In brief: Marijuana advocate released on bond

A medical marijuana advocate jailed for violating the conditions of his pretrial release on federal drug charges will get a second chance.

Jerry Wayne Laberdee, 57, was ordered to be released from jail Monday while awaiting trial on charges related to his work with a Spokane medical marijuana dispensary. But U.S. Magistrate Cynthia Imbrogno imposed bond and called for frequent status conferences to ensure Laberdee complies with his release conditions, which include drug tests and refraining from excessive use of alcohol.

Family members said Laberdee was on a hunger strike at the Spokane County Jail, where he’d been since he turned himself in last month after violating conditions of his initial pretrial release. Lincoln County sheriff’s officials found marijuana plants at his home on Aug. 12.

Suspect Tasered, held on burglary charge

A burglary suspect was shocked with a Taser after refusing to exit a garage in Spokane Valley early Sunday, police said Monday.

Joshua Steven Coates, 31, “continued to resist and was forcibly taken to the ground and handcuffed” after the Taser was deployed in the 400 block of South McKee Street, according to a news release by Spokane Valley police Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Officers were called to the home about 3 a.m. by a resident who awoke to the sound of a burglar prowling on his back deck and kicking in a door to the garage, Reagan said.

Officers Mark Brownell and Seth Berrow found Coates inside the garage and said he appeared intoxicated and refused to obey commands.

“The suspect later told Officer Lamont Petersen that he thought he was at his ex-wife’s home and hadn’t kicked any doors,” Reagan said. “The homeowner told police he didn’t know Coates and that he had feared for his life and the life of his sleeping 5-year-old daughter.”

Coates was booked into jail on charges of residential burglary and resisting arrest.

Rape suspect misses pretrial hearing

A reward has been posted for a competitive mixed-martial arts fighter who didn’t show up Monday for his trial on charges that he raped and molested a girl.

Michael L. Mininger, 30, is wanted on a $25,000 warrant after missing a pre-trail conference Sept. 2 in Spokane County Superior Court, where he was to stand trial this week on two counts of first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree child molestation. Mininger is accused of raping the girl over a period of three years. She was 9 when he was arraigned.

Crime Stoppers announced a reward for tips that lead to his arrest.

He was arrested June 11, 2010, but has been out of jail on $10,000 bond since June 17, 2010. Mininger has no criminal convictions.

He’s 5-foot-7 and 165 pounds and last gave a home address in the 11900 block of East Mansfield Avenue in Spokane Valley, according to Crime Stoppers. Anyone with information on his location is asked to call (800) 222-TIPS or submit tips online.

Owners cited for leaving dogs in car

Authorities are reminding pet owners not to leave their animals in locked cars after the owners of two dogs were cited at the Spokane County Interstate Fair on Sunday.

SCRAPS animal protection officer Ashley Brown found two dogs inside a locked vehicle at the fairgrounds that was 144 degrees inside, according to a news release.

The owners returned to the car as Brown was preparing to remove the dogs and said they had only been at the fair for about an hour. They were charged with two counts each of confinement in an unsafe manner.

SCRAPS has received several calls about similar situations at the fair.