In brief: Sheriff’s detective faces charges for alleged hunting violation
A Spokane County Sheriff’s Office detective is facing criminal charges in Stevens County for an alleged hunting violation in 2013. Property crimes Detective Dave Herrin has been placed on paid administrative leave, and an internal investigation will begin this week, Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said.
A criminal investigation was just completed and investigators have recommended criminal charges, Knezovich said. Herrin is accused of filling his daughter’s deer tag last year and lying to wildlife investigators about it, Knezovich said.
Herrin has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 25 years.
Avista warns of phony employee
Avista Corp. is asking customers to be wary of potential scams after a woman wearing a hat that appeared to have the company’s logo tried to gain entry to a South Hill home Tuesday.
A customer alerted the company to the bogus employee, who told the homeowner she was investigating a gas leak in the area Tuesday, said company spokeswoman Debbie Simock. But there was no gas leak reported near the home.
“The customer felt pretty uncomfortable with the situation,” Simock said. She urged customers who have similar doubts to ask employees for a company-issued identification badge.
The homeowner followed the appropriate procedure, asking the supposed employee to leave and then reporting the incident to the company at its phone number, (800) 227-9187, Simock said. Potential fraud should also be reported to Crime Check at (509) 456-2233, she said.
SCRAPS seizes 11 dogs in West Central
Animal control officers seized 11 dogs Wednesday from a home converted to apartments in Spokane’s West Central neighborhood as part of an animal cruelty investigation.
Officers with the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service suspect the dogs were confined in an unsafe manner and that the resident was operating a commercial kennel without a license.
The dogs include two Rottweiler mixes, a chow mix and eight Chihuahua mixes. They are being treated for fleas and urine scalding, which causes red and irritated skin when a dog is forced to lie in its own urine.
The smell of ammonia was so strong “animal protection officers had to wear respirators,” SCRAPS director Nancy Hill said. The interior of the apartment, which is in the 2400 block of West Broadway Avenue, was so cluttered there was little room to maneuver, SCRAPS officials said.
Teen’s body found after skiff capsizing
The body of a 17-year-old from Nine Mile Falls who died in a boating accident in Alaska was recovered Wednesday.
Casey Burt, a Lakeside High School student, was on the skiff with three other fishermen. The boat capsized in the Ugashik River near Pilot Point. Brandon Michael Park, 24, and Earnest Pierce, 47, both from Eastern Washington, were able to climb on top of the overturned boat until they were rescued by other fishermen. Burt and Charles Anthony Voss, 38, of Sterling, Alaska, attempted to swim to shore.
Voss was found dead near the scene by locals.
Burt’s body was found about half a mile upriver from where the skiff overturned, said Tim DeSpain, spokesman for the Alaska State Troopers.
Witnesses sought in I-90 shooting
Detectives investigating an officer-involved shooting Sunday in Post Falls are looking for witnesses or anyone who recorded the standoff on Interstate 90 at the Spokane Street interchange.
Investigators also want to hear from anyone who found property damage related to the shooting.
Twelve officers exchanged gunfire with Marcus A. Rael, 24, of Glendale, Arizona. Rael remains hospitalized at Kootenai Health. To provide information, call (208) 446-2237.