per cell phone to upgrade 911 technology to better handle wireless calls.
– Staff reports