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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Spokane police recover disabled man’s iPad

From Staff Reports

Two people called the Spokane Police Department Tuesday to identify Kevin J. Dopkins, 30, as the suspect in the theft of an iPad from a developmentally disabled man in a Walgreens parking lot.

Police released pictures of the suspect taken from the video surveillance system at the store at 2830 S. Grand Blvd. around 10:15 a.m. One of the tipsters told police that Dopkins was staying in a Spokane Valley apartment. When police arrived at the location, Dopkins had the same shoes and jacket seen in the surveillance video.

The iPad contained special software that allowed the disabled man to communicate. Dopkins told police that he traded the iPad for marijuana, and police were able to recover the device, according to court documents.

In court Wednesday, defense attorney Anna Nordtvedt argued that the incident didn’t provide enough probable cause to support a charge of second-degree robbery. “I don’t think there is any indication of threat of force or force,” she said.

Prosecuting attorney Mary Ann Brady countered that Dopkins took advantage of the disability and limited communication skills of a “vulnerable victim.”

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Greg Sypolt said there was enough probable cause for a robbery charge and set Dopkins’ bond at $20,000.

Dopkins has previous convictions for burglary and retail theft, according to court records.

New judge appointed in Spokane

Jay Inslee has appointed Raymond Clary as a judge in Spokane County Superior Court to replace retiring Judge Tari Eitzen.

Clary is a graduate of the Gonzaga University School of Law and has worked at the Spokane law firm of Etter, McMahon, Lamberson, Clary and Oreskovich. Clary is a former Golden Gloves boxing champion.

“Ray is an extremely well-qualified and intelligent lawyer who will serve the Spokane Superior Court well,” Inslee said in a news release.

Clary received the 2013 Community Impact Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center and also received an award from the Washington State Bar Association recognizing his extensive pro bono work. He was also the advisory director for the Morning Star Boys’ Ranch for more than 10 years.

Eitzen has served as a judge since 1994. Clary will begin his term in January.

Insurance applicants get extension

People who tried to complete their Washington Health Benefit Exchange application before the Tuesday deadline but were unable because of a technical error have been given a 60-day reprieve.

Those people who started an application before 4:59 p.m. on Tuesday have until Feb. 23, 2015, to complete their enrollment to receive health care coverage retroactive to Jan. 1. Those affected have to fill out an online request form for coverage at https://petition.wa healthplanfinder.org or call (855) 923-4633.

Those who qualify for the extension also include people who were canceled from their health plans in error and those who received an incorrect tax credit calculation on their application.

People who incur health care expenses while waiting for their retroactive coverage will be reimbursed for their medical expenses.

Man stabbed while eating cereal

A man told Spokane police he was stabbed twice as he was eating a bowl of cereal in an apartment in the 9700 block of North Morton Court late Tuesday.

Two witnesses told police they thought the victim had been punched several times until they saw the suspect holding a knife and noticed that the victim was bleeding, according to court documents. The victim was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center to be treated for the stab wounds in his torso.

Police arrested Brian L. Riley, 29, on a charge of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon. The witnesses knew Riley and identified him as the suspect to police, according to court documents. The victim told police that he didn’t know Riley.

State offices, banks closed Christmas

Federal, state and local government offices in Spokane and Kootenai counties will be closed today, as will banks and local malls. There will be no mail delivery or trash pickup. Garbage pickup will resume Friday and be a day late for the rest of the week.

Parking meters don’t have to be plugged in downtown Spokane today, and Spokane Transit Authority buses will be running on a Sunday schedule. Local libraries will be closed as well.

Government offices, banks and libraries will resume their normal hours on Friday.