Boy recovered in police raid was threatened with a chain saw

A 12-year-old boy found Tuesday in a Spokane Valley home raided by police reportedly had been hit, shoved, made to pick up dog feces with his bare hands for hours and threatened with a running chain saw. According to court documents, Robert D. Pearson admitted to police he threatened the boy with the chain saw and said he would cut the boy into little pieces and make him disappear, making the boy curl up in a ball on a couch in terror. Pearson told police he was trying to “spook” the boy, who had been brought to him by the boy’s father to be disciplined for stealing. Police raided the home looking for stolen property. The boy’s father allegedly assaulted him in Idaho and is now in the Kootenai County Jail facing a charge of cruelty to a child. Police officers saw recent bruises on the boy’s chest and neck, according to court documents. Pearson was ordered held on $25,000 bond during a brief court appearance Wednesday after being charged with harassment (threats to kill), possession of a controlled substance and trafficking in stolen property. According to court documents, police believe Pearson and his accomplice, Dennis M. Blessing, routinely bought and sold items stolen in local burglaries. Blessing was ordered held on a $7,500 bond during his court appearance Wednesday. Seven other people were detained for questioning after the search warrants were served at 4609 N. Calvin and 14323 E. Longfellow but were not arrested, Spokane Valley Police spokesman Deputy Mark Gregory said. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are likely, Gregory said.