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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Police opt to release some public records

The Spokesman-Review

The Spokane Police Department, faced with the threat of a lawsuit to gain access to public records, released its policy manual and statistical data on Monday to The Spokesman-Review.

The department released its organizational chart – minus names of officers holding leadership positions – and statistics of internal affairs complaints from the past five years.

The newspaper still is seeking copies of the citizen and police complaints that prompted those internal affairs investigations.

The department also released a copy of its policies and procedures manual with the exception of a section dealing with high-speed chases. Assistant City Attorney Rocco Treppiedi, legal adviser to the Police Department, cited an exemption under the state’s Open Records Act for the decision to withhold that information.The data was to have been made public last week, but acting Police Chief Jim Nicks blocked the release, saying he was angry at the newspaper’s recent coverage of former firefighter Daniel Ross and of Otto Zehm, who died last month after being Tasered by police.

– Bill Morlin

Bonner County, Idaho

Small-plane pilot lands in hospital

A 58-year-old Heron, Mont., man was taken to Bonner General Hospital on Monday afternoon after crashing a small plane near Clark Fork, Idaho.

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office would not release the man’s name or comment on his condition, but a news release said he was complaining of chest injuries.

Witnesses said the man crashed while attempting to land the 1952 Cessna 170B at the River Road Airstrip, the release said.

His wife told authorities that the plane had been stored in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and that Monday’s flight was the first time the airplane had been used this season.

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.

– Taryn Brodwater

Othello, Wash.

Man shot in head; four are arrested

An Othello-area resident was shot in the head Sunday, and four suspects have been arrested.

The victim, 30-year-old Bartolo C. Sanchez, was in serious condition Monday evening at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Adams County Undersheriff Kevin Fuhr said in a news release that the suspected shooter is Carlos A. Bustos, 30. Bustos was booked on suspicion of first-degree assault, being an alien in possession of firearms, possession of stolen firearms and possession of cocaine.

Also arrested were Othello residents Alfredo B. Luna, 31; Flavio C. Camacho, 24; and Javier C. Camacho, 20 – all on suspicion of rendering criminal assistance, being aliens in possession of firearms, possession of stolen firearms and possession of cocaine.

Fuhr said Othello police made the arrests at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday after finding a stolen and blood-smeared 2005 Toyota Land Cruiser outside an Othello house.

Two hours later, deputies responded to a call about a man bleeding at an Othello-area house. They found Sanchez outside and cocaine, a shotgun and three handguns inside. One of the handguns had been stolen in Spokane, Fuhr said.

– John Craig