In brief: Woman charged in purse-snatching

A Spokane woman who allegedly stole a woman’s purse and stabbed a witness who tried to detain her is facing robbery and identity theft charges.

Police arrested Wenona Gent, 38, on Tuesday after officers identified her as a suspect based on surveillance footage taken from the Dec. 28 robbery at Yoke’s Fresh Market, 210 E. North Foothills Drive.

According to court documents, officers believe Gent grabbed a woman’s purse from her shopping cart. When the shopper yelled that her purse had been taken, another woman in the store chased Gent outside and tried to grab the purse back.

Gent then allegedly stabbed her pursuer in the shoulder and fled with the shopper’s wallet, which she had removed from the purse. The witness required stitches to close the wound.

Police said Gent tried to use one of the victim’s checks at the Coeur d’Alene Casino several days later. She was arrested on charges of armed robbery, identity theft and possession of methamphetamine, and remains in jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Homeowner’s actions lead to arrest

A homeowner in northwest Spokane successfully detained a would-be thief after a fight earlier this week, leading to the arrest of Jeffrey E. Krell on assault and burglary charges, according to court documents.

The homeowner told police he returned to his house in the 3400 block of West Bismarck Avenue about 2 p.m. Saturday and found two people inside fleeing from his basement through the kitchen door.

According to court documents, he attempted to stop the suspects, and said both began hitting, punching and kicking him.

Eventually, the pair forced him onto his porch, where he was able to detain one of the men. A motorist called police, who arrived and detained Krell at the scene.

Police recovered a coat that did not belong to the victim with a bundle of methamphetamine in the pocket.

Krell was arrested on charges of burglary and assault. He remains in jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.

Tips lead to arrest in carjacking

After receiving multiple tips about her identity from the public, Spokane police arrested a woman they believe stole a car from a couple at gunpoint after the couple gave her a ride.

Starsha Thorp, 32, was arrested Wednesday on first-degree robbery charges connected to the carjacking incident, which took place Dec. 11.

The victims told police a woman approached them and asked for a ride to the Wal-Mart at 9121 N. Colton St. When they refused to wait while she shopped there, she asked to be driven to East St. Thomas More Way and Nevada Street.

Once the couple dropped her off, they said, she pulled a gun out of her purse, pointed it at them and ordered them out of the vehicle.

Police released surveillance photos of the incident Jan. 6 hoping to identify the suspect. A Spokane police detective received 15 tips saying the suspect was Thorp.

Thorp remains in jail on the robbery charge.

Father arrested on child assault charge

A man accused of picking up his 1-year-old daughter by her feet and repeatedly hitting her as they crossed a north Spokane street has been arrested on suspicion of child assault.

The father, Matthew T. Stone, 24, who also goes by Matthew Munyon, and the girl’s mother told officers they regularly used spanking and physical discipline with their daughter, according to court documents.

A witness told police the parents were pushing a stroller across Francis Avenue at Regal Street when Stone lifted the girl out of the stroller by her feet about 9:40 a.m. Wednesday, according to court records. The witness called police and watched the family go into a trailer in the 6500 block of North Regal.

Responding deputies observed bruises on the girl’s back, buttocks, thighs and face. Stone allegedly told deputies that he remembered picking his daughter up by her foot and hitting her while crossing the street near Francis Avenue and Regal Street, but couldn’t remember why he felt the need to hit her, according to court documents.

The girl’s mother told police that bruises on the girl’s face are the result of her falling off a bed, court records said. She also told deputies that she’s reasonable in her use of physical discipline with her daughter, but said Stone is unreasonable and hits the girl too hard, court records said. Deputies booked Stone into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of third-degree child assault.

Vigil to focus on human trafficking

Lutheran Community Services Northwest and Partners through Arts will hold a candlelight vigil Sunday to bring awareness to human trafficking.

It’s the second-largest criminal industry in the world after drugs, worth $32 billion annually, according to a news release.

Yet many people don’t know it exists in the United States or in the Inland Northwest, the release said.

The free event will honor victims and survivors of human trafficking. The event starts at 2:30 p.m. at River Park Square, with the vigil beginning at 3 p.m.

For information, contact Mabel Elsom, (509) 343-5091.