In brief: Developer wants to clear up warrant

Harry Green, the developer of a multiuse project along the Spokane River in Post Falls, is calling a recent warrant for his arrest a misunderstanding he hopes to clear up soon with Post Falls legal officials.

An employee in the convenience store at Green’s Post Falls marina illegally sold a couple of beers last summer – the day after Green left town in the wake of a brother’s death. The marina store does not have a license to sell alcohol and Green said the employee ignored a directive to refrain from selling alcohol.

He subsequently fired the employee.

Green was cited for the misdemeanor as owner of the store, but missed a court date regarding the matter. It was a mix-up, he said, as he coped with the cancer death of yet another brother late last year.

He said his lawyer was attempting to work out an arrangement to settle the legal infraction this week.

Post Falls City Prosecutor Joel Ryan did not return two messages left at his office.

Green said he is embarrassed and perplexed about the warrant, adding, “The marina is a $2.7 million investment and I wouldn’t risk it by selling some beer for a few bucks.”

John Stucke

Man convicted in threat to officer

A jury has convicted a Spokane man of felony harassment for threatening to kill a Spokane police officer.

Rudy Ray Cordova, 38, was acquitted of fourth-degree domestic assault, which is the suspected crime that brought him in contact with Officer Chris McMurtrey.

Cordova’s lawyer, Doug Phelps, questioned McMurtrey at trial about his support for former Spokane Officer Karl Thompson. Phelps pointed out that McMurtrey said he feared Cordova in part because of his felony convictions but did not fear Thompson even though he, too, is a convicted felon.

It apparently didn’t sway jurors, who returned the guilty verdict on Thursday. Cordova is now awaiting sentencing on the felony harassment charge.

McMurtrey had arrested Cordova on suspicion of domestic violence assault Feb. 26 when Cordova told him, “That’s how people died, by taking the wrong people to jail. … Don’t worry. I’ll get out tomorrow and find out where you guys live. I’ve been to prison,” according to court testimony.

Meghann M. Cuniff