In brief: Man injured in multiple-vehicle crash
A five-car pileup left one man with minor injuries and clogged traffic Friday along Interstate 90 in Post Falls.
Ivan Kuhnhausen, 27, of Coeur d’Alene, was westbound on the interstate about 2:30 p.m. when he stopped his 1995 Dodge pickup to retrieve a ladder that fell off the back of the truck, said the Idaho State Police. Four other vehicles swerved to avoid the truck, which partially blocked the far left westbound lane, and the vehicles crashed into one another, the ISP said. A Dalton Gardens man, 63, was treated for minor injuries.
Front ushers in cold temperatures
Blowing dust was reported in Grant County on Friday, and cold temperatures were swept into the Inland Northwest on an arctic front that sets the stage for several cold nights.
The afternoon temperature Friday in Spokane was 43 degrees, which would have set a record for the coldest maximum for the date, except that it was 48 at midnight at Spokane International Airport.
Lows before dawn this morning were expected to be 19 in Spokane and 17 in Coeur d’Alene. The records for today’s date are 25 in Spokane and 27 in Coeur d’Alene. Lows could drop an additional 2 degrees Sunday morning and continue in the upper teens Monday morning before the weather starts to warm up, the National Weather Service said. Highs today and Sunday should only reach the upper 30s to lower 40s.
Ice cream store robber gets cold cash
A Baskin-Robbins on the South Hill was robbed late Thursday by a man who pointed a black canister at an employee and threatened to spray her with it.
The employee of the store, 1230 S. Grand Blvd., gave the man an undisclosed amount of money for fear of being sprayed with a chemical, Spokane police said. The robber ran away carrying a green canvas bag.
He was white, 5-foot-10 and thin with scruffy facial hair. He was wearing sunglasses and a white, hooded sweatshirt with black stripes on the sleeves. Anyone with information about the robbery can call (509) 242-TIPS.
Store’s art festival aids Shriners hospital
A fair-trade store at NorthTown Mall is holding an art festival this weekend, with proceeds from admission and an auction to benefit Spokane’s Shriners Hospital for Children.
Devtan Trading Co. is hosting the event today from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. It will feature the works of about 100 artists, said Polly Dingman, owner of Devtan. Admission costs $1. Donated artwork and items from local businesses will be auctioned beginning at 3 p.m. today.
Car hits pedestrian in Spokane Valley
A pedestrian was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center after being hit by a car Thursday night on Trent Avenue in Spokane Valley.
Timothy Lee Doud, 21, of Spokane Valley, was walking west on a sidewalk and suddenly went into the road, where he was struck by a 1992 Toyota Corolla about 11:15 p.m. near the highway intersection with Woodlawn Road, according to the Washington State Patrol.
The driver was identified as Michael J. Murphy, 57, of Spokane. Troopers said Doud would be cited for a pedestrian violation.
Tipsy talk triggers arrest in burglaries
A tip that originated from drunken bragging gave Spokane Valley police information that let them bag one burglary suspect and develop a case against another.
Jesse Leroy Brown, 18, was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly got drunk on stolen booze and bragged to others, said Sgt. Dave Reagan, police spokesman. Brown was booked on three counts of second-degree burglary.
He is accused of breaking into the Hotteez night club, 20 N. Raymond St.; the Broadway Mini Market, 10304 E. Broadway Ave.; and Beyond Beads Gallery, 12021 E. Sprague Ave. Brown is believed to have teamed with Leon M. Gibson, 21, who is wanted on suspicion of burglary.
A search warrant was served early Thursday at Gibson’s residence, which led to a search at a second location in Spokane Valley. Between the two locations, officers recovered about 50 bottles of alcoholic beverages taken from Hotteez, stolen computers, flat-screen televisions, a laptop computer and 200 packs of Ace brand cigarettes, Reagan said.
Driver identified in fatal one-car crash
The driver in a fatal accident on a remote road on the West Plains was identified Thursday as a 44-year-old Spokane man. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office erroneously reported that the victim of the crash Wednesday night was a 17-year-old boy.
The man was identified as James C. Johnson, said sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan. Johnson was eastbound on Williams Lake Road approaching Rock Lake Road when he drifted off the shoulder, Reagan said. Johnson’s 2003 Honda slid, hit an embankment and went end-over-end before resting on its top. Deputies said the car was going about 80 mph. The speed limit is 45 mph.
Johnson died at the scene. Emergency crews said he smelled of alcohol, but toxicology results won’t be available for several weeks, Reagan said.