In brief: Help sought in finding missing man

Spokane County sheriff’s detectives are asking for the public’s help to locate a 51-year-old Greenacres man who disappeared April 24 after an argument with his wife.

Christopher R. Milam had been drinking April 23, and after they argued, his wife hid all the car keys so he could not drive, according to a news release by sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan. When she awoke Saturday morning, Milam was gone.

Milam’s wife told detectives it appeared he took medication and $400 or $500 but left his wallet, identification and credit cards at their home in the 19800 block of East First Court.

She said the couple recently moved here from Texas and that Milam has no local family. She said he was carrying a cellphone, but that it is either shut off or the battery is dead and it is not working.

Detectives have checked locally and with law enforcement in Texas but have found no sign of Milam.

Milam is described as 5-foot-8 and about 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on Milam’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Recycling urged instead of bag ban

SALEM – An Oregon Representative proposed the state meet certain recycling goals instead of banning plastic grocery bags.

Republican Rep. Vic Gilliam of Silverton suggested the amendment to a bill that would outlaw the bags. The amendment would avoid a ban if by next year, 20 percent of all plastic bags sold in Oregon are recycled.

The recycling goals would increase by 20 percent every year through 2015. The amendment would also require manufacturers to report the number of plastic checkout bags sold to Oregon retailers.

Democratic Sen. Mark Hass of Beaverton, a proponent of a bag ban, says the goal is to get the bags off beaches and roadways.

Opponents of the plastic bag ban have said the state needs a recycling program rather than a ban.

Inmate released without wheelchair

PORTLAND – Multnomah County is investigating the case of a disabled inmate who wound up crawling from the downtown Portland jail when he was released because his wheelchair could not be located.

Chief deputy of corrections Mike Shults said it’s not common practice “for anyone to crawl out of our custody.”

Portland police arrested 37-year-old Scott Hamilton on Sunday evening for sitting in his wheelchair, drinking a beer on public property. He was sought on an earlier arrest warrant for the same offense, so officers drove him to the jail, giving him a receipt for the wheelchair.

Hamilton lost his lower right leg in a motorcycle accident.

When he was released early Monday, his wheelchair was nowhere to be found. The Oregonian said Hamilton wound up scooting on his rear out through the jail lobby doors.

Police spokesman Pete Simpson says the wheelchair was eventually located at the police property warehouse.