Fire in basement sends 3 to hospital
An overnight fire sent three people to the hospital Monday.
The Spokane Fire Department was called to 1517 E. Rockwell Ave. just before 11 p.m. Sunday when the house caught fire.
One of the residents, a man, was hospitalized with first-and second-degree burns, and a woman was treated for smoke inhalation. A firefighter was also treated for smoke inhalation.
The fire started in a basement bedroom, firefighters said. Since there were no smoke detectors, it took people in the home longer to be alerted to the fire, according to a Fire Department press release.
Firefighters kept the fire contained to the basement, but smoke and heat damaged the rest of the house.
– Amy Cannata
Wanted man escapes on foot after car chase
A fugitive wanted on two felony drug warrants rammed a patrol car, and then disappeared on foot early Monday near Trails and Spotted roads, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Deputies gave up after more than four hours of searching for 44-year-old Gary A. Schreck.
The incident began when Deputy Jack Rosenthal was patrolling on Rimrock Drive. A vehicle allegedly driven by Schreck sped off as Rosenthal approached.
The suspect’s car slid off the road and through a fence, but the driver freed his car and the chase continued, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Eventually, Rosenthal tried to hit the back of the suspect’s car and stop it, but Schreck rammed the patrol car instead, knocking it into a ditch, according to the report.
The driver then abandoned his car in the 6500 block of Trails Road. He and a passenger ran.
– Amy Cannata
River’s water flow topic of meeting
A public meeting is scheduled Wednesday morning for people who want to get involved in determining how much water should be allowed to flow in the Spokane River to support fisheries and other needs.
Officials will explain the “instream flow” rulemaking process and pertinent studies, according to Mike Hermanson, Spokane County groundwater program coordinator.
The meeting will be 10 a.m. to noon at the Airway Heights Community Center, 13120 W. 13th Ave.
For more information, call Hermanson at (509) 477-7260.
– John Craig
Post Falls
Teens admit dozens of car burglaries
Two 14-year-old boys have confessed to a string of more than 40 car burglaries in Post Falls – including about 20 that Post Falls police say hadn’t even been reported.
The teens allegedly stole from unlocked cars in the area between 15th and 22nd streets, and Chase and Idaho roads.
An anonymous tipster told police about a number of suspected stolen items in the garage at one boy’s home, Lt. Scot Haug said.Police found cash and more than 100 items in the garage, including DVD players, car stereos and speakers.
“We’ve got a ton of property here,” Haug said. “We don’t even know who it belongs to.”
He described the case as one of the largest vehicle burglary cases in Post Falls in recent years. Neither teen has a prior criminal record, Haug said.
– Taryn Brodwater