In brief: West Central man may be charged with arson

Arson investigators with the Spokane Fire Department may recommend charging a West Central man with arson, saying he threw a Molotov cocktail through the window of his residence.

Nobody was injured in the incident, which happened Monday morning in the 1800 block of West Gardner Avenue, according to Spokane police.

The man told police he was the victim of a racially motivated crime, but investigators, who spent Monday interviewing witnesses, victims and neighbors, believe he actually perpetrated the attempted arson.

Nicole Hensley

Natural gas leak closes Idaho senior center

A natural gas leak in the furnace system forced the Post Falls Senior Center to close its doors Tuesday, though it remained open to voters until the polls closed.

The center, at 1215 E. Third Ave., may reopen by Tuesday if repairs to the furnace system, duct work and ventilation can be completed, Executive Director Alison McArthur said.

Repairs will cost an estimated $25,000, and the senior center is seeking donations to cover the expense, McArthur added.

Daily hot lunches have been suspended during the closure, but the center’s Meals on Wheels program will continue delivering meals to housebound seniors.

Information: (208) 773-9582 or pfsc78@roadrunner.com.

Chelsea Bannach

Deputies shock man walking on interstate

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies used a Taser to shock a man walking along Interstate 90 on Tuesday after he allegedly struck a deputy.

The man, later identified as 28-year-old Kortny Duback, appeared to be under the influence of some type of stimulant, according to Spokane County sheriff’s spokesman Craig Chamberlin.

He was reportedly walking up and down the eastbound shoulder between the Argonne and Evergreen on-ramps when deputies arrived.

Duback refused to take his hands out of his pants, Chamberlin said, and was ordered to the ground. When a deputy attempted to handcuff him, Duback hit the deputy in the face, Chamberlin said.

Deputies shocked Duback and took him into custody. He was booked into Spokane County Jail on suspicion of felony third-degree assault, possession of methamphetamine and a misdemeanor charge of obstruction.

Nicole Hensley