In brief: Man who was Tasered by deputies dies

A 37-year-old man who stopped breathing last week after he was tasered and hogtied by Spokane County sheriff’s deputies died Saturday morning at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Trent A. Yohe had been on life support at the hospital since May 1, when four deputies working for the city of Spokane Valley responded to an anonymous call about drug activity inside a trailer parked in the backyard of 6811 E. Fifth Ave.

Yohe – who had an outstanding felony forgery warrant – was lying on a bed and was apparently having a seizure when the officers entered the trailer, according to a May 3 search warrant affidavit.

Officers Scott Bonney, John Cook, Michael Wall and Griffen Criswell were involved in the altercation with Yohe, authorities said.

Because Yohe was in critical condition following the incident, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich activated his department’s “fatal incident protocol,” which calls for an independent investigation by another police agency. The Spokane Police Department is investigating.

An autopsy is expected to be conducted this week.

Gondola to close for maintenance

The gondola crossing above Spokane Falls will be closed Monday as workers perform scheduled maintenance.

Workers are checking the service brake, and the ride will be back in service Tuesday.

The Spokane Falls Skyride is usually open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

For more information, call (509) 456-4FUN or visit www.spokaneriverfrontpark.com.

Spokane County

Crews fight blaze near Spangle

Fourteen Spokane Fire Department crews responded to a house fire near Spangle on Saturday evening.

Firefighters were still battling the blaze at 13203 S. Sherman Road at 10 p.m., said a dispatcher, who couldn’t provide any additional details. Television footage of the fire showed the home consumed in flames.

Earlier in the evening, crews throughout the county responded to reports of arcing wires and small brush fires after a thunderstorm hit parts of the region.

Coeur d’Alene

Motorist collides with police cruiser

A Coeur d’Alene police officer collided with a motorist who failed to yield to the flashing lights and siren, police said.

Both drivers are OK after the Saturday afternoon accident on Northwest Boulevard, said Sgt. Christie Wood of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

The officer was responding to a domestic violence call when dispatchers lost contact with the caller, leading to concerns that the dispute had escalated, Wood said.

The officer turned on his lights and siren and headed north on Northwest Boulevard across the Interstate 90 overpass when the driver of a Ford Explorer turned south in front of him, she said.

The officer was driving at a low speed through a red light when the accident occurred, she said.

Wood was unable to release the name of the officer or motorist and said Idaho State Police is investigating the accident.

GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore.

Climbers stranded on Mount Hood

Five climbers were reported stranded at the 9,800-foot level of Mount Hood Saturday night, but Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies say their location is known and that they are not injured.

Sheriff’s spokesman Jim Strovink said the climbers had a mountain locator device and a Global Positioning System and were in contact by cell phone.

He said they apparently got caught in a whiteout and could not see to get back down the 11,239-foot mountain, Oregon’s tallest.

Search coordinator Russ Gubele of Mountain Wave Search and Rescue said the five were not equipped to spend the night and would be given directions for a partial descent. A rescue team was planning to head up the mountain to meet them.

The five were not immediately identified.

In February, three climbers and a dog fell from a ledge at the 8,600-foot level on the same side of the mountain where the five were reported stranded, but there were no life-threatening injuries. They were rescued after a cold night and credited the dog for helping them stay warmer.

In December, one climber was killed and two are missing and presumed dead after climbing the mountain’s more dangerous north side.