Spokane in brief: Marijuana-growing operation busted
Spokane sheriff’s detectives busted a hydroponic marijuana-growing operation Monday and arrested the 41-year-old man suspected of running it.
Detectives found 53 plants and two pounds of harvested marijuana in Frederick P. Soucy’s home at 3507 E. Marietta Ave. after executing a search warrant about 2 p.m., according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Soucy was arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance and released from Spokane County Jail on his own recognizance Tuesday afternoon, according to jail records. Police also found what they suspect are hallucinogenic mushrooms at the home, which could bring additional charges, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Detectives also seized Soucy’s 1996 Toyota extended-cab pickup and about $1,500.
Sex offender living on S. Geiger
A level 3 sex offender has moved into the 3800 block of South Geiger Boulevard, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Tony L. Coville, 56, was convicted in 1991 of first-degree rape and first-degree burglary, both using a weapon, said sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan. “His victim was a 51-year-old female stranger.”
Coville is 5 feet 9 inches and 180 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. He is not seeking treatment for a sexual disorder, and he is not under state supervision, Reagan said.
SEATTLE
Hospitals won’t bill for medical mistakes
Washington is joining a handful of other states where hospitals, doctors and surgery centers will no longer bill patients for medical errors, including 28 situations ranging from surgery on the wrong body part to foreign objects left behind.
Under an agreement announced this week by Gov. Chris Gregoire, medical providers have pledged to never again bill patients for medical errors known as “never events” because they should never happen in the first place.
The list of mistakes also covers death or serious disabilities caused by contaminated drugs or devices, and burns suffered in the hospital. The agreement includes the Washington State Medical Association, the Washington State Hospital Association and the Washington Ambulatory Surgery Center Association.
“If we can avoid adding insult to injury where patients have been affected by an adverse event, then we’re taking a step that is right,” said Dr. Brian Wicks, president of the state Medical Association.
The agreement is voluntary, but hospitals, doctors and surgery centers statewide are expect to comply.
BOISE
Vote on teacher merit pay postponed
A teacher merit pay proposal was pulled from the agenda of a legislative committee that had been scheduled to vote on it today.
“We’re just taking a cautious approach, making sure we have everyone’s questions answered before we have the vote on that,” said Senate President Pro-tem Bob Geddes, a co-sponsor of the “iSTARS” teacher pay bill proposed by GOP state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna
Public hearings produced criticism of a provision requiring teachers to give up continuing contract rights in exchange for higher pay.
Idaho timber harvest increase likely
Timber harvest on state-owned lands in Idaho will likely increase due to concerns that insect infestations, diseases and forest fires are on the rise because of a warming climate, state officials say.
The Idaho Department of Lands this week started computer modeling the effects of increased harvest rates of the more than 1 million acres of forested land owned by the state.
“We’re seeing a lot of different things going on with climate change,” said George Bacon, director of the department. “We’re seeing insects attacking trees in areas that have never been attacked before, a change in species, things like that.”
For fiscal year 2007, which ended in June, the state made $64.3 million from timber sales, with nearly $40 million going to schools, about $13 million to cover costs, and the remainder to other endowments, Bacon said.
Coeur d’Alene
Police seeking home invasion suspects
Coeur d’Alene police are looking for at least two young people accused in a home invasion robbery in which the suspects posed as drug task force members, assaulted their victims with crowbars and pepper spray, bound them with zip ties, brandished a semi-automatic pistol and stole a small safe.
Tye D. Horn, 20, and Crystal A. Casebolt-Guydos, 20, are the only suspects identified in the robbery at a home in the 1300 block of North Ninth Street about 8:45 p.m. Monday, according to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.
Three 20-year-old men were at the home when someone knocked on the door and said “DTF,” police said. Assuming that meant “Drug Task Force,” one of the men opened the door and was knocked unconscious while the two others were assaulted, police said.
The men say they don’t know what’s in the stolen safe or in two dresser drawers also taken, according to police. None of the men was seriously hurt. The suspects were described as two to five men and at least two women, all in their early 20s, police said.
Horn and Casebolt-Guydos face robbery, burglary, aggravated battery, impersonating a police officer and second-degree kidnapping charges.
Anyone with information information is asked to call Coeur d’Alene police at (208) 769-2320.
From staff and wire reports.