Reward offered for theft suspect
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest of a man wanted for third-degree theft and failure to register as a sex offender.
Billy Ray Roberts, 28, has a long criminal history, including convictions on suspicion of third-degree child rape and second-degree burglary, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Dave Reagan.
Anyone with information regarding Roberts’ whereabouts should call (800) 222-8477. Tipsters do not have to give their name to collect the reward, but should provide a code name or number.
Police still seek stabbing suspect
Spokane police continue to search for the man suspected of fatally stabbing a man Tuesday in north Spokane.
Detectives have a warrant seeking to charge Benjamin Robert Howard, 22, with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing early Tuesday that killed 28-year-old Kenneth P. Jordan.
Sgt. Joe Peterson said Tuesday that investigators believe Howard and Jordan fought outside the home where they both lived at 3803 E. Frederick Ave.
Jordan’s girlfriend drove the victim to Market Street and Euclid Avenue, where she called 911. She told the responding officers her boyfriend had been stabbed in a tavern north of Francis Avenue on Division Street, Peterson said.
Howard is 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone who has information about Howard should call 911, Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said.
Watch a video from the crime scene at www.spokesmanreview.com.
Spokane Valley
Work will close Pines Road lanes
The northbound lanes of Pines Road in Spokane Valley will be closed Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the vicinity of the road’s three-way intersection with Montgomery and Indiana avenues.
City officials said the closure is to accommodate work on the railroad tracks just north of the intersection. Traffic will be rerouted onto Indiana Avenue and Mirabeau Parkway.
Robbers hit jewelry store
Three men stole gold jewelry from a Spokane Valley business Monday, and police are offering a reward for information leading to their capture.
Employees at Artistry in Gold, 13817 E. Sprague, told police a man entered the store and grabbed a display case of jewelry about 5 p.m. Monday. He ran to a nearby dark blue Ford Explorer, and a second man helped load the case into the vehicle, police said.
A third male drove away with more than $2,100 worth of jewelry. The Explorer had paper taped over the license plate, but the first digit may have been 8.
The man who entered the store appeared to be in his mid- to late 20s and had dishwater blond hair with black jeans, according to police. The witnesses were unable to give more detailed descriptions of the other two men.
The stolen jewelry consisted of a 14-karat white gold necklace with pendant and a 14-karat yellow gold ring. Both items contained diamonds.
Anyone with more information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (509) 327-5111, or send the information via www.crimestoppers inlandnorthwest.org.