Region in brief: Diners break bread, barriers at event

Hundreds of people lined up Thursday night at a downtown Spokane church for a community dinner organized to bring awareness to poverty.

People from all walks of life snaked around Central United Methodist waiting to be seated at candlelit tables, where they dined on lasagna, garlic bread and fresh green beans. They also began to break down economic and social barriers.

“There’s no better way to get to know somebody than to sit down and break bread with them,” said Kimberly Rasp, who manages low-income apartments for the nonprofit Spokane Housing Ventures.

In its third year, the Food For Thought community meal is part of national Homeless Awareness Week. More than 1,500 people are homeless in Spokane County on any given day.

A memorial service today will honor people who died because of homelessness. It’s from noon to 1 p.m. at Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ, 411 S. Washington St.

Sara Leaming

Man charged in death of his 4-year-old son

A vehicular homicide charge was filed Thursday against the father of a 4-year-old who died near Mount Spokane in August.

Lester C. LaFleur, 35, will be arraigned Dec. 2. Gerrin P.R. LaFleur died Aug. 19 during a family firewood-gathering trip in the foothills near North Wallis Road and East Elliot Road.

Lester LaFleur told authorities the boy fell from atop his parked pickup, according to court documents. But Spokane County sheriff’s detectives concluded the truck was moving when the boy died and recommended prosecutors file the charge.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Video clerk accused of robbery he reported

A video rental clerk who reported a store robbery in September was arrested Thursday on suspicion of committing the crime himself.

Moscow, Idaho, police say an informant said Hunter Hursh and his roommate staged the Sept. 19 robbery at the Movie Gallery, 1404 S. Blaine St.

Hursh earlier told police a Hispanic man robbed the store at gunpoint. The robber concealed his face with a handkerchief and left with $848, police said.

Police said they searched Hursh’s residence, 1310 W. A St., on Thursday, recovering an airsoft pistol believed to be used in the robbery and a stolen TV.

Hursh’s roommate also faces charges, police said.

Sara Leaming

Pharmacy employee tackles fleeing suspect

A Coeur d’Alene pharmacy employee tackled a suspect in an armed robbery and held him for police Wednesday night.

Jason Anthony Wahl, 28, appeared in Kootenai County District Court on robbery and assault charges Thursday after police arrested him at the Shopko pharmacy, 217 W. Ironwood Drive.

When police arrived, an employee was on top of him struggling to get control of a handgun, Sgt. Christie Wood said.

The worker tackled the suspect as he tried to run from the store with drugs, police said. Wood declined to name the drug. Wahl told police he lives in Lewiston.

A jail booking sheet lists his address as being in Pomeroy, Wash.

Meghann M. Cuniff