In brief: Police seek help to solve forgeries
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying two people suspected of forging checks at 40 businesses in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.
The man and woman are also suspected of using stolen identities from four different individuals, Sgt. Dave Reagan said.
The check-forging spree began Dec. 10, Reagan said. The most recent crime was committed Jan. 8 at the Northwest Boulevard Albertsons store.
Anyone with information regarding the crimes is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (509) 242-8477.
Boise
Simplot returns to Idaho for care
Billionaire potato magnate J.R. Simplot has been released from a Phoenix hospital and flown to the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise, where he will continue to recuperate from a head injury.
J.R. Simplot Co. spokesman Fred Zerza said Simplot was released this week from the intensive care unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Doctors gave him permission to fly aboard an air ambulance to Boise.
Simplot fell from his motorized wheelchair in the University of Phoenix stadium parking lot while returning to his car after the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.
Following the fall, doctors performed emergency surgery to relieve swelling from a large bump on his head.
He continues to have serious trouble speaking, and rehabilitation specialists in Boise will try to help him regain his speech, Zerza said.
Simplot, who turned 98 last week, is the founder of J.R. Simplot Co., the namesake agribusiness conglomerate that sells potatoes to fast-food restaurants around the world and manufactures agricultural, horticultural and turf fertilizers; animal feed and seeds; food products and industrial chemicals.
Hayden
Man leads police on slow chase
A Hayden Lake man led police on a 20-minute slow-speed chase through the icy streets of Hayden Lake and Hayden yesterday afternoon, after he refused to pull over for sheriff’s deputies attempting to serve him with a court detention order, according to Kootenai County sheriff’s officials.
Michael Sornson, 39, was arrested and charged with felony eluding a police officer when police were finally able to take him into custody. During the chase, which occurred about 3:40 p.m., Sornson ran several stop signs, forced other drivers off the road and drove around several roadblocks, deputies said. A sheriff’s patrol vehicle pushed Sornson’s four-wheel drive truck from behind until he lost control and his vehicle stopped.
After his truck was forced from the road, Sornson surrendered without further incident, sheriff’s officials said. No one was injured in the pursuit, and Sornson’s truck never exceeded 25 mph.
Compiled from staff
and wire reports