In brief: More charges filed against state trooper

An Idaho State Police trooper already suspended without pay following criminal charges is facing new charges of first-degree stalking, aggravated assault and malicious injury to property.

Daniel Howard, of Athol, was charged May 8 following reported incidents that occurred after he learned his wife was having an affair, the Coeur d’Alene Press reported Friday.

Howard, 48, already was suspended without pay following charges in April of grand theft, petit theft, possession of an untagged deer, forgery and title fraud.

Court records say Howard damaged another man’s property and stole guns and mail. Authorities also say Howard pointed a rifle at the other man and shot his roof with a shotgun.

Howard is scheduled to be in Kootenai County District Court on June 19.

Medal of Honor winner’s watch still missing

VANCOUVER, Wash. – A U.S. Navy lieutenant’s commemorative watch, given to him as part of his Medal of Honor award during World War II, is missing.

On Friday, the 70th anniversary of D-Day, police sought information to recover the late Lt. Donald K. Ross’ watch, stolen from his daughter’s house in Vancouver.

Other items of military memorabilia were stolen during a Jan. 21 burglary, including the blue ribbon that held the medal.

Ten days after the burglary, Vancouver police served a search warrant at a home in Clark County where they recovered most of the memorabilia, including the ribbon. The tailor-made commemorative watch, however, hasn’t been found.

A limited number of the watches were made. Ross’ watch was No. 14.

Sex offender allegedly takes girl, 6, from park

SEATTLE – A 6-year-old girl was pulled from a Seattle playground by a Level 3 sex offender who was wearing a tracking device on his ankle, police said.

The girl broke free three blocks away from the Benefit playground on Beacon Hill on Thursday evening, police said, and was not physically hurt.

The girl’s father and friends caught up with the man and he fought as he tried to flee.

Witnesses said the girl had been playing with siblings when the suspect approached and asked her to leave with him. When she refused he grabbed her hand.

The 30-year-old suspect was jailed for investigation of kidnapping.