Most Liberty Lake arrests are nonresidents

Liberty Lake police arrested 237 people in 2007, but only 14 of those people actually lived in Liberty Lake.

The fact is that many people drive though Liberty Lake, whether it’s because they work in town or because Interstate 90 offers easy access, said police Chief Brian Asmus.

In addition, officers are routinely called outside the city limits to assist deputies with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. “In the unincorporated area, there’s only one or two deputies on patrol,” Asmus said, “The sheriff’s deputy could be in Newman Lake or Mount Spokane,” he said. “We’re usually asked to go because we can get there faster. Those types of things are going to drive that number.”

Officers don’t get called to Spokane Valley very often because that city is well-staffed, Asmus said.

Of the total arrests, 225 were adults and 12 were juveniles. The top offense was driving with a suspended license, which racked up 94 offenders. The other top crimes, from highest to lowest, were drug possession, driving under the influence, fugitive from justice and domestic violence.

Whether the lack of Liberty Lake residents being arrested will hold true in 2008 is in doubt. While none were arrested in February, 10 were arrested in March.