Posted by kchxwc

June 7, 2013 7:03 p.m. - Updated: 8:48 p.m.

A raid on a suspected car theft and marijuana-growing operation in rural Pend Oreille County earlier this week revealed the suspects may have been planning some unconventional self-defense.

Court documents show several anticipated items turned up in the search, which was conducted in conjunction with U.S. Border Patrol agents and the Spokane County Sheriff's SWAT team. Drug paraphernalia, large quantities of cash and an unspecified number of marijuana plants.

The throwing stars, however, seemed out of place with the modern ballistic weapons authorities unearthed. 

Agencies raided the property southwest of Newport after a suspect in a car theft detailed a stolen parts for drugs operation taking place in the area. Neighbors reported the clamor of bulldozers at all hours of the night followed by trailers pulling crushed cars from the property.

Two men were arrested in the raid. The search warrant authorizes authorities to search Walter Randall Todd, who was reported as out of custody from the Pend Oreille County jail on Thursday.

June 5, 2013 3:05 p.m. - Updated: 3:24 p.m.

Spokane Mayor David Condon fired the first shots today on the Spokane Police Academy's new rifle range.

The new range, described as a first-class facility, was built primarily with free student labor as part of a carpentry apprenticeship program, the police department said. The police academy serves as a regional training site for more than 40 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as U.S. military active duty, reservists and ROTC cadets.

Condon, a U.S. Army veteran, was on hand as part of an official dedication ceremony.

Posted by kchxwc

May 30, 2013 6:51 p.m. - Updated: 7:07 p.m.

Curiosity led to criminal charges for 27-year-old Damian Eiffert on Thursday.

Just before 10 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to the Walmart at 1221 S. Hayford Road in Airway Heights. An officer arrived just as Eiffert bolted in a black Ford Mustang, according to a police report. He left behind a water bottle in the parking lot filled with dry ice and lemonade.

The cocktail exploded, but no injuries were reported. While the cap of the bottle shot into the air and wasn't recovered, the aluminum bottle did not shatter.

Eiffert was later discovered at Northern Quest Casino, about a mile north of the Walmart. An officer found an open bag of dry ice on the floor of the 2000 Mustang Eiffert was driving.

When questioned, Eiffert said he made the dry ice bomb because he “wanted to see what would happen,” according to the report. He provided no explanation for why he left before the device exploded.

Eiffert appeared in court Thursday, charged with malicious placement of an explosive in the second degree.

Also on Thursday, a 22-year-old park worker at Disneyland was arrested in connection with a dry ice bomb left in a trash can at the Anaheim, Calif., amusement park. That device caused an evacuation of Mickey's Toontown briefly Tuesday afternoon, but no one was injured.

May 29, 2013 9:35 a.m. - Updated: 3:42 p.m.

Don't panic if you see a lot of flashing lights at Spokane Valley Mall late Saturday and early Sunday — multiple law enforcement and fire agencies are staging an “active shooter exercise” there.

Spokane County Sheriffs, Spokane Police, Spokane Valley Police, Spokane Valley Fire, local hospitals, the local ambulance service provider, the FBI and the Washington State Patrol all will be involved, the sheriff's office said in a news release.

The full-scale exercise will help those agencies evaluate their response plans. Staging will begin at 11 p.m.; the exercise will begin at 2 a.m.

It's not open for public viewing, the sheriff's office notes.

Posted by Thomas

May 28, 2013 5:42 p.m. - Updated: 5:46 p.m.

A man charged with sending a ricin-laced letter to a federal judge waived arguments today about why he should be released from jail pending charges.

Matthew R. Buquet, 38, wore shaded glasses and sported a long beard during his 2 p.m. appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Imbrogno.

His attorneys, Andrea George and Amy Rubin, of the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho, indicated that they could argue for Buquet’s release at a later time.

“It’s too early,” George said after the hearing. Prosecutors will meet the attorneys in the next few days “which will be our first opportunity to know anything.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aine Ahmed, who was standing in for Stephanie Van Marter, confirmed that the search warrants, which were executed earlier this month at 1818 W. First Ave., remain sealed.

Buquet, who was born in Bogota, Colombia, but was adopted and raised by parents in Michigan, is a registered sex offender from a 1998 conviction for indecent liberties, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

In the current case, Buquet is charged with one count of mailing threatening communication to U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle.

The alleged threat was made in one of the two letters seized by U.S. Postal Service authorities during routine screening at a mail facility in Spokane on May 14.

May 22, 2013 12:47 p.m. - Updated: 12:54 p.m.

Air One, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office helicopter unit, shot this video Saturday of biplanes flying in the missing man formation as they passed over the Torchlight parade in downtown Spokane in honor of the three Fairchild airmen killed in Kyrgyzstan earlier this month. Here's the video:

May 15, 2013 4:49 p.m. - Updated: 4:53 p.m.

Posted by Thomas

May 14, 2013 6:03 p.m. - Updated: 6:23 p.m.

Twelve-year-old Marshal Starbuck was called to testify about the death of his mom and what he remembers about the actions of Clay Starbuck on the day Marshal’s life got turned upside down.

Day two of the first-degree murder trial of Clay D. Starbuck also featured photos from the crime scene. The jury for the first time saw how the killer placed 42-year-old Chanin D. Starbuck in a sexually suggestive position.

Based on a brief 911 call on Dec. 1, 2011, investigators believe someone killed the Chanin Starbuck on that day.

Clay Starbuck, who called Crime Check to check on his ex-wife on Dec. 2, told investigators that he texted his ex-wife to take their youngest three children to school after his balky 1988 Toyota Tercel broke down on Dec. 1.

Steinmetz asked 12-year-old Marshal about that day, and he relayed the same story as his father.

He said Chanin Starbuck took them to school that day “because our dad was driving around the golf course to warm it up because it has some problems,” Marshal said. “It always broke down. Honestly, it was a really bad car.”

May 13, 2013 5:54 p.m. - Updated: 6 p.m.

Burglars stole or damaged all the appliances in a home that’s vacant and for sale near the 4000 block of West Richland Road.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said the home’s property manager discovered the theft of the refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and washer and dryer. The stove and oven had been moved but not stolen, and there was severe water damage to the kitchen floor, according to a news release. The Sheriff’s Office said it’s common for burglars to steal appliances and sell them for scrap.
The burglary was reported on May 6.
Crime Stoppers, a civilian organization that’s not affiliated with law enforcement, is offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest. Call 1-800-222-TIPS or visit www.crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org. Tipsters don’t have to give their names to collect the reward.
  

Posted by Nicole

May 9, 2013 6:39 p.m. - Updated: 8:43 p.m.

A man suspected of pulling the trigger in a fatal shooting at a north Spokane home last week will appear in court Friday afternoon.

The tattoo-covered accused killer, Joshua T. Tillery, 33, was expected in Spokane County Superior Court, but a court clerk said he didn't show up because he was sick.

Spokane Police Department detectives learned Tillery was hiding at 2012 N. Ruby Street on Wednesday and organized surveillance with U.S. Marshals agents at the address, prior news reports said. 

A quick swoop of authorities took Tillery into custody within five minutes, police said.

He's accused of shooting Devon Mack, 33, in the head following a heated argument with a struggle at 4508 N. Lincoln last week.