In brief: Fatal crash suspect in jail
A Spokane man accused of causing a crash that killed his passenger turned himself in to police Tuesday, one day after a reward was offered for tips that led to his arrest.
Lyle David Eutsler, 26, appeared in Spokane County Superior Court on Wednesday via video from the jail, where he is being held on a vehicular homicide charge.
Investigators believe Eutsler was intoxicated and speeding in February when he crashed his red Mazda MX-6 into a pine tree while eastbound on Magnesium Road approaching Market Street.
Deputies arrived to find Eutsler dragging himself away from the driver’s door while two women remained trapped inside the crumpled car.
One, 42-year-old Tina L. Patterson, died of her injuries about 45 minutes later.
Eutsler was charged this month after toxicology reports showed his blood-alcohol level to be 0.12 and indicated he’d recently smoked marijuana.
Government sells Seattle strip club
SEATTLE – Uncle Sam, having no interest in running a cabaret, has sold one of Seattle’s most notorious strip clubs.
On Wednesday, the federal government got rid of Rick’s on Lake City Way for $2.35 million at an auction. The property was seized last fall by investigators as part of a wide-ranging racketeering investigation of Frank Colacurcio, Seattle’s most famous organized-crime figure.
Paul Baxley of the U.S. Marshals declined to say who bought the club but called the sale a successful one. He says the government was hoping for $2 million.
The auction took place at the club.
Burning banned on state lands
The Washington state Department of Natural Resources will implement a statewide burn ban on all its protected lands.
The ban will be in effect Friday to Sept. 30 and applies to all forestlands in Washington except for federal lands, according to a department news release.
The ban applies to all outdoor burning, with the exception of recreational fires in approved fire pits within designated city, county or state campgrounds, DNR-prescribed fires to enhance or restore fire-dependent ecosystems and forest health, and as approved in writing by DNR.
Tribal police get full authority
PORTLAND – The Oregon Legislature has voted to give tribal police officers the same authority as nontribal officers outside of reservations.
Representatives approved the measure Wednesday over the objections of Republicans who said it doesn’t provide enough oversight of the tribal officers.
Gov. John Kitzhaber is expected to sign the bill.
It would give tribal officers the power to continue pursuing suspects who leave tribal land. Officers could also make an arrest if a crime is committed in front of them.
Man accused of VA clinic threat
EUGENE – A 71-year-old man accused of threatening a Veterans Affairs clinic manager in Eugene, Ore., and pointing a shotgun at a federal police officer was taken into custody after a SWAT team lobbed a percussion grenade.
Police say Milan Jackie Boon of nearby Creswell was cited Wednesday for menacing, pointing a firearm at another person, unlawful use of a firearm and disorderly conduct. The Register-Guard reports the man was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation. He was not seriously injured, Lt. Doug Mozan said.
Police and a VA spokeswoman say an agitated veteran arrived at the clinic Wednesday morning complaining about poor service, then told the operations manager he would shoot her with a shotgun.
The man retrieved a shotgun from his vehicle and, while outside the clinic, pointed it at a VA police officer stationed there, VA spokeswoman Sharon Carlson said.
Police say SWAT officers set off the grenade because the man hadn’t fully complied with their negotiator’s instructions to surrender.