On February 22, 2010, just after noon, Spokane Police patrol officers responded to a report of a collision at 10th Ave and Oak St. Officers initially felt the 32 year old pedestrian was struck by a fleeing vehicle.

Major Crimes detectives have determined it was not a collision but in fact an intentional assault.  Detectives have contacted a person of interest in this case, but no arrests have been made.  Detectives believe a second person was in the vehicle at the time of the assault.  Police need to speak with that person regarding their involvment with the crime. 

Anyone with information regarding this individual`s identity is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or 509-327-5111 or submit a tip online. 

   On February 19^th, three dogs were poisoned at two different locations.  A woman who let her dogs out at 6 a.m. in the area of Regal and Palouse Highway saw one of them eating something and called it away.  Within an hour, the dog began convulsing and it later died at a veterinary clinic.

    The same day, a pet owner discovered her two dogs dead in the area of 55^th Avenue and Freya.  Investigators believe the dogs ate meatballs tossed into the yard.  Lab analysis revealed that they were heavily laced with strychnine, a substance commonly found in gopher bait.

    The meatballs were cooked after the poison was added giving them a green-ish tint.  Dog owners are being encouraged to check their yards before allowing their pets outside.

    The Humane Society of the United States has offered a reward for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the poisonings. 

    However, the Crime Stoppers reward requires only that the case be solved.  The tipster can remain anonymous.

    Anyone with information about this case of animal cruelty is encouraged to call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-222-TIPS.  Information can also be forwarded by using the website www.crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org.

    Crime Stoppers has offered a cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of a man who duped an elderly couple out of the husband’s wallet last Sunday.

    The husband and wife, both in their late 80’s, allowed the suspect into their home in the 8100 block of East Upriver Drive after he portrayed himself as a window washer.  He asked to be allowed in to “count windows.”  Instead, he grabbed the husband’s wallet and ran from the home.

    The couple chased the man who drove off in what they described as a red station wagon with license plates similar to 5147110, unknown state.

    Minutes later, a passerby called Crime Check and reported an elderly couple chasing an old red mini-van with a Montana license plate 541770.  He told the operator the elderly man was crying.

    The victims described the suspect as a 50 to 60-year-old white male who was about 6’01” tall.  He had gray hair that was receding, a thin build and gray eyes.

    Different combinations of the given license plate numbers do not produce a mini-van.  Persons with information about the thief`s identity should call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-222-TIPS.

    Spokane Valley property crimes detectives are hoping a Crime Stoppers tipster can help solve the rifling of numerous arcade machines at a Hico Village convenience store on January 24^th.

     On that date, the white male suspect entered the business about 4:30 p.m. and broke into several gaming machines.  He was captured on security video at the time of the theft, but the best images were taken as he walked out of the store.

     Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s identity is encouraged to call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-222-TIPS.

    According to School Resource Deputy Scott Streltzoff, a 13-year-old Mountain View Elementary School student was headed home on foot about 5 p.m. Wednesday when he was approached by a man in a newer dark green, full-sized Ford pickup.  The truck had four doors and a canopy of unknown color.

     The driver was wearing a dark ski mask that had holes for the wearer’s eyes and mouth.  The man had a deep voice leading the student to think he was an adult.

     The suspect told the boy to come to the truck, but the student ran instead.  The driver chased him a short distance with the truck and then left the area.  The incident occurred in the 6000 block of North Chase Road.

     Although the man’s motive is unknown, the incident is being treated as a child luring event.  Parents should discuss with their school-age children what actions to take if they are confronted in a similar manner.

     School district officials have been advised of the incident.  Anyone with information about the suspect is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

rdr 

Crime Stoppers has offered a cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of a suspect who may have been trying to set up a car/train collision in the West Plains.

     On Saturday, January 16^th, Deputy Damon Anderberg was called to the BNSF Railway crossing at Highway 904 and Ritchey Road west of Cheney.  A railroad employee told him that he had been called out to repair railroad crossing arms that were not working at that location.

     The worker discovered that someone had disabled the signal’s power cord and had tied the crossing arms so that they could not lower.  The vandal also had placed a steel fence post across the rail, possibly in an attempt to derail a train.

     Heavy rainfall had destroyed any footprints and/or tire tracks at the location.  Anyone with information about this act of sabotage is urged to call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-222-TIPS.

A man with a silver handgun tried to rob the Jack in the Box restaurant at Hawthorne Road and North Division about 7 a.m. Wednesday, January 13^th.  

    He entered the business displaying a silver handgun and demanded cash from two female employees who both turned and ran to the back of the store.  The suspect left empty-handed through the south doors.

    The robber was described as a white male in his 20’s, 5’09” tall and skinny.  He had on a grayish-black hoodie or jacket, light-colored rubber gloves, blue jeans and possibly boots.  He had a dark blue or black bandana across his lower face, and had black makeup around his eyes.

On January 1, 2010, during the mid afternoon hours, a 16 year old female was sexually assaulted near Northtown Mall. 

The suspect is described as a white male in his late teens to early twenties, thin/skinny build with sunken cheeks.  He had short hair and bright green eyes.  He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, baseball hat and jeans.   The suspect was last walking west towards Division from the area of Mayfair and Walton by citizens.

The Spokane Police Department Sexual Assault Unit is investigating the incident and is asking anyone with any information about the suspect or the event itself to please contact police.  The case is featured as the Crime Stoppers - Crime of the Week.  Anyone with any information on the identity of the suspect can contact 800-222-TIPS or 327-5111 or online. 

Generator Thefts Spark Reward Offer

    Crime Stoppers has offered a cash reward for information that leads to the solution of a Spokane Valley business burglary that occurred sometime between 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday.

     Sometime during that time frame, a suspect cut through the security fencing at Spokane Discount, 523 Dishman-Mica Road, and stole three or four Honeywell HW2001 2,000-watt electrical generators.  Each generator is red and valued at $370.

     Officers who checked the yard found no useable evidence.  Anyone with information regarding this burglary is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Crime Stoppers has offered a cash reward for information that leads to the solution of a Spokane Valley business burglary that occurred sometime between 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday.

    Sometime during that time frame, a suspect cut through the security fencing at Spokane Discount, 523 Dishman-Mica Road, and stole three or four Honeywell HW2001 2,000-watt electrical generators.  Each generator is red and valued at $370.