Bulletin column - Jan. 27, 2011

These reports are from the previous four issues of the Daily Bulletin in Colfax. They are reprinted here for the benefit of Gazette readers who reside outside of Colfax. Some accounts have been updated.

DOWNEY FACES SIX CHARGES

Six charges were filed Friday against Frederick N. Downey, 61, Pullman resident who was jailed last week after a lengthy investigation which included installation of a GPS tracking device on his car. Downey is charged with burglary of an office in the Professional Mall at Pullman Oct. 24 and attempted burglary Jan. 18 at the Pufferbelly Depot, the last suspected crime listed on the Pullman police report. It alleges Downey damaged the door to the depot office.

Two charges each of theft and possession of stolen property in December involve Walmart gift cards, valued at $50 and $25.

Bond for pre-trial release was set at $5,000 Friday in court.

CALL ON DOOR LOCKUP CASE

Colfax police and fire units Tuesday morning responded to a report from a Hauser Addition resident who had locked herself out of her house with a 10-month-old infant left inside. She said she stepped out of her house to see another youngster off on the school van and discovered the door had locked behind her. After determining entry could not be made back in the house, crews called Steve’s glass and a small porch window was broken out to get into the house and unlock the door.

KNIGHTEN TRIAL DATE SET

An April 18 trial date was slated for Kendra Knighten, Colfax, after she pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge of attempted possession of methamphetamine in Colfax. She appeared in court Friday in response to a summons.

Tiffani Zorb, 32, Colfax, who was charged the same day as Knighten, has been re-scheduled for arraignment Feb. 4. She has been charged with delivery of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana and methamphetamine. The charges stem from an alleged use of a confidential informant to make a drug purchase at the Zorb house on Fairview last June. Zorb had also been summoned to make a first appearance in court Friday.

SCHOOL ACCEPTS EAGLE PROJECT

Colfax school board members Monday night formally accepted the Eagle Scout project of Larry Jensen, a junior at CHS. His Eagle project involved installation of two planter boxes in the courtyard of the high school. The boxes will be used for growing herbs which can be used in the CHS cafeteria. The boxes are located just outside the cafeteria. The herb plants have been kept indoors at the school for the winter.

TRIAL SET ON ESCAPE CHARGE

A March 14 trial was set for Ronald A. Rutledge, Jr., Spokane, after he pleaded not guilty Friday in court to charges of escape, theft of a motor vehicle, and two counts of third degree theft. Rutledge was formally charged last week in connection with an alleged escape Nov. 20 from the jail here. He allegedly fled while shaking out rugs in the courtyard of the jail during a work detail.

HOSPITAL TRIP FOLLOWS ASSAULT REPORT

A 31-year-old Colfax woman was taken by ambulance to Whitman Hospital Sunday night for treatment of injuries sustained in an alleged assault. Police received a report of the assault at 10:50 p.m. and they and the ambulance responded to a residence on S. Main Street where the alleged victim had gone.

Assistant Chief David Szambelan, two deputies and a state trooper responded to the site of the alleged assault and after an investigation arrested Cara Zimmerman, 24, Colfax, on a probable charge of fourth degree assault with domestic violence.

MORE THORN HILL BLAST REPORTS

Assistant Chief David Szambelan early Saturday morning responded to a report from a resident on Southview of repeated shots being fired at about 2 a.m. He was unable to find the source of the shots.

At 9:14 a.m. a resident of Valleyview reported hearing the repeated shots in the early morning hours, and police later received two more reports from residents from Valleyview that five to six shots were heard in fast sequence.

KEYING SAID DONE ON TOYOTA

Colfax police received a report Sunday that a Toyota Matrix had received scratch marks, possibly made by keys, while parked in the west alley behind Sol Vallarta. The scratches were believed to have been made four days earlier.

CITY OFFICER JOINS PUBLIC WORKS

City Police Officer Robert Wride has been hired to fill the vacant slot on the Public Works crew. Wride has served on the police department since March of 2004.

Wride has extensive experience and training in mechanics and heavy equipment from service years. He served nine years in the U.S. Navy where he was a mechanic and welder on airplanes. He then served in the U.S. Army Reserve. He said he applied for the public works job so he can have more normal family time.

Wride, who will be the second former city police officer to join the city crew, will make the change at the end of the month. He will still be available for part-time duty with the police department as needed.

Former Police Chief Barney Buckley joined the city crew after retiring as police chief.

BURGLARY NEAR DUSTY

Whitman County deputies are investigating a suspected burglary of a farm shop on Highway 26 in the Dusty area. Deputy Sgt. Donald Anderson said padlocks on the shop doors were cut and a 25-foot Prowler travel trailer was taken from the shop. The burglary is believed to have taken place between 5 p.m and 8 a.m. the night of Jan. 19-20.

Also missing are two four-wheelers and an older model dirt bike. The makes of those are unknown.

After checking tracks left at the scene, deputies believe two large pickup trucks and two people were involved in the incident. Persons who might have any information on the burglary are asked to call Deputy Keith Cooper at the sheriff’s office.

COMPUTER TAKEN FROM HOUSE

A laptop computer was reported missing from a residence on Nixon Street in Colfax Tuesday, Jan. 18. Officers believe the house was entered through anunlocked door while the resident was not at home.