In brief: Thermal imager helps in suspect’s capture

Thermal imaging technology helped authorities capture a man who allegedly tried to escape a Cheney-area construction site with a $250,000 front loader.

Cheney police Sgt. Bill Benner was on patrol about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday when he observed suspicious activity near a new housing development at 142 S. Cheney Spangle Road, the department said.

A passing train prevented Benner from racing directly to the scene, and by the time he arrived, all that remained were muddy tracks heading south along Cheney Spangle Road, said police Cmdr. Rick Campbell.

Benner grabbed a thermal imager recently purchased with grant money. The device detected heat left on the roadway, and Benner continued the search, Campbell said.

After three miles, he encountered a green and white Ford pickup following a front loader, Campbell said. As the sergeant approached, the pickup sped away. Benner contacted the man driving the front loader and determined that it had been stolen, police said. He arrested the driver, 24-year-old Jake P. Branch, on suspicion of felony theft of a motor vehicle. Detectives are trying to identify the pickup’s driver, Campbell said.

– Thomas Clouse

Spokane County

Inmate allegedly stabs sergeant with pen

An inmate awaiting transfer to an out-of-state federal prison stabbed a Spokane County Jail sergeant early Wednesday, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Sgt. Donald Hooper suffered an ear laceration and two puncture wounds to his cheek when Michael J. Wigren, 26, punched him while gripping a bendable pen, sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan said.

Hooper was treated at a hospital and released, and Wigren, who was being held on federal charges of making threats to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and the FBI, was transported out of the jail as scheduled.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Wigren became angry when told there was no guarantee he’d have his own cell and punched Hooper.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

Spokane

Federal grant will fund housing for veterans

Permanent housing will be provided to 35 homeless veterans in Spokane through $165,635 awarded to the city’s housing authority by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this week.

Northeast Washington Housing Solutions, formerly Spokane Housing Authority, will distribute the funds in the form of vouchers, said Steve Cervantes, executive director.

“We don’t have that many vacancies right now, but we’re trying to find more resources,” Cervantes said. The Department of Veterans Affairs in Spokane will identify the people to receive the assistance, he said.

Spokane has a lack of affordable housing, partly because of the recent redevelopment or closure of several buildings that offered low-rent units.

– Alison Boggs

Kootenai County

Lawsuit claims deputy abusive during arrest

A Hayden man is suing the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department for $300,000, saying he was assaulted and falsely imprisoned by a deputy while being arrested for drunken driving.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Kootenai County District Court, Michael A. Antonicchio admits he refused to exit his garage when ordered by sheriff’s Deputy Dennis Stinebaugh and accuses Stinebaugh of kicking him into a stack of bricks and forcing his face into the gravel after threatening him with a gun.

Stinebaugh arrested Antonicchio on suspicion of drunken driving after reports he rode his motorcycle on county roads while intoxicated, according to the lawsuit. Antonicchio admitted to drinking but says he rode the motorcycle on private land. A Sheriff’s Department representative declined comment.

– Meghann M. Cuniff