In brief: Missing baby found; man under arrest
A Spokane Valley baby missing overnight was found safe Wednesday morning in Liberty Park in east-central Spokane.
The mother called police about 10 p.m. Tuesday and reported that her husband – not the child’s father – had taken the 3-month-old boy and her SUV. She said she believed her husband was using drugs. Spokane Valley police and Spokane police began looking for the child, said Spokane police Cpl. Tom Lee.
At 5:40 a.m., an officer found the SUV with the man, a woman and the baby inside. The baby appeared fine, but both adults appeared to be high on methamphetamine, Lee said.
Police arrested Antonio L. Powell, 30, on two outstanding warrants – for trespassing and obstructing an officer. Police said they found methamphetamine on Powell, so he was also arrested on suspicion of possessing the drug, as well as endangerment with a controlled substance.
Powell’s female companion was not arrested, and the baby was returned to his mother.
– Staff reports
Officials identify boy killed by city truck
The 16-year-old boy killed by a city recycling truck near Magnesium Avenue and Nevada Street has been identified as Andrew Rosell, police said Wednesday.
About 2 p.m. Tuesday, the truck was making a right turn onto Nevada Street with a green light and struck Rosell, who was crossing Nevada, said Officer Jennifer DeRuwe, spokeswoman for the Spokane Police Department.
The driver, Chris Schoonover, 29, has been placed on paid administrative leave while the incident is investigated, said city spokeswoman Marlene Feist. He has worked for the city since March 2006.
– Staff reports
Reward offered for rape suspect
Secret Witness is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of rape suspect Roderick Martin.
Martin, 32, is wanted on a $200,000 second-degree rape warrant. He has a criminal history in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Minnesota and Illinois.
Martin’s last known address is 1220 S. Pittsburg St. He is black, 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 230 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call 327-5111.
– Staff reports
Suspicious device closes 14th Avenue
Spokane police briefly closed a section of 14th Avenue near Grand on Wednesday afternoon as they investigated a suspicious device they now believe was a homemade paperweight.
They do not believe the device – the size and shape of half a grapefruit – was intended to cause trouble.
A water department employee found the device – initially described as a plastic container filled with shrapnel-like metal – while conducting a routine inspection of a South Hill water tower, said Officer Jennifer DeRuwe, police spokeswoman.
The employee reported his find to police, after first picking it up and examining it, she said.
The bomb squad responded.
– Amy Cannata