Man killed in rollover during chase

An Idaho man being chased by an Airway Heights police officer lost control of the car he was driving and was killed Tuesday night on U.S. Highway 2 west of Spokane.

The 30-year-old man died at the scene, just east of the point where Highway 2 crosses Geiger Boulevard. His name was not released pending notification of relatives.

Police received a report of an erratic driver Tuesday evening. Officer Paul Brasch pulled over the Mazda with Idaho plates for “lane violations” and a defective exhaust system about 8:30 p.m., said Washington State Patrol trooper Jim Hays.

The driver gave Brasch his identification. But when the officer went back to his patrol car, the driver took off at high speeds, Hays said.

The chase on eastbound Highway 2 lasted only about a minute. Brasch backed off as he approached Interstate 90.

The car rolled several times.

The eastbound lanes of Highway 2 were closed for several hours. Hays said the cause of the accident remained under investigation.

Police find, blow up make-shift explosive

The Spokane Police bomb squad detonated an improvised explosive device that was found Tuesday between two buildings just north of Division Street and Gordon Avenue.

The device was found just before noon, between a Washington Department of Transportation building and Doughboys Tool & Pawn, at 3622 N. Division, Sgt. Brad Arleth said.

Arleth, who supervises the bomb squad for the city, said the device was about 4½ inches long and 1½ inches in diameter. It was wrapped in tape and had a fuse coming out one end.

“Something that size could blow out a window or take off your hand,” he said.

Police evacuated the DOT building and traffic was closed on both southbound and northbound lanes of Division for about five minutes at noon as crews blew up the device, Arleth said.

Paving continues on Third Avenue

Third Avenue downtown gets another round of paving Thursday night and Friday morning.

Work is scheduled from Browne to Division Street. Browne will be closed at Third from 8 p.m. Thursday until about 6 a.m. on Friday.

Traffic will be detoured to Bernard and then back to Third Avenue.

Burn ban issued for Stevens County

The Stevens County fire marshal issued a formal ban Tuesday on open burning and unauthorized recreational fires in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Open fires constitute bonfires or burning refuse outdoors without an incinerator, outdoor fireplace or barbecue grill or pit. The ban does not forbid backyard barbecues, chimneys or other patio warmers as long as they use approved fuel, such as clean and dry firewood, briquettes, or propane, according to a news release.

Man arrested after allegedly aiming loaded gun

A man was arrested Monday evening in north Spokane after he pointed a loaded gun at two pedestrians in front of a police officer, Spokane police reported.

Officer Jamie Pavlischak was driving on Pittsburg Street near Francis Avenue about 7:30 p.m. when he saw the driver in the car ahead point a semiautomatic gun at two people on the sidewalk, said police spokesman Dick Cottam in a press release.

Pavlischak turned on his overhead lights, and the driver, Nicholas Ryan Jones, 23, dropped the gun and put his hands over his head, Cottam said.

Jones told police that he knew the couple, but the two left the area before police could interview them, Cottam said.

Jones was released after he was cited for two counts of aiming a dangerous weapon, a misdemeanor, and for driving with a suspended license and with no insurance, Cottam said. Pavlischak confiscated the loaded gun as evidence.

Teens face burglary charges for incident in school

Three teenagers were arrested early Monday when they were found inside Audubon Elementary School in an attempted burglary, Spokane police reported.

A Spokane Public Schools security officer responded to an alarm at the school about 2:30 a.m., said police spokesman Dick Cottam in a press release.

The boys got in the school, 2020 W. Carlisle, by breaking a window and attempted to hide above the ceiling when security arrived, Cottam said.

Police searched the building, and the teens surrendered when an officer announced that he had a dog.

The boys, ages 14, 15 and 16, face charges of second-degree burglary and first-degree malicious mischief, Cottam said.

Police seek man who disappeared from caretaker

Spokane police are asking for help finding a 50-year-old man with mental disabilities who disappeared Tuesday morning from his caregiver.

Andrew Sweet, 50, left his caretaker about 7:15 a.m. in the 1300 block of West Indiana Avenue, said police spokesman Dick Cottam. He is unable to care for himself.

Sweet is white, 5-foot-5 and 180 pounds with a balding head with some gray hair. He is not wearing his dentures and does not have a beard or mustache.

Sweet, who is not violent or aggressive, sometimes collects cans and asks for cigarettes from strangers, Cottam said.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 242-8477.