Police raid two homes looking for assault suspects

Members of the Spokane gang task force served two search warrants tonight, hoping to find eight people believed responsible for a beating and robbery last month. The Spokane Violent Crime Gang Enforcement Team served warrants about 8 p.m. at 1818 E. 5th Ave. and 1911 N. Napa St., said Spokane Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe. As of 9:30 p.m., police had two women from the 5th Avenue home and a man from the Napa Street home in custody, and were looking for five other suspects. The case stems from an incident last month in which a 29-year-old man was beaten by eight people and robbed of about $20,000 in jewelry, DeRuwe said. In custody tonight are Monica R. Sanders, 32, Tasha M. Tensley, 26, and Roderick J. Thomas, age unavailable. All three face charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault and felony riot. Thomas faces an additional charge of trafficking in stolen property, DeRuwe said.