Prosecutor charges police sergeant

A Medical Lake police sergeant has been charged with fourth-degree assault with sexual motivations for allegedly touching a female co-worker’s breast in January.

The crime is a gross misdemeanor, Deputy Prosecutor Brian O’Brien said Tuesday.

The county prosecutor’s office decided to pursue the charge after reviewing the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the Medical Lake employee’s complaint against Sgt. Joe Mehrens.

The sergeant, a 12-year Police Department veteran, has been on paid administrative leave since late August. City Administrator Doug Ross said Tuesday that Mehrens will remain on leave pending the outcome of a trial. Mehrens makes $48,734 a year.

The woman said the incident occurred in January, the same month the sergeant was named interim police chief. Mehrens was disciplined internally, but officials refused to say how.

The employee claimed Mehrens retaliated against her in written and verbal communications after her complaint. Mehrens remained interim chief until Aug. 2, when the woman filed a criminal complaint. He was on active duty until she filed a restraining order Aug. 21.

Ponderay, Idaho

Man jailed over infant’s injuries

A Ponderay, Idaho, man accused of severely injuring his month-old son in August is back in Bonner County Jail.

Bobby Daniel Adams, 25, is charged with one felony count of child injury to Dominick Adams. His bond is set at $100,000.

Adams was initially arrested Sept. 5, but a judge ordered his release Sept. 25 after determining prosecutors had insufficient evidence. Adams was re-arrested within hours of his release after Bonner County Prosecutor Phil Robinson presented additional evidence.

The infant’s injuries were so serious he suffered seizures and cardiac arrest during his transfer from the county hospital to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He has been placed in foster care by the Department of Health and Welfare.

Adams’ preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 8, said Bonner County Undersheriff Doug Harris.

Natasha Wood, the baby’s mother, was not home when the injuries were inflicted, Robinson said last month.

Spokane

Dinner will benefit injured soldier

A benefit dinner and auction for a Spokane soldier injured in Iraq will be held Friday at the Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley.

U.S. Army Spc. Wes Hixon, 23, suffered severe injuries in February when a roadside bomb destroyed the Stryker armored vehicle he was riding in. Four soldiers died.

Hixon has undergone surgeries at Puget Sound VA Hospital in Seattle, where he’s been since March.

Friday’s auction is sponsored by Greater Spokane Inc. Anyone wishing to donate money or auction items, buy tickets or sponsor a table should call Teri Fisher at (509) 879-8701 or Dianna Brown at (509) 921-6856. Donations also can be made at any Washington Mutual bank or through http://pfcweshixon.com/.

The event begins at 6 p.m.

Spokane Valley

Help sought finding woman

Spokane Valley police are seeking help in finding a 36-year-old woman reported missing Friday.

Jennifer K. Barrett, who has a borderline personality disorder, left her apartment in the 1800 block of North Hutchinson Road on Thursday, according to police. She left without telling her roommate her destination, which is unusual, the roommate told police.

Barrett is white, 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. She has blond hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information regarding Barrett’s whereabouts is asked to call 911.

Snohomish, Wash.

Flammable liquid detected at fire

Authorities are investigating whether a mobile-home fire that killed two adult sisters and two school-age girls Tuesday was arson or an accident.

A K-9 dog detected a type of flammable hydrocarbon liquid in the ruins of the home, said Deputy Fire Chief Ron Simmons of Snohomish County Fire District 4.

The family moved in over the weekend, said Sherree Simpson, who manages the 44-unit Snohomish Mobile Home and RV Park.

Names of the victims were not immediately available.

The adult sisters, 28 and 25, arrived in the U.S. from Guadalajara, Mexico, four years ago, said Michaela Villa Senor, the women’s cousin.

The two girls, ages 7 and 4, were the children of one of the sisters, Simmons said.

Monroe, Wash.

Armored car robber flees using river

Monroe police say a man armed with pepper spray robbed an armored car guard, then escaped via the Skykomish River.

Police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said the guard was sprayed about 11 a.m. Tuesday while exiting a Bank of America branch. Willis said the robber, believed to be in his 20s, escaped with an undetermined amount of money.

Willis said the robber, carrying the bag of money, raced about 100 yards to a creek that runs into the river, shedding clothes as he ran. One witness said the man floated off on an inner tube, but another witness said he swam away.

Rosario, Wash.

Historic resort sold at auction

The historic 74-acre Rosario Resort in the San Juan Islands was sold at auction Tuesday, but the previous owner won’t discuss the buyer or the purchase price.

The buyer, who lives in the Puget Sound region, beat out 10 other bidders in a live auction that lasted about 40 minutes, said Laurie Cameron, of Olympus Real Estate Partners, of Dallas.