Cops nab theft suspect running from Safeway in Liberty Lake

Several people were arrested in Liberty Lake last week, with one almost literally running into the long arms of the law.

Det. Ray Bourgeois was in the area of Safeway on Liberty Lake Road at 4:30 p.m. on March 16 when he saw a man running from the store while appearing to be hiding something under his sweatshirt, said Liberty Lake Police Chief Brian Asmus. The man ran directly toward Bourgeois, who identified himself and told the man to stop and lift his shirt. The man refused to comply and began to walk away. Bourgeois thought the man might be hiding a weapon and drew his gun to get the man to comply, Asmus said.

It turned out that the man was trying to conceal a bottle of wine worth $9.99, Asmus said. He was arrested on a charge of third-degree theft.

Employees at the Spokane Teachers Credit Union administrative office on Signal Road called police the morning of March 15 to report that a man had gotten inside the secure portion of the building and was refusing to leave. As the employees attempted to escort the man out he pulled the fire alarm, which caused the Spokane Valley Fire Department to respond, Asmus said. The 46-year-old Liberty Lake man was given a criminal citation for tampering with a fire alarm and has been banned from the property, he said.

Police got a report of an accident in the 25000 block of East Hawkstone Loop at 2:30 p.m. on March 16. An officer arrived to find an abandoned car with severe front end damage and two deployed air bags. The car was towed.

Later that day a 21-year-old Blanchard, Idaho, man called 911 to report that his car had been stolen from Spokane Valley the previous evening. He came to the Liberty Lake Police Department to give a statement and police determined that he had crashed the car on Hawkstone Loop and made up the story about it being stolen, Asmus said. He was arrested on charges of false reporting and failure to report an accident.

A domestic violence incident was reported in the 200 block of North Legacy Ridge Drive the evening of March 14. Officers arrested Raymond C. Marks, 39, on a felony charge of second-degree domestic violence assault. The woman involved was taken to the hospital for treatment of her injuries, Asmus said.

Other arrests during the week included one for driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence and on a warrant for possession of marijuana. Police have also issued an arrest warrant for a man involved in a domestic violence assault in the 25000 block of East Hawkstone Loop on Friday.

A missing Alzheimer’s patient was found in the 2300 block of Remington Lane on March 15, and a residential burglary was reported in the 19700 block of East Nora Avenue on March 16. The homeowner reported that someone had entered the home through the garage and taken several electronic items, a shotgun, jewelry and a road bike. The homeowner identified a possible suspect and the case is under investigation, Asmus said.

Five construction vehicles were spray-painted and had their windows broken out in a construction area in the 25000 block of East Hawkstone Loop. The vandals got into the area by cutting through perimeter fencing. The damage was reported the afternoon of March 16.

During the week of March 14 through Monday Liberty Lake officers assisted the Washington State Patrol with a few calls. A report of a reckless driver came in the evening of March 15 on Interstate 90 near Sullivan Road. An officer spotted the car involved at I-90 and Barker Road and stopped the car, Asmus said. The WSP arrested the driver for driving under the influence.

Officers gave out three citations for license and plate violations , 10 for failure to show proof of liability insurance, two for defective mufflers, two for failure to stop/yield at intersections and 12 for speeding. Additional citations were given for failure to change addresses or names, defective tail lights/license lights, failure to dim headlights and failure to wear safety belts.