In brief: Motel room death investigated
The death of a man whose body was found in a motel room last month after reports of a possible fight is under investigation.
Peter L. Keet, 42, was found cold and unresponsive in a room at the Knights Inn at 20 W. Houston Ave. on the morning of Aug. 30. The woman who called police told them she found Keet lying face down on the floor when she and a friend returned from a night at the casino, according to court documents.
Earlier that morning, a motel employee had called police to report hearing banging inside Keet’s room as if there was a fight but said no one answered his knock. Police responded but left when no one answered, and they heard no noises from inside, court documents said.
The woman said Keet had been using methamphetamine the day before and told her that he had eaten some meth when he left the motel to go to the store because there were “police everywhere.” She told police that Keet complained of chest pain but did not want her to call paramedics, so she left to go to the casino at about 2 a.m., according to court documents.
The Spokane County medical examiner is waiting for toxicology test results and has not determined cause of death.
CdA Tribe donates $1.2M to education
The Coeur d’Alene Tribe gave almost $1.2 million to dozens of educational programs this year, including more than $96,000 to purchase iPads, Kindles, laptops and computers, and classroom projection systems.
Recipients include the Coeur d’Alene School District, Gizmo, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, the Post Falls Food Bank’s Backpack Program, Gonzaga Prep and the Spokane Neighborhood Action Partnership. This year’s giving also marks the fulfillment of the tribe’s $1 million pledge to the Salvation Army Kroc Center.
The tribe donates 5 percent of its net gaming revenues to education as part of its gaming compact with the state. Since 1992, the total given has surpassed $22.8 million.
The tribe is accepting applications through Sept. 30 for next year’s education funding. Contact Heather Keen at (208) 686-2023 or hkeen@cdatribe-nsn.gov.
Sex offender faces child porn charges
A registered sex offender has been arrested on suspicion of possession of child pornography after investigators reportedly received a tip that he was uploading pictures depicting children involved in sexual acts to the Internet.
Hugh A. Russell, 32, is being held in the Spokane County Jail on charges of possession of child pornography and dealing in depictions of child pornography.
Investigators interviewed Russell about the allegations when he came to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office for his weekly sex offender check-in that is required because he is registered as a transient. Russell reportedly told investigators that he has an “obsession” with kids and prefers girls “ages 0-14,” according to court documents. He reportedly admitted having about 200 child porn pictures and videos on his cellphone.
Russell was convicted of possession of child pornography in 2014.
Stolen antique boat found; arrest made
An antique boat stolen last month has been recovered by police and returned to its owner. The blue, 17-foot Rebel boat on a red trailer had been stolen from the 24000 block of North Harvard Road sometime between Aug. 22 and 25.
The boat’s owner received a tip Monday evening that his boat had been seen at a residence near U.S. Highway 195 and Thorpe Road just south of Spokane, said Deputy Mark Gregory, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. Spokane police responded and found the boat and trailer hooked up to a truck that had also been reported stolen, Gregory said.
The boat was valued at nearly $10,000 because it was one of only 200 of its type made.
Police arrested Michael S. McGuire in connection with the theft. He is being held in the Spokane County Jail on $22,000 bond on charges of burglary, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and driving with a suspended license.
Marine vet group seeks new members
The Marine Corps League Pappy Boyington Detachment is recruiting new members.
The veterans organization is open to Marines as well as Navy Corpsmen who served in the Fleet Marine Force. Others may join as associate members.
The detachment participates in community parades, veterans events, fundraising for scholarships and the annual Toys for Tots program in Kootenai County. It also puts on the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in November.
Monthly meetings are on the second Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Elks Lodge, 1170 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Call Bill Maroney at (208) 712-3051.
Police find four dead in rural Manson
MANSON, Wash. – Four people were found dead Tuesday in rural Manson, where detectives are investigating what may be a tangled web of crime that loops back to a 2014 kidnapping case.
Benito Caro Sedano, 56, was believed to be one of the four dead, his body found in a house early Wednesday. A woman’s body was also found in the house, and authorities said they think the deaths were a murder-suicide.
Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett declined to confirm Sedano’s identity, but said the man found dead in the residence is suspected of shooting two men whose bodies were found in a car in a nearby orchard. The man is also suspected of firing at a sheriff’s deputy who came to investigate the deaths in the car.
Sedano was scheduled to plead guilty Wednesday in the kidnapping of Ignacio Ramirez last year.