In brief: Courthouse adds changing area

The Federal Courthouse in Coeur d’Alene now has a private room where people can take off items of clothing that set off the courthouse metal detectors.

U.S. Marshal Patrick McDonald said the change was made this week after a Bonners Ferry woman complained about removing her underwire bra in the courthouse lobby to get through security.

McDonald said the lobby area was reconfigured to allow women to change in a room in the non-secure area of the courthouse.

“We’re very glad to be able to do this because we do not want to embarrass anyone coming into the U.S. Courthouse,” he said.

Lori Plato said she was told she could remove her bra in the lobby or return to her car to do it. Plato said she removed the bra while her husband tried to shield her from view with his coat.

She then had to place the bra on a conveyor belt to go through an X-ray machine.

McDonald said security staff will now provide bags for items of clothing, so that any clothing that might have to be removed won’t be sent through the X-ray machine in plain view.

“We consider this to be a very serious situation,” McDonald said. “One that we moved on as fast as we possibly could.”

Colfax

Bomb squad called for package at bank

Fresh off their training exercise in downtown Spokane, members of the Spokane County bomb squad headed south to Colfax on a real operation Friday evening. Bank of Whitman employees called police about a suspicious package they received.

About 4:30 p.m., a security guard put the box – about 12 inches square and 8 inches deep – on a Dumpster behind the bank, 201 S. Main St. When the bomb squad arrived about 8 p.m., a technician X-rayed the box, said Sgt. Brad Hudson of the Washington State Patrol.

Inside were what appeared to be coils of wires, he said.

“They couldn’t tell if it was a bomb, but it got everybody nervous,” Hudson said.

After authorities moved onlookers away, the technician cut a hole in the box to get a better look, Hudson said. Inside was a DVD player.

The Colfax Police Department took over the investigation and had the name of someone who left the package, Hudson said.

Colville

Two killed in crash on Highway 395

An Addy, Wash., man and his teenage daughter were killed, and three others – including a 6-year-old – injured in a two-car crash on Highway 395 one mile south of Colville on Friday.

Mark R. Davis, 39, was driving south when his Chevrolet Cavalier collided with a northbound Mitsubishi Eclipse that crossed the centerline. Both he and Aundrianna Davis, 16, died at the scene of the 4 p.m. crash, according to a Washington State Patrol report.

Cavalier passenger Elizabeth Davis, 6, was airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center. She was in critical condition late Friday, a nursing supervisor said.

Alexander Davis, 17, was taken to Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville, the WSP report states. The hospital would not release patient conditions.

The driver of the Eclipse, 47-year-old Nicole J. Dutzi, also went to Mount Carmel Hospital. The Fruitland, Wash., resident was alone in the car, according to the report.

Everyone was wearing a seat belt.