Region in brief: Charges dropped against legislator
Domestic violence charges against a Democratic state representative have been dropped and Rep. Geoff Simpson, of Covington, Wash., says he plans to run for re-election.
According to court papers filed Wednesday, the prosecutor for the south King County suburb says he no longer believes there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges.
Simpson was arrested in April after a dispute between the legislator and his ex-wife.
He had been charged in King County District Court with fourth-degree assault and interfering with a domestic violence report.
In an e-mail to supporters, Simpson says he’s on track to run for re-election and plans to resume the chairmanship of the House Local Government Committee, from which he temporarily stepped down.
Blaine, Wash.
Marijuana bust yields 144 pounds
The U.S. Border Patrol says its agents seized 144 pounds of marijuana that apparently was smuggled into the United States from Canada east of Blaine.
An agency news release says the smuggling was discovered with its remote video surveillance network.
Nothing was found when agents responded to the scene, but an agent who remained on the site heard objects being dragged across the ground about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and observed people moving between a brushy area and a vehicle.
The vehicle sped away, but was later found abandoned. It contained two hockey bags stuffed with the marijuana.
Three suspects were later arrested when they were tracked and found hiding in a creek bed about a half-mile away. Their names were not immediately released.
Spokane County
Information on escapees sought
Crime Stoppers is offering cash for information leading to the arrests of three career criminals all wanted for escape.
Susan M. Whipple, Marvin E. Blomquist and Jessie Patrick Budinger each has a 21-year criminal history, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Dave Reagan.
Whipple, 45, has been convicted for drug possession, theft and possession of stolen property. Blomquist, 56, has a conviction record that includes intimidation with a weapon, driving on a suspended license, DUI, violation of a court order, drug possession, assault, riot, possession of stolen property and criminal trespass, Reagan said. And Budinger, 41, has been convicted of malicious mischief, domestic violence assault, lewdness, drug possession, forgery and burglary.
Anyone with information is asked to call (509) 327-5111. Tipsters do not have to give their name to collect a reward, but should leave a code name or number.
SANDPOINT
Boss fills up workers’ gas tanks
About 140 employees of the nutritional supplement company Thorne Research got an unexpected perk when their boss decided to make their daily commute a little easier to bear.
CEO Al Czap spent Thursday filling up gas tanks for his employees, calling the more than $10,000 outlay a “thank you gift” for his crew.
Steve Clark, the general manager of Thorne Research, says as gas prices keep climbing some employees find themselves spending a whole day’s pay just to gas up.
Czap says he’s planning two more giveaways this summer.