In brief: County commission candidates to debate
Candidates for Spokane County Commission will face off this evening in student-led debates hosted by Central Valley High School’s Government Club.
The club also has invited the candidates in the race in state House District 4 between incumbent Republican Matt Shea and Democrat Amy Biviano. Biviano is scheduled to attend. Shea has not responded to phone calls and emails inviting him to participate, said Central Valley teacher Bill Gilchrist.
Candidates for Spokane County commissioner in District 1, incumbent Republican Todd Mielke and Democrat John Roskelley, are scheduled to debate, as are the candidates for District 2, Republican Shelly O’Quinn and Democrat Daryl Romeyn.
The event also will include student debates about state ballot issues on same-sex marriage, legalizing marijuana and charter schools.
The event, which is free and open to the public, starts at 5 p.m. at Central Valley High School, 821 S. Sullivan Road. Debates start at 5:45 p.m.
Paramedic assaulted at call, deputy says
A man allegedly assaulted a Spokane Valley Fire paramedic on Monday evening while he and a partner treated a woman for a seizure, authorities said.
While the Station 1 paramedic treated the patient, 51-year-old William J. Nachtwey became hostile toward the paramedic, grabbed him by the shirt collar and shoulder and demanded the crew leave the trailer in the 9500 block of East Fourth Avenue, Spokane County sheriff’s spokesman Craig Chamberlin said in a news release.
The paramedic pushed Nachtwey away and he tripped over a coffee table, the release said. When Nachtwey got up, he confronted them again, in a boxing stance.
Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene. Nachtwey was arrested on a third-degree assault charge after he also tripped over a garbage can outside the trailer, the release said.
The woman was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for further treatment. Neither Nachtwey nor the paramedic was injured.
Suspect in incident to be evaluated
A man accused of kidnapping and robbery in the Gonzaga University area will undergo a competency evaluation.
Police say 34-year-old Travis D. Floyd tried to steal a woman’s cellphone and kidnap her as she walked through the neighborhood near Geno’s Restaurant on Oct. 10.
The victim fled into the bar and Floyd followed her inside where he reportedly told patrons he had a gun and grabbed one victim around the neck, police say.
Floyd was apprehended after a police dog bit his leg.
Floyd appeared in Superior Court on Tuesday morning, and his defense attorney, Stephen C. Heintz, requested more time for an evaluation at Eastern State Hospital before the case proceeds.
The request for a 15-day evaluation stay was granted, according to Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sharon L. Hedlund.
Gun show trips up wanted ex-convict
WALLA WALLA – A man who tried to buy firearms with no paperwork at a Walla Walla gun show was arrested after he was recognized as a wanted ex-convict by off-duty officers at the same event.
The 20-year-old also made the mistake of attempting to buy guns at a booth manned by off-duty Washington State Patrol Sgt. Mike Eggleston.
The man was unable to buy any weapons last weekend, and he was arrested for a Department of Corrections violation as he left the county fairgrounds building, the Union-Bulletin reported.