In brief: Child struck by father’s truck
A Liberty Lake toddler suffered serious head injuries after her father accidentally ran over her with his truck Friday.
The toddler is expected to survive, said Detective David Thornburg, Spokane County sheriff’s spokesman.
Authorities said the parents were leaving their home on the 2400 block of Chase Lane when the incident occurred about 3:42 p.m. The father was getting ready to move a Dodge Ram pickup from the side of the garage and the mother, who had to run inside for something, set the toddler down next to it. The father thought the toddler was still with the mother when he began to back up and ran over the 18-month-old girl.
The parents left for the hospital and flagged down an ambulance at Mission Avenue and Molter Road so paramedics could take over.
Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be factors, Thornburg said, and the father gave a voluntary blood sample.
The Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
Burn ban in effect; fog a danger
High pressure and light winds are allowing stagnant air to linger across much of Eastern Washington and North Idaho, and it could continue into next week.
An air stagnation advisory is in effect until noon Tuesday. Due to the limited movement of air mass across much of the Inland Northwest, pollution could increase to dangerous levels; those with respiratory illnesses will be particularly susceptible to the effects of pollutants trapped near Earth’s surface.
A weak weather system moving in today could offer a minor improvement in air quality but will not provide long-term relief.
A Stage 1 burn ban is in effect in Spokane County. Only EPA-certified wood-burning devices and pellet stoves are allowed. For more information, visit www.spokanecleanair.org.
A freezing fog advisory is also in effect, and foggy conditions could compromise travel conditions as fog droplets freeze on road surfaces and visibility is reduced.
In Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, fog is forecast through Monday.
Steak-knife-wielding man arrested
A man brandishing a steak knife was taken into custody after a standoff with Spokane police that began about 11:40 a.m. Saturday.
Police responded to a domestic dispute on the 600 block of East Nora Avenue after the man broke his brother-in-law’s window, according to a Spokane Police Department news release. Before officers arrived, the man, who has not been identified, armed himself with a large steak knife and threatened to “kill officers” when they arrived.
The suspect fled but was located in the 400 block of East Indiana Avenue, the news release said. Police said when they made contact with him, he waved the knife at police then held it to his own neck.
Indiana was closed while a hostage negotiator spoke with the man, who surrendered and was taken into custody without incident 30 minutes later. He was transported to a hospital to be treated for a pre-existing heart condition.
Spokane police are investigating. It is unknown whether the man was charged with a crime.
One hurt when car hits semitruck
A Medical Lake man is in critical condition after a collision with a semitruck early Saturday on Interstate 90 about 20 miles west of Ritzville, Wash.
Authorities said alcohol or drugs were a factor in the 3:53 a.m. crash.
David James Palmieri, 22, was eastbound on I-90 in the westbound lanes, according to a Washington State Patrol news release. Michael S. Valentine, 32, of Post Falls, was westbound on I-90 in a semi when Palmieri drove his Nissan Altima onto the shoulder, lost control and struck the truck.
It is unknown if Palmieri, who was transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, was wearing a seat belt. Valentine was uninjured.
The WSP is investigating the crash.
Disappearance still a mystery
ESTACADA, Ore. – The disappearance of an epileptic Portland man who left a carload of people and walked into the woods west of Estacada remains a mystery.
Steven Moline left the car during a trip to Bagby Hot Springs in June. He hasn’t been seen since.
His mother has not given up looking for him, and blames the people in the car for his disappearance.
The people in the car say they’ve been unfairly depicted by Moline’s parents as having something to do with his disappearance.
The driver of the car, Ruth Lockwood, told the Associated Press that she couldn’t convince Moline to return to the car.
Lockwood said she reported Moline’s disappearance immediately.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search on July 16 but found no trace of Moline.
Guilty plea in fatal stabbing
TACOMA – A Tacoma man has pleaded guilty to stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death while their daughter held a slumber party in the next room.
Alphonso Albert Bell faces 38 years in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 3 in the death of Georgia Gunzer.
Pierce County prosecutors say Bell stabbed Gunzer as many as 30 times during the early morning hours of Jan. 22.
The attack took place in the bedroom of an apartment Gunzer shared with Bell and their daughter. Court documents show the girl and some friends were asleep in the living room at the time.
Gunzer had petitioned for a protection order against Bell three months before her death, but a court officer refused because Gunzer had visited Bell in jail at least six times.