Man arrested for smearing fecal matter on businesses
Crimes had continued for more than a year
A Spokane Valley police sergeant Sunday arrested a suspect in a yearlong series of incidents in which the suspect splashed human waste on Dishman-area businesses.
The incidents began in July 2007, when managers and other employees began arriving to work and finding diluted human feces splashed or smeared on the walls and doors of their businesses.
The fecal matter appeared to be mixed with water. At least one business was hit seven or more times.
On Saturday night, Sgt. Doug Lawson was patrolling the area and encountered several employees hiding in the area and keeping watch on their business. They told him they would not be there all night.
Shortly after 3 a.m. on Sunday, Lawson drove through the area again. The employees were gone and he spotted fecal matter splashed on the business.
He began checking the roads leading away from the area and found John Rubint, 53, of Spokane Valley, traveling south on Farr Road in a motorized wheelchair. A plastic bucket was hanging from the machine.
Lawson stopped Rubint. Subsequent investigation revealed that Rubint had moved to Spokane Valley in May 2007 and began the alleged acts of vandalism in July.
Rubint was arrested on two counts of first-degree malicious mischief, said police spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan
Detective Kirk Keyser said Sunday afternoon that he anticipated additional criminal charges following further investigation of all the reported incidents.
Rubint was driven to the Spokane County Jail and booked on two felony charges.