Police hunt for Geiger escapee

Fri., Sept. 28, 2007

The Spokesman-Review

Police were on a manhunt late Thursday after an inmate escaped from Geiger Corrections Center during his Bible study, a jail captain said.

About 9:10 p.m., a volunteer let Roger H. Nordling, 54, out of a small building to get some fresh air. Nordling climbed to the roof, jumped over a barbed- wire fence and hopped into a waiting car, Capt. John McGrath said. The escape was “more than likely” planned, he said.

Authorities were searching for a blue Chrysler four-door sedan. Nordling was wearing a jail-issued striped jumpsuit, but “that’d be the first thing I’d drop,” McGrath said.

Nordling is 6-foot-1, weighs 235 pounds, and has blond hair and blue eyes. He was being held at Geiger on $100,000 bail on charges of second-degree assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance, McGrath said.

Anti-smoking group honored

Spokane Teens Against Tobacco, a group that developed and recorded anti-smoking public service messages, received an award this week from the Washington State Department of Health.

Called STAT, the group was one of seven recipients of a Selecky Award, named after Secretary of Health Mary Selecky and designed to recognize “outstanding achievements in tobacco prevention and control.”

STAT “is a committed, energetic group of Spokane teens that have taken the lead in local tobacco prevention activities,” the Department of Health said in a statement. The group recorded two radio messages that aired in Spokane County for the department’s “No Stank You” advertising campaign and participates in community and school events throughout the year.

Man sought in May 5 incident

A Spokane man is wanted – with Secret Witness reward – after allegedly jumping on top of a pizza delivery car and tearing off its sign.

Police believe Jeffrey L. Alwin, 23, ran in front of the car as the pizza deliverer drove down the 200 block of West Riverside Avenue on May 5. According to a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office news release, Alwin caused hundreds of dollars in damage.

Alwin is wanted on a felony charge of second-degree malicious mischief. He is described as white, 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, according to the release. His last given address was 3522 E. 31st Ave.

Anyone with information on Alwin is asked to call (509) 327-5111.

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