In brief: Suspect in shootout with police identified

The man accused of shooting at a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy and Liberty Lake police officer during a traffic stop last week is Christopher R. Myers, 28, according to a search warrant filed Friday.

Deputy Jeff Thurman shot and wounded Myers Jan. 30 at a gas station at Barker Road and Cataldo Avenue, after Myers allegedly fled from a traffic stop and shot at the officers.

Myers has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for possession of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property, theft, attempted residential burglary and vehicle prowling, according to newspaper records.

Thurman stopped a car with three passengers inside. Another deputy and a Liberty Lake police officer arrived as backup after Thurman determined that all three passengers had warrants for their arrest.

When the vehicle was stopped, Myers allegedly took off running. Thurman and his police dog, as well as Liberty Lake police Officer Jeff Jones, pursued him on foot.

According to court documents, the officers repeatedly told Myers to stop resisting and put his hands behind his back. The dog was given a command and attacked Myers, who fired his gun, the documents say. Thurman returned fire, hitting Myers once.

Myers was shot in the upper abdomen and also had several dog bite marks on his legs, according to court documents. A .22 caliber handgun and two .22 caliber cartridges were found at the scene along with one .45 caliber cartridge.

Jones was wearing a body camera that captured the chase. The footage was reviewed by Spokane County Deputy Lyle Johnston and Spokane Detective Paul Lebsock.

Myers is in stable condition at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he is under guard. He faces two charges of first-degree assault and a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.

One of the women in the car told police she and Myers had been out looking to buy heroin, according to court documents. Both female passengers were arrested at the scene.

The car they were in had expired license plate tabs, according to court documents.

Nonini bill would limit ‘instant racing’ machines

BOISE – Another bill to address the controversy over slot machine-style “instant racing” machines would restrict the locations where they can be installed.

The bill, proposed by Coeur d’Alene Sen. Bob Nonini on Friday, might not get a hearing. It depends on what happens with a bill proposed by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe to repeal the 2013 law that authorized betting on “historical horse races,” which is done through the instant racing machines.

That hearing on the repeal will go forward as scheduled Monday, said Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, the chairman of the Senate State Affairs Committee.

Nonini’s proposal would limit the betting machines to three locations – Les Bois Park near Boise, the Greyhound Park Event Center in Post Falls and Sandy Downs racetrack near Idaho Falls. It wouldn’t limit the number of machines that could be installed at those locations.

The machines have been controversial, with legislators saying they were misled when they voted to approve them in 2013. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe canceled its popular powwow held for years at the Post Falls Greyhound Park over the matter.

The Post Falls Police Department is investigating whether the machines at the Greyhound Park are illegal slot machines.

WSU urging staff to get measles vaccination

Washington State University is urging its nearly 6,100 employees statewide to make sure they’re immunized against measles.

“We’re seeing this resurgence around the country,” said Dr. Bruce Wright, executive director of WSU’s Health and Wellness Services in Pullman. “The problem with measles is it’s so highly contagious for people with no immunity.”

The vaccination rate is 97 percent among WSU students, who must submit proof of immunization, though exceptions are made for those with health limitations or religious objections. No requirement exists for faculty and staff, however.

The announcement was intended simply as a way to encourage employees to determine their immunization status and consider getting any vaccinations they might be lacking, Wright said. The university hasn’t had any recent measles cases reported at any of its campuses.

Bones found by hiker confirmed as human

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the bones found by a hiker near Bayview, Idaho, are human.

A hiker who was hunting for antler sheds found the skeletal remains Wednesday afternoon in a forested area above Cape Horn Road, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Detectives spent all day Thursday searching the area and recovering the bones. They are believed to belong to a human adult of unknown gender and race.

Documents give details of robbery planning

Eric S. Reisen took meticulous care in planning a pharmacy robbery last fall, court documents say, but his getaway unraveled when police received an anonymous tip identifying him as the robber.

Reisen is facing charges of first-degree robbery, threats to bomb or injure property and second-degree arson and is being held in the Spokane County Jail.

He and two accomplices allegedly researched local pharmacies before deciding to rob the Walgreens at 12 E. Empire. According to court documents, Reisen called in a bomb threat directed at North Central High School on the night of Oct. 20. A few minutes later, one of his accomplices allegedly set a garage on fire in the 1400 block of North Lincoln Street. Both acts were intended as diversions.

Reisen’s girlfriend told police that he put makeup on his face to make his skin look darker and drew a teardrop below his eye to make it look like he had a tattoo, according to court documents.

Surveillance video from Walgreens shows the robber jumping over the counter to steal more than $5,600 in narcotic pain medications.

One of Reisen’s alleged accomplices, Zachary Batters, reportedly confessed his role in the crime, court documents say. Batters is facing charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and second-degree arson. The second suspected accomplice, Thomas Sweeney, is facing charges of first-degree robbery and threats to bomb or injure property

Reisen is also facing charges connected to the robbery of the Rite-Aid at 5520 N. Division on Nov. 12.

Add your event to our summer camp guide

If you run a day camp, a church camp, an overnight camp or other kind of camp, The Spokesman-Review wants to help you spread the word.

The Spokesman-Review plans to publish its annual summer camp directory May 6. This year, in addition to the camp directory, we will include fun activities for families.

Looking for a fun road trip once the weather – and the water – starts warming up? Need ideas for a fun stay-cation? Or want some info on cool lesser-known destinations? We’ll include all of these and then some.

To accommodate the new content, we are limiting camp information to camp name, location, dates, cost, age range, and a short description (50 words or less). Please include contact information for the public to use, such as a phone number, email or website. Camp information can be submitted by email to summercamps@ spokesman.com or online at www.spokesman.com/ summercamps-form/.

Submissions received after Monday, April 6, will be included in the online directory but can’t be guaranteed for the print edition. The online list will be available at www.spokesman.com all spring and summer.