In brief: North Spokane home damaged by fire

Mon., Jan. 21, 2008

The Spokesman-Review

An early-morning blaze engulfed the back of a Northwest Spokane home and an attached storage shed Sunday, according to the Spokane Fire Department.

No one was injured, and firefighting efforts saved the front of the two-bedroom home at 3110 N. Alberta St., according to a fire department news release. The cause of the fire was still under investigation Sunday afternoon.

The blaze caused heavy damage to the exterior and upper level of the one-story, 98-year-old home, which Spokane County property records show is owned by Michael L. Dunnell. The residents of the home will be staying with friends, fire officials said.

– Parker Howell

Coeur d’Alene

Fourth suspect sought in attack outside bar

Coeur d’Alene police arrested three men Sunday for beating up a bar patron and a bouncer who tried to help him, police said.

Jacob M. Bowman, 19, Jerry D. Butterfield, 22, and Mathew D. Flamand, 21, all of Coeur d’Alene, were each charged with aggravated battery and robbery for attacking a man as he was leaving Mik-N-Mac’s, 406 N. Fourth St., early Sunday morning.

Authorities found Bowman at his residence, and Butterfield and Flamand turned themselves in, police said.

The men kicked the victim and hit him with brass knuckles, taking his wallet and car keys, and when the bar’s bouncer intervened, the suspects battered him, too, police said.

The victims were treated for cuts and bruising of the face at Kootenai Medical Center and released, police said.

Police were still looking Sunday afternoon for a fourth suspect, described as a Hispanic male, about 21 years old, 5’ 6” and 140 to 160 pounds. He was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information should call the Coeur d’Alene Police Department at (208) 769-2320.

– Parker Howell

Kootenai County

Man arrested after police chase

A 29-year-old man was arrested on felony warrants Sunday, the day after he eluded police, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.

Police said Chad A. Jensen on Saturday broke into the Hayden-area house of his ex-girlfriend, who had a protection order against him. Arriving deputies pursued a vehicle registered to and reportedly driven by Jensen but stopped the chase because of hazardous road conditions, according to a news release.

Soon thereafter, deputies responded to an accident on Government Way, south of West Boekel Road involving the vehicle, finding it empty and upside down off the roadway.

After a three-hour hunt that included a K-9 unit, deputies broke off the search. Jensen was later found and arrested in the Dalton Gardens area Sunday on warrants including violation of a protection order and felony eluding, the sheriff’s office said.

– Parker Howell

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