In brief: Man succumbs to head injuries

A man injured last week during a confrontation at Helena Street and Mallon Avenue has died.

Karl Fijalka died Monday from head injuries he sustained on Aug. 27.

The Spokane County medical examiner has ruled the cause of death as “basilar skull fracture with contusions of the brain due to blunt impact of the head.”

How that head injury occurred is still unclear, and the medical examiner hasn’t ruled whether his death was accidental or homicidal.

Witnesses have provided conflicting accounts of the incident, which involved a confrontation with 34-year-old Richard Trower. Police Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said that Trower has not been charged in the incident.

Trower has been charged, however, for a Saturday incident in which police say he violated a protection order by visiting a safe house, ran from police and was caught near Shriners Hospital with a controlled substance.

Three arrested on forgery charges

Three people accused of trying to cash stolen checks at a bank were arrested Wednesday after police reportedly found a handgun, cash, several ounces of methamphetamine and evidence of fraud.

Angela Crawford, 23, Tanya M. Stewart, 30, and Harold B. Emick, 25, were each arrested on suspicion of forgery and unlawful issuance of checks, said Officer Tim Moses. Other charges are pending.

On Wednesday, employees at Washington Mutual near 29th Avenue and Grand Boulevard called police when three persons tried to cash checks with fake identification, Moses said. They were gone when police arrived, but bank employees provided detailed descriptions of the suspects.

The vehicle was later seen near Chief Garry Park where police arrested the trio, Moses said. Police said a search of the suspects turned up evidence that they were attempting to cash checks stolen in recent garage burglaries.

Walla Walla

Dam locks closed to pleasure boaters

The Little Goose Navigation Lock and Dam on the Snake River in the Walla Walla area has been temporarily closed to recreational watercraft effective immediately, officials announced Wednesday.

Damage to the upstream gate hoisting equipment has made it necessary to restrict its use until permanent repairs can be made, according to a press release from the Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District. The lock is still open to commercial users.

Hayden

Possible bomb found near school

A Hayden elementary school was locked down for about 20 minutes Wednesday morning after a possible pipe bomb was found in the road about a half-mile from the school.

The Spokane Bomb Squad was called in and took the device to a safe location to be destroyed, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department said.

Atlas Elementary went into lockdown around 8:30 a.m. as a precaution, according to Janet Feiler, spokeswoman for the Coeur d’Alene School District.

No property damage or injuries were reported. The Sheriff’s Department is investigating the device, which was found near Atlas and Honeysuckle streets.

Kootenai County

Rescued deer released into wild

Two rescued whitetail deer that spent years captive in a double-wide trailer were released into the wild by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.

The deer and several other emaciated animals – a horse, dogs, cats and guinea pigs – were seized last week by sheriff’s deputies investigating a report of animal abuse.

The Department of Fish and Game “said that’s the best thing they could do” for the deer, sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger said.

Other animals seized from the property are receiving veterinary care, he said.

Wayne and Darlene Gardner face 21 counts of animal cruelty, including charges of holding wildlife captive.