Searches of homes lead to drug arrest
A 48-year-old Medical Lake man was arrested Thursday after Spokane County Sheriff’s Office detectives seized more than 30 pounds of marijuana and thousands of dollars from his two residences.
Joseph Richard Deana was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, said Sgt. Dave Reagan, sheriff’s spokesman.
Detectives served a search warrant at 104 W. Sixth and seized a quarter-pound of marijuana, nearly a half-pound of cocaine, and a small amount of heroin, Reagan said. Another quarter-pound of pot and $3,000 cash were found in a car at the home, he said.
A second warrant was served at 528 S. Lake, where detectives found another 30 pounds of marijuana, more than $45,000 in cash and three firearms, Reagan said.
Fugitive sought on several charges
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force are seeking information leading to the arrest of a 30-year-old fugitive wanted on multiple warrants.
Michael Deon Phipps is wanted on charges of domestic battery, stalking and violation of protection orders. He is considered armed and has displayed violent tendencies, officials said.
Phipps is black, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 185 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. He may be in the Spokane or Coeur d’Alene areas.
Anyone with information can call (208) 665-1471. Reward money is available, and callers do not have to leave their own name to be eligible.
Access restricted on Mount Spokane
Starting next week, the main road into Mount Spokane State Park will be closed to public access Mondays through Thursdays until mid-October.
Hikers and cyclists will have daily access to the park on trails and roads that are not under construction in this fourth phase of improvements to Mount Spokane Park Road. Free parking will be available in a designated area at Bear Creek Lodge.
Owners of property within the park will be allowed access at two-hour intervals.
The road closure may extend through a few weekends later in the summer when a culvert is installed, said Steve Christensen, park manager.
Drug enforcers also get a goat
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office seized $468,000 worth of marijuana Wednesday.
Darrell Engelbreston, 39, and Hubert Mangum, 54, both of East Wenatchee, Wash., were arrested on suspicion of manufacturing marijuana with intent to distribute, officials said. Mangum also was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
Detectives searched the site in an old building near the Rock Island Dam and found 182 marijuana plants, 47 firearms and cases of ammunition, and more than $4,000 in cash. An additional 49 plants were found at two other locations, officials said.
Detectives also witnessed one suspect beating a goat with a shovel, and the animal was turned over to the Humane Society.
Idaho limits free child vaccinations
Cuts to the state budget mean Idaho no longer will provide free vaccinations to all children.
Families with health insurance that covers immunizations now will be billed for childhood vaccinations, the Panhandle Health District said in a news release Wednesday.
Idaho has provided free vaccinations for all children since 1994, but the Legislature cut $2.8 million from its immunization budget for 2010, making state-supplied vaccines for all children impossible, the release said.
The state will continue to provide vaccinations for children with no health insurance, whose health insurance doesn’t cover vaccines or who are Alaska Native or Native American, the release said.