In brief: Police seek suspect in Sunday homicide

Spokane police continue to search for homicide suspect Salvador Rivera-Romero.

He is suspected of shooting 27-year-old Aaron Cummings in the chest early Sunday.

Officer John Gately said Rivera-Romero should be considered armed and dangerous.

Police have released few details about what happened at the home near North Central High School. Rivera-Romero left the home near Spofford Avenue and Wall Street in a dark-colored Dodge Intrepid.

Anyone with information about him is asked to call 911 or Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Thomas Clouse

Man faces charges in hatchet attack

A man arrested in connection with Sunday’s hatchet attack against a woman also is accused of dragging the woman down an alley, forcing her into a garage, demanding sex and stealing her purse.

Prosecutors charged Greggory L. Pruett, 31, with first-degree assault, robbery and kidnapping. Superior Court Judge James Triplet ordered Pruett held Monday on $100,000 bond.

The woman told Spokane police that while walking in the alley behind 2002 E. First Ave. a man asked to have sex.

“She told the male no and he hit her in the head with a hatchet,” Detective Jan Pogachar wrote in court records. “She fell to the ground and the male began to drag her down the alley and dragged her into a garage. The male hit her in the head several more times with the hatchet as she screamed.”

When the woman asked her assailant why he attacked her, the man said, “Because you said ‘No,’ ” according to court records.

The woman said the man threatened to kill her.

After pulling down her pants, the assailant grabbed her purse and fled. Police found her bleeding from her head and missing several teeth.

The first police officer to arrive found two sets of shoe prints, a pool of blood and drag marks. The second set of prints led to 1805 E. First Ave., where a witness said a man known as “Reptile” had been there drinking and that he lived at 1920 E. First Ave. The officer then went to that address and found Pruett. Police discovered a pair of shoes that matched crime scene prints and a bomber jacket described by the victim. Police also found a hatchet, an ax and the woman’s purse hidden beneath a blanket.

Pruett blamed another man.

The second man said he had been at a Spokane Valley home with his girlfriend and Pruett’s wife until police called.

Thomas Clouse