In brief: Idaho hockey team’s equipment taken

Sun., Feb. 3, 2013

A hockey team from Idaho lost thousands of dollars of gear Friday when a Spokane thief stole their truck.

KHQ-TV reported that the Idaho Vandals Club Hockey Team was in town to play Washington State University in Cheney. Four team members were staying in Spokane and stowed their gear in teammate Spencer Wolfe’s truck. Wolfe has a keyless-pad opener on his driver’s side door, so he left his keys in the truck. Someone broke in, stole the truck and used it in an attempted armed robbery. The truck was found Saturday near Antoine Peak.

The team is worried about its gear, which was missing. Four gear bags were gone, as well as six pairs of skates and 25 jerseys. The jerseys alone are valued at about $100 each. The four players were expected to sit out Saturday’s game.

Anyone wanting to donate to the team can visit www.vandalhockey.com.>

Residents, dog uninjured in house fire

Four adults and one big, shaggy dog escaped unharmed Saturday when a Spokane Valley home was badly damaged by fire.

Firefighters cut through the roof and ceiling to extinguish the fire that was reported about 4 p.m. Saturday at 915 N. Vista Road. Valley Fire Capt. Pat Schaffer said the attic and garage were severely damaged and the rest of the house was filled with smoke.

The two-bedroom, 550-square-foot house was built in 1943, according to county records. The Red Cross was helping the occupants.

Gregory Jeffreys back in jail after mistake

Despite a judge’s ruling Friday ordering Gregory D. Jeffreys held in the Spokane County Jail without bond, he was inadvertently released from the jail Friday night, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Once the mistake was realized, local law enforcement as well as U.S. marshals and the FBI were notified, Deputy Craig Chamberlin said in a news release Saturday.

An FBI agent contacted Jeffreys’ attorney, and Jeffreys turned himself back into jail at 6:15 a.m. Saturday.

Chamberlin said an internal investigation is under way to find out how Jeffreys was released.

The 53-year-old Spokane developer faces 73 felony counts of fraud and money-laundering charges in which federal prosecutors allege he; his girlfriend, Shannon Stiltner; and his wife, Kimberly Jeffreys, used forged documents to defraud banks and others to invest in buildings that often didn’t exist.

Mask found, suspect held in CdA robbery

Coeur d’Alene police believe they have arrested the man who wore a SpongeBob SquarePants mask during a robbery of Lean Bean Espresso.

Kyle Earnest Campbell, 24, was arrested Friday after police received a tip that helped identify Campbell as the suspect. Police obtained a search warrant of Campbell’s home at 310 Seltice Way in Worley, Idaho.

Detectives found a SpongeBob SquarePants mask at his home and believe it is the one used in Wednesday’s robbery at the coffee stand. Police said the robber entered the store wearing the mask, pointed a gun at the two employees and demanded cash.