In brief: Area evacuated after device found

Police looking for an Idaho fugitive in Spokane discovered a suspected pipe bomb that prompted an evacuation of the area Wednesday.

Officers were looking for the man at a home in the 1400 block of West Cora Court when they learned he had barricaded himself inside and was possibly armed, according to police.

Neighboring apartments were evacuated and SWAT team negotiators showed up, but the man then surrendered voluntarily.

Police were alerted to the possible explosive device after his arrest, and the bomb squad was called to detonate the device.

Man arrested after threats alleged

The Spokane veterans hospital was locked down Tuesday after a man with a history of threats said he was going to return with a gun when his narcotics prescription refill was denied.

John Alvin Barr II, 26, apparently was upset he couldn’t immediately fill the prescription when he went to the Spokane Veteran Affairs Medical Center at 4815 N. Assembly St. on Tuesday at about 5:45 p.m.

Employees told Barr his physician had left for the day and was unavailable to authorize the refill. A hospital administrator refused to authorize the refill because he noticed it wasn’t the first time Barr had requested unscheduled refills.

When told that, Barr reportedly said, “I guess I’m just going to have to go home and get my .45 then,” according to court documents.

It was the third time since September 2010 Barr had made threats involving a firearm, hospital staff said. The facility was locked down because employees were concerned Barr might carry out the threat.

Barr brought firearms to the hospital in October 2005 and was put on probation for three years beginning in March 2006.

Barr, of Wallace, appeared in U.S. District Court on gun charges Wednesday and was ordered to remain in jail. A hearing to determine if he can be granted bail is scheduled for today at 2:30 p.m.