In Brief: Spokane man suspected in California sexual assault case in jail
The Spokane man who bonded out of jail hours after California detectives arrived in Washington to collect DNA on suspicion he sexually assaulted a Beverly Hills woman is back behind bars.
Spokane police arrested Mark W. Merrifield, 37, late Thursday near NorthTown Mall on suspicion that he stole a motorcycle. When they questioned Merrifield, they discovered a warrant had been issued for his arrest out of California, likely tied to the sexual assault investigation.
Merrifield posted $70,000 bond at the jail last week after giving Beverly Hills detectives his DNA. A woman there claims she was attacked and groped by a man in March matching Merrifield’s description. Merrifield had been in custody since July, when he was picked up on multiple criminal charges including theft, drug possession and taking a motor vehicle without permission.
A judge on Friday set Merrifield’s bond at a total of $145,000 for his criminal charges in Washington.
Resident OK after house fire; three dogs, two pet birds die
Three dogs and two pet birds died in a house fire in the 4900 block of North Powell Road on Friday afternoon, and a person found inside the home was taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to the Otis Orchards home at 1:45 p.m. and found smoke pouring from doors and windows of the two-story home. Firefighters were able to rescue several dogs and a couple of birds, said Battalion Chief Rich Llewellyn, but not all the animals could be saved. One bird was still missing Friday evening.
Crews were able to extinguish the flames within seven minutes, Llewellyn said. The resident was taken to the hospital for evaluation and didn’t appear seriously injured, he said.
The Red Cross is assisting the resident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Annual YWCA luncheon raises $186,000 for violence victims
The annual YWCA Women of Achievement luncheon raised $186,000 for programs benefiting domestic violence victims in the region, according to the Spokane nonprofit.
More than 970 people attended the Oct. 1 event, an 11 percent increase over last year’s luncheon, a news release said.
The money raised also topped last year’s event by $28,000.
Services funded by the luncheon, the YWCA of Spokane’s largest fundraising event of the year, include an emergency shelter, counseling, legal services, job readiness, child care and pre-K programs for low-income women.
Seven local women were recognized as Women of Achievement.
Army Rangers to train near Fairchild Air Force Base
Army Rangers will be participating in training in the area of Fairchild Air Force Base during the next week, and residents are likely to see a higher number of military helicopters and other aircraft in the skies than usual.
Rangers from several areas around the country will participate in the training, which is focusing on combat skills in an urban environment, according to a news release from Fairchild Air Force Base. Training is likely to occur at night and may include the use of simulated munitions.
MAX train strikes, kills pedestrian in east Portland
PORTLAND – Police say a light rail train struck and killed a pedestrian Friday evening in east Portland.
Sgt. Pete Simpson said the man was hit by an eastbound MAX train at 160th Avenue and East Burnside Street.
The victim was not immediately identified.
Boeing pays $23 million to settle labor charges case
SAN ANTONIO – The Boeing Co. has paid $23 million to settle allegations that it submitted false labor charges to the U.S. Air Force for contract maintenance on C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft.
A Justice Department statement issued Friday said the allegations centered on labor costs the Chicago-based company charged improperly for maintenance and repair work at Boeing’s Aerospace Support Center in San Antonio.
The allegations were made initially by four present and former Boeing employees acting as whistleblowers. They will divide $3.9 million as their share of the settlement under terms of the False Claims Act.
Grant County Health District to close Ephrata office
EPHRATA – Grant County Health District officials have announced they will permanently close the Ephrata office at the end of this month.
The district will move its Ephrata staff and services to its Moses Lake location, effective at noon Oct. 30, according to a statement sent out Friday.
The district’s Moses Lake office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the exception of the noon hour, Monday through Thursday. People with questions can call (509) 766-7960 or visit www.granthealth.org.