Equipment stolen from Quality Automotive Care

Burglars stole expensive equipment from a Spokane Valley shop last weekend.

Quality Automotive Care had diagnostic equipment as well as a Freon leak detector stolen. The diagnostic scanner was worth more than $8,000, according to police.

Officers responded to an alarm at the business at 12:45 a.m. Jan. 1, according to a press release from the Spokane Valley Police Department. Officers found an outside door had been pried open. Tracks in the snow went toward the westbound on-ramp of Interstate 90, police said.

An investigation showed the thieves had disconnected video security cameras earlier in the day.

Anyone with information regarding the break-in should call Crime Check at 456-2233.

Woman booked on assault charge, denies punching officer

A woman was arrested for allegedly punching a police officer Sunday.

The incident started about 2 a.m. Sunday when officers investigated a complaint of a woman yelling, according to a press release from the Spokane Valley Police Department. When police arrived, the woman allegedly kicked Officer Scott Bonney in the shins and then punched him in the arm, according to the press release. The woman was identified by police as Jasmine E. Lockridge, 6714 E. Fourth Ave.

Lockridge denied punching the officer. Lockridge said in an interview that she had jokingly tapped the officer on the arm, but did not hurt him. Lockridge said she has bruises from the police mistreating her.

Bonney arrested the woman and booked her into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of felony assault. Lockridge said she plans to fight the charge.

Police find meth in teen’s hat during traffic stop

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on meth charges during a traffic stop Sunday.

Police stopped a car driven by Daniel B. Klein, 24, 2917 E. Marshall Ave., Sunday near Sprague Avenue and Havana Road. The officer noticed the car had a defective headlight, according to a press release from the Spokane Valley Police Department.

In the car’s back seat was a 15-year-old boy who was moving around as if hiding something, according to police.

An officer patted the suspect down and found a lump between the teen’s two stocking caps. Inside the hat, the officer allegedly found a small bag of meth.

Klein was cited for having an expired license, defective headlight and defective taillight. The 15-year-old was booked into Spokane County Juvenile Detention on a felony count of drug possession, police said.