In Brief: Bonners Ferry man dies in single-vehicle crash
A 28-year-old Bonners Ferry man died after his pickup truck veered off a highway near Moyie Springs early Thursday, the Idaho State Police said.
Louie Abraham was taken to Boundary Community Hospital after the single-vehicle crash, which took place east of Moyie Springs on U.S. Highway 2, according to a news release. Authorities are investigating why Abraham’s 2013 Dodge pickup left the roadway on the right shoulder and struck several trees before turning over around 12:30 a.m. as he was driving west toward the town.
Abraham was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to the ISP. He died in the hospital.
Electrical vault fire doused at eatery
A North Side Italian restaurant was evacuated Thursday night after employees and diners smelled electrical smoke.
Firefighters were called to Tomato Street, 6220 N. Division St., about 9:10 p.m.
Flames were coming from a small underground electrical vault attached to the northeast side of the building, said Spokane Fire Battalion Chief Joe Fielder.
Crews used dry powder fire extinguishers to put out the fire, while an Avista Utilities crew shut electricity off to the structure.
Fielder said fires in electrical vaults are rare.
“I haven’t seen one in about 35 years on the job,” he said.
The fire did not spread outside the vault, Fielder said.
Troy Campbell, a Tomato Street manager, said the restaurant was open at the time of the fire, but there weren’t many diners. He said the restaurant hoped to open today, but diners may want to call ahead to make sure power has been restored.
Police dog corrals suspected burglar
A suspected burglar was corralled by a police dog early Thursday morning after a neighbor reported hearing glass break at a nearby house.
Spokane Valley police were called to the 15200 block of East Valleyway Avenue around 1:20 a.m. and found a broken window in the front door of a home. Officers surrounded the home and K-9 Deacon entered the home and found Michael R. Svoboda, 51, hiding in a closet, according to a police news release.
Svoboda reportedly told police that his friend “Vince” let him sleep there and the glass had been broken before he got there. The property owner, who was not home at the time, said no one named Vince lived there, police said.
Svoboda was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of residential burglary, obstructing an officer and third-degree malicious mischief. His criminal history in Spokane County includes convictions for theft, possession of stolen property and assault.
Svoboda’s car was found down the block with Tammy L. Forcier inside. She told detectives that she had handed Svoboda a crowbar and gloves before he walked away from the car, police said. Forcier was arrested on a charge of residential burglary.
Information about robberies wanted
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office believes there may be more victims of a duo recently arrested on suspicion of robbing a Hispanic man who spoke little English. The two may be targeting people who do not speak English well, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.
The victim reported the robbery on Aug. 15 through an interpreter. He said he met a woman on Facebook and the two met in person in downtown Spokane. The woman has been identified as Traci L. Whitney, 25.
The two then stopped at Whitney’s house and picked up her friend, identified as Bennie L. Carson, 33. The victim said that after the three drove to north Spokane County, Carson pulled a gun and took the victim’s cellphone and wallet before leaving him on the side of the road, the news release said.
Whitney was booked into Spokane County Jail on a charge of first-degree robbery. Carson is being held on $20,000 bond on a charge of first-degree robbery. He is also being held on charges including unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property.
Anyone with information about similar incidents is asked to call (509) 477-3786.
Stolen items found; two men arrested
Coeur d’Alene police recovered property stolen from a church and arrested two men on drug charges after serving a search warrant Thursday afternoon.
The property was stolen from Coeur d’Alene Bible Church at 5350 N. Fourth St. on Aug. 27. Someone kicked in a door to the church’s garage and stole landscaping equipment, according to a police news release.
Detectives believed some of the items were being stored at 5395 N. Anne St. and got the warrant to search the property. Police found a mower trailer that belonged to the church, the news release said. Investigators also found drugs.
Nigel L. Ngawaka, 33, is facing a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Julian Hernandez, 21, faces a charge of possession of heroin with intent to deliver. Both men have been booked into the Kootenai County Jail.
Lawsuit sought over oil-response plans
SEATTLE – Environmental groups say they plan to sue the federal government for failing to ensure that regional oil-response plans don’t harm endangered species.
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Friends of Columbia Gorge sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue on Wednesday to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard and others.
The groups say the agencies didn’t consult with federal fisheries experts to make sure its latest regional oil-spill response plan would not harm endangered species.