Man who fled hit with taser
Two weeks ago, a 26-year-old Spokane Valley man allegedly fled from police to avoid arrest.
The law caught up with Thomas C. Collum Monday.
Spokane Valley Police Officer Richard Gere, spotted Collum’s Honda Civic driving down Sixth Avenue near Custer Road about 10 a.m. Monday.
Gere stopped the Honda Civic, and as he was waiting for back-up officers, the Honda took off at speeds between 70 and 80 mph, according to a press release from the Valley Police Department.
Gere briefly lost sight of the suspect’s car, but was told by a passerby that the Honda was parked in the 3300 block of East Pacific Avenue and that the suspect had run into a nearby home, Police said.
The homeowner allowed police to search her home. Officers found Collum hiding in a bedroom. He refused officers’ commands to surrender and was hit with a taser shot, Police said.
Collum was arrested on suspicion of trying to elude police and a warrant for escape from community custody, police said.
Drive-by shooting under investigation
Police continue to investigate a drive-by shooting reported last week.
Neighbors Pinecroft Mobile Home Park, 11920 E. Mansfield Ave., called police Thursday night after hearing gunshots. No one was injured in the shooting.
Officers went to the park but did not find any evidence in the dark, said Spokane Valley Police Department spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan.
Friday morning, Cpl. Mark Fox went to Pinecroft to continue the investigation. One resident said she had not been home the night before, but that when she came back, she found bullet shell casings in her driveway and holes in the mobile home, Reagan said.
Fox found seven bullet holes in the interior and exterior of the woman’s mobile home. Two witnesses described a light colored car seen leaving the park at the time of the shooting, Reagan said.
Anyone with information about the incident should call Crime Check at 456-2233.
Sisters arrested at Wal-Mart
Two sisters were arrested as they left the Spokane Valley Wal-Mart.
Officials say the women stole movies and music from the store at 15727 E. Broadway Ave.
The women went into Wal-Mart about 4 p.m. Saturday and allegedly put compact discs and DVD movies into their purses, according to a press release from the Spokane Valley Police Department. The women were stopped by store security officers as they left, police said.
Carmen G. Gardipee, 37, allegedly shoved one of the security officers in an attempt to escape. Gardipee and her sister, Christina C. Gardipee, 39, were detained by security officers until police arrived. The women initially signed paperwork using aliases, according to police.
Both women were arrested on suspicion of felony burglary and robbery as well as for making false statements because of the aliases, police said. They were booked into the Spokane County Jail.