In brief: Suspicious fire burns Valley duplex
The Spokane Valley Fire Department is investigating a suspicious fire that badly damaged a Spokane Valley duplex early Saturday.
Fire crews responded to a fire at 3:06 a.m. to find the flames coming through the roof of the unoccupied building at 8921 E. Broadway Ave. It took 20 firefighters using six vehicles a half-hour to control the fire, which caused more than $100,000 of damage, the department said in a news release.
It was the second fire at the duplex in the last five months, the release said.
At the time of the fire, utilities had been shut off.
Feed company sees two semis catch fire
Fire destroyed two tractor-trailers at a Spokane Valley feed company Saturday afternoon.
Spokane Valley firefighters arrived at National Feed Co., 1921 N. Park Road, at 12:30 p.m. to find both rigs on fire with flames running along the ground. It appeared the fire started in the battery and hydraulic area of one of the trucks and then spread to the other truck.
Both tractors were destroyed and the trailers were extensively damaged. The department estimated the damage at as much as $350,000.
Three arrested after robbery in Tekoa
Three Plummer, Idaho, residents are suspected of committing an armed robbery at an occupied home in Tekoa, Wash., early Friday, according to the Whitman County Sheriff’s Department.
Two men and a woman are expected to be charged with first-degree robbery and burglary after they allegedly threatened the home’s two occupants with a handgun and a stun gun. Prescription medication was taken from the residence.
Whitman County deputies, working with the Benewah County Sheriff’s Office and Coeur d’Alene tribal police, later arrested William H. Lowley, 29, at a home on the 900 Block of D Street in Plummer. Lowley was taken to the Kootenai County Jail on an unrelated probation violation, and Whitman County deputies will seek to have him transferred to Washington in the robbery investigation.
Also expected to be charged in the robbery are Keith R. Greensky, 25, and Christina L. Abrahamson, 25, both of Plummer, according to a statement released by Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers.
Resort sues over damaged lift seats
SANDPOINT – A North Idaho ski resort filed a lawsuit this month against a man who allegedly slashed dozens of ski lift seat cushions over the last two winter seasons, causing nearly $70,000 in damages.
Schweitzer Mountain Resort filed a lawsuit on April 8 against David Markwardt, 62, claiming he intentionally damaged 62 cushions on five separate chair lifts.
Markwardt has 20 days to respond to the civil suit. Otherwise, he could face a default judgment.