In brief: Wolf attacks are suspected cause of death of commissioner’s sheep

More sheep have been killed by a wolf or wolves in northwestern Whitman County since the county’s first attack in decades occurred on Dec. 9.

On Tuesday, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officials investigated three dead sheep where about 1,200 sheep are being pastured in stubble fields near the Spokane and Lincoln county borders.

One of three Anatolian shepherds protecting the sheep has been missing for about a week and is presumed dead, the ranchers said. The mother and sister of the missing 4-year-old male dog also were with the sheep but are unharmed.

Both wolf depredation events occurred on sheep belonging to Whitman County Commissioner Art Swannack near his ranch north of Lamont.

Wildlife officials confirmed on Wednesday that one pregnant ewe was killed by a wolf or wolves. The other two sheep could not positively be confirmed as wolf kills because the remains were too sparse, said Nate Pamplin, the agency’s assistant director in Olympia.

“Apparently, some of the sheep got out of the pasture that is surrounded by an electric fence on Dec. 14,” he said. Some sheep escaped the fence after a post pulled out from the freezing-thawing ground in a draw, he said.

The sheep were killed a half mile outside of the fenced area.

The sheep killed on Dec. 9 also had escaped through a portion of downed fence.

After formally accepting the resignation of police ombudsman Tim Burns on Wednesday, the Police Ombudsman Commission appointed one of their own to serve on the selection committee to find Burns’ replacement.

Adrian Dominguez, a Spokane Regional Health District epidemiologist, will fill one of five seats on the committee, which is tasked with recommending three finalists.

Commissioners acted after the City Council decided Monday to allocate their seat on the selection committee to an ombudsman commission member. Other seats will be appointed by the mayor, the Spokane Police Guild and the Spokane Police Lieutenants and Captains Association. The fifth member will be selected by the other four.

The selection committee will review candidates for the police ombudsman position and choose three finalists, with a final decision to be made by the ombudsman commission.

With Burns’ resignation official, the selection committee must meet within 30 days.

Driver injured in crash in serious condition

A man injured after crashing his car into a highway barrier in central Spokane Tuesday evening has been identified as Randel C. Bocook, 53.

Bocook’s 1993 Lincoln Town Car struck the barrier on the off-ramp at the Second Avenue exit from southbound state Highway 290 shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday evening.

He was ejected from the car. He was transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition on Wednesday.

Alcohol and speed likely were factors in the crash, WSP said. Bocook will be charged with driving under the influence.

Alcohol suspected in I-90 one-car rollover

A woman suspected by police of driving under the influence was taken to the hospital late Tuesday after her car rolled several times when she lost control of it on Interstate 90, the Washington State Patrol reported.

Emily A. Porter, 23, was westbound in a 1997 Jeep Cherokee about 5 miles west of Spokane when she left the road and crashed into the median, WSP said in a news release.

Porter, of Spokane, was transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. WSP said Porter likely will face a charge of driving under the influence.