Bulletin Column

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.

COURT REVERSES

PERC RULING

In a decision issued July 25 Superior Court Judge David Frazier reversed a decision by the state’s Public Employees Relations Commission and ruled in favor of Washington State University officials. The commission ruling on a labor practice dispute was made last Aug. 15 in favor of the Washington Federation of State Employees.

The August PERC ruling was appealed to the superior court by the university.

The dispute involved whether or not a roofing project on the WSU president’s house fell under terms of a labor bargaining agreement.

The PERC ruling found WSU officials acted in bad faith when they failed to engage in a previously arranged bargaining session and later invoked a 45-day contract limit on the roofing program.

In his ruling the judge ruled WSU could not be found to be acting in bad faith after it had agreed earlier to bargain when it had no duty or obligation to bargain in the first place. He ruled the employees’ group failed to present evidence to show the university had that initial obligation.

The decision was remanded to PERC to correct the error and enter a dismissal of WSU from the decision of conducting unlawful labor practices.

PATEROS

SHIPPING DATE delayed

Shipping date for the Colfax collection of food and supplies to assist residents who lost their homes to the Carlton Complex fire at Pateros has been moved back about 20 days. Tammy Lewis, one of the organizers of the project, said they have received word from Pateros officials that they would like to get the shipment after Aug. 20.

The reason for the delay is a plan in Pateros to move the supply headquarters there to another location. By delaying donations from Colfax and other areas around the state, the volunteers at Pateros will avoid having to move the items twice.

A large number of donations have already been gathered at Events on Main, the Colfax collection point. The delay will allow the local group more time to collect donations.

‘LITTLE BULLDOG’ RETURNS

Adrian Garza, 27, who was convicted here for possession of property stolen in October of 2012, was booked into the county jail here July 24 after he was arrested July 9 in Clackamas, Ore., on a warrant. The warrant was issued after Garza failed to appear at a hearing for compliance with a court order for payment of fines and fees.

Garza, who was first identified to deputies as Little Bulldog by another defendant, was convicted of being in possession of property which was purchased from Walmart in Pullman with the use of a credit card that had been stolen from a residence in Endicott. He was sentenced to 45 days and ordered to pay $4,810 in fines, fees and restitution to the owner of the credit card.

According to the sheriff’s report a credit card from the wallet, which was later found along Endicott Road, was used to purchase fuel in Endicott, draw cash from an ATM at Zeppo’s in Pullman and purchase more than $2,500 in products from Walmart.

After checking surveillance tapes, police identified Brian Allery of Pullman as the user of the card. Allery later told them a man he knew as Little Bulldog had asked him to use the card at Walmart to purchase a TV and other items while buying a few items for himself. Allery, who was later sentenced to 60 days for identity theft, led police to Garza’s residence near Clarkston.

Both Garza and Allery were ordered to pay more than $3,245 restitution to the owner of the credit card.

DUI EMPHASIS REPORT

Whitman County extra DUI emphasis patrols from July 1 through July 13 resulted in eight suspects cited. During the same period last year 15 suspects were cited. Colfax, WSU and Pullman Police, Whitman County Sheriff and the Washington State Patrol participated, according to Karen Wigen, manager of the Target Zero Task Force based in Spokane.

TERRELL

SENTENCED

TO 30 DAYS

Brittany D. Terrell, 19, Rosalia, was sentenced to 30 days in jail July 25 after she pleaded guilty in superior court to second-degree theft. The charge was reduced from an initial charge of residential burglary.

Terrell admitted taking money from a residence on Ash Street in Malden last April 18. Prosecutor Denis Tracy said an estimated $800 to $1,000 was taken from the residence on Ash Street with most of it in cash. Coins were also taken with the total value unknown.

The prosecutor read a letter from the victim, Heather Young, who said her first reaction of outrage turned to disappointment after she learned Terrell, who was considered a member of their extended family, had taken the money. The report said Terrell was a former friend of the victim’s daughter.

The victim suggested the court appoint some type of guardian to help Terrell make better decisions for her life.

Terrell told the court she committed the theft for food money. She said she had difficulty finding a job after dropping out of college.

She was ordered to begin the 30-day term Friday and will be allowed work release to pay off fines and fees. She was also ordered to pay $500 in agreed restitution.

Deputies received a break in investigating the case when a neighbor reported seeing a pickup truck pull up in front of the residence and a woman entering the house which wasn’t occupied at the time. The truck was later identified as belonging to Terrell.

IMPRISONMENT ARREST

Rashawn A. Winston, 30, Pullman, was booked into the county jail Sunday afternoon on a probable charge of unlawful imprisonment. The arrest followed a Pullman Police investigation of a report that Winston threatened to keep two juvenile girls from leaving his residence after he discovered the two girls and a male had entered the apartment while he was absent.

According to the police report, the male who had accompanied the girls to the residence had previously lived at the apartment for a short time. The three entered the residence and Winston later returned to find them inside. Winston allegedly demanded payment of money to keep him from reporting the entry to police. He allegedly instructed the male member of the trio to go get $100 while he kept the two juvenile girls from leaving the residence.

VALLEY WOMAN SENTENCED

Brianna L. Belote, 21, Otis Orchards, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay fines and fees of $1,450 after she pleaded guilty in superior court to an amended charge of solicitation to possess a controlled substance, methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

The judge allowed Belote to work off the jail time with 240 hours of public service work because she now has a six-week-old baby. The charge dates back 18 months.

ROBBERY NETS

4 YEARS

The suspect in a home invasion robbery last November in Pullman was sentenced to four years in prison Friday morning after pleading guilty to amended charges which included robbery, residential burglary and theft in the second degree.

The suspect, Daraaraa A. Waqo, 23, Seattle, at one time faced seven different charges involved with the robbery. He had been allowed pre-trial release on $50,000 bail which was posted after the court dropped an initial bail requirement of $200,000.

Judge David Frazier said Waqo was on a crime spree when he came to Pullman last November. He said he committed a serious, aggravated crime which terrorized the victim.

Prosecutor Denis Tracy said Waqo and another suspect last Nov. 4 knocked on doors in Pullman to determine if houses were occupied. The robbery on Michigan Street involved a woman who did not hear them knock on her door. However, she subsequently heard a crashing sound when the intruders knocked in the basement door to the residence.

Tracy said Waqo ordered the victim to get down on her knees while pointing a pistol at her. While she was on her knees, Waqo and another suspect circulated around the residence and collected items to steal. They left with a laptop computer, wallet and a credit card.

The suspects were apprehended when they were spotted later that day at Walmart in Pullman where they attempted to use the stolen credit card to purchase gift cards.

Tracy pointed out the three charges in Friday’s plea agreement involved three different victims, the victim in the robbery, Walmart as the theft victim and a neighbor of the robbery victim where entry was made into an enclosed porch. In that instance, the neighbor responded to the suspects’ knock at the door.

His defense attorney said Waqo had become involved in cocaine use, and Waqo, who was a student at Seattle Central Community College, told the court he has been attending Alcohol and Narcotics Anonymous sessions in Seattle.

Judge Frazier also ordered Waqo to undergo 18 months of community supervision after he was released from prison and comply with any drug treatment required by his supervisor.