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Trio break into Spokane Valley home

A home invasion in Spokane Valley last night left a woman badly shaken.

It happened in the 9300 block of East Valleyway around 6 p.m. Monday night.

Spokane County Sheriff's deputies say the woman was home alone when a masked man broke through her front window and let two more men inside.

Deputies said she tried to stop them but was shoved down and out of the way.

The woman said they took electronics from the home and took off in a white Ford Explorer.

Robbery suspect steals from WalMart, puts loot up for sale on Facebook

Talk about bold: A robbery suspect stole Apple electronics goods from two area WalMarts and then turned around and advertised he was selling cheap Apple products on his Facebook account.

Cameras at WalMart caught some crystal clear images of the thief as he allegedly hit a pair of WalMart stores and now Spokane County Sheriff's deputies are searching for the suspect, helped in their efforts by several of the suspect's ex-girlfriends.

There wasn't even reward money being offered in this case, but after those surveillance photos appeared on January 25 no less than eight people called the sheriff's office and identified the suspect.

video Some people are not afraid to burn bridges and Lundon Walker is apparently one of them. Walker allegedly went to the back of two different WalMarts, broke out the glass on a display case and strolled out of the store with an arm-load of Apple electronics.

Will fifth time be the charm for East Valley schools?

Is the fifth time the charm? The East Valley School District is hoping voters will pass a bond at a February 12 special election. Their last successful bond was back in 1996.

Some of East Valley's schools were built in 1979 and it's starting to show. They say they need common sense upgrades like sprinkler systems and heating and cooling systems, but also big ticket items, like a new football field, so the high school's team can actually practice there.

"I came here in 1989 when this building was the beautiful new high school in the greater Spokane area," Principal Jeff Miller said.

He's been around to see the school in its glory days and now -- 24 years later -- to see it fall apart.

video "We're lacking sorely; we have a little 106 seat small black box theater," Miller said.

Miller has also been around to see four separate bonds fail, so he's really hoping this new $65 Million bond can bring his kids the school they deserve.

Man stabbed at Spokane Valley Hooters

Sheriff's deputies say a man was stabbed at least four times at Hooters in Spokane Valley Saturday night.

Spokane Valley Sheriff's received the stabbing call around 9 p.m.

When the deputy arrived, he talked with the victim inside the Hooters casino. The man said he saw an old friend who asked him to step outside.

The victim said he thought the man wanted to work out issues from their past, but instead he pulled a folding knife out of his front pocket and stood in a threatening manner.

Thinking the man was going to stab him, the victim hit him in the face one time. The suspect then attacked him, stabbing him at least four times before he could get away.

Deputies say surveillance video verified the man's description of the incident. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Deputies also have information about the suspect, but have not released it. The investigation is ongoing.

Pines Road closure planned this weekend

Pines Road closure planned this weekend

This weekend, Saturday Feb. 2 and Sunday, Feb. 3, the southbound lanes of Pines Rd. between Mansfield Avenue and Indiana Avenue will be closed for construction.

The closure is planned between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. both days for work on UPRR tracks.

A detour route will be posted for drivers to take Mirabeau Parkway around the construction site.

For more information on this project, call 1-775-828-3433.

Deputy finds three stolen cars in one night

Spokane County deputies found three stolen cars Tuesday night, including a teenage girl's car that was reunited with her less than an hour after being stolen.

Around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, police got a report of a stolen car in Spokane Valley. A deputy spotted the car at Trent Avenue and Fancher Road a few minutes later. When the deputy tried pulling the driver over, the man took off. The deputy lost the car near Mission Avenue and Crestline Street.

The deputies found the car a few minutes later, crashed into a nearby garage and the driver was gone. Police used a K9 to track the man, eventually finding him on the 2300 block of East Marshall Avenue.

video Spokane County Sheriff Sergeant Dave Ellis said the deputy who originally spotted the car, Deputy Jason Karnitz, found two other cars earlier Tuesday night.

"It has been a busy night," Ellis said.

The first two stolen cars were spotted thanks to the new automated license plate reader.

SVFD chooses new chief

SVFD chooses new chief

 

The wait to choose a fire chief is over.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department announced Wednesday that the Board of Fire Commissioners chose Bryan Collins, of Walnut Creek, Calif., to head the department.

Collins has more than 27 years of experience in fire protection – he stepped down from his post as assistant fire chief for the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District in San Ramon, Calif., last year, according to a news release.

Collins quick facts:

  • First day with SVFD: March 4, 2013
  • Has bachelor's degree in Vocational Education/Occupational Studies from California State University-Long Beach.
  • Earned master's degree in Emergency Services Administration from CSU-LB.
  • Married to his wife, Nancy, for 25 years.
  • Has two children: A son, 20; and a daughter, 17.