Northwest Briefly: UW burglary suspect caught with 12 iPods
Published 9:29 pm Saturday, October 9, 2010
SEATTLE — Seattle police believe they have caught a burglar who has been stealing electronics from fraternities near the University of Washington.
After a burglary early Friday, an officer stopped a man in the University District matching the description of a suspect. He had 12 iPods in his possession.
He was jailed for investigation of burglary.
State Patrol: Witness helps nab hit and run driver
An alert driver helped Washington State Patrol troopers catch a woman suspected of severely hitting a pedestrian and then driving off.
The State Patrol said the 51-year-old Seattle man hit was transported to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Troopers said the man was hit as he was walking on the shoulder of an I-5 ramp in Seattle Friday morning.
A Bremerton man driving behind the car that hit the pedestrian followed the vehicle as it re-entered the freeway and called 911. He described the make and model of the vehicle while following it until troopers were able to catch up to the car.
The 45-year-old woman driving the car was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and felony hit and run.
Governor, premier celebrate Amtrak
Gov. Chris Gregoire and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell have conducted a two-day joint cabinet meeting in Seattle.
Among other things they talked about plans for the Winter Olympics, including an additional Amtrak run they celebrated with an event Friday afternoon at the King Street Station.
The second daily Amtrak Cascades run began in August. It gives travelers from Oregon direct round-trip service to Vancouver, B.C.
Hazel Dell: Man shoots self in foot
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office said a Hazel Dell man who accidentally shot himself in the foot as he was unloading his gun could be charged with reckless endangerment.
The shot went through the floor and into the bedroom of an apartment below. The Vancouver Columbian reported the residents were in another room Tuesday but were unharmed.
Burlington: Dead pilot identified
The 69-year-year pilot who died after his small plane crashed at the Skagit County Regional Airport near Burlington on Thursday has been identified.
Authorities said Bruce Heiner was the owner and pilot of the Piper PA-12 plane that went down shortly after takeoff. The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office said Heiner had been working on his plane before the doomed flight. Federal officials are investigating the crash.
Pullman: WSU regents OK bonds
The Washington State University regents have approved $112 million in bonds to pay for two new buildings on the Pullman campus and one at WSU Vancouver.
The bonds approved at the regents’ meeting Friday in Pullman will fund the Vancouver Applied Technology Building, which is under construction, and the first phase of the Global Animal Health Building and the Veterinary Medicine Research Building at Pullman.
Port Ludlow: Plea in $2M condo fire
A 32-year-old man has admitted he set a fire that did $2 million in damage to a condominium complex in Port Ludlow because he was jealous of his girlfriend.
Kevin Lee Graesser of Port Hadlock pleaded guilty to arson Friday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma and is expected to face 11 to 13 ½ years in prison.
Graesser admitted he was seeking revenge against a man he suspected of being romantically involved with his girlfriend. In December 2004 he set a fire in what he thought was the man’s car. The fire spread to the carport roof, destroyed one condo building and damaged two others.
The car actually belonged to the man’s grandmother. The man wasn’t in the condo at the time.
Graesser was arrested in Alaska in 2007.
Onalaska: Fatal fire caused by candles
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said candles apparently started the fire at an Onalaska home that killed a 32-year-old man.
Friends gave candles to Christopher W. Sandridge last week because his power was out.
His body was found in the remains of the fire. The autopsy showed he died from smoke inhalation.
Oregon: Ex-Cottage Grove teacher denies sex charge
A former teacher at Cottage Grove High School has pleaded not guilty to an accusation he had sexual contact with a girl who attended the school when he taught there.
Shane Mast of Drain could face one year in jail if convicted of third-degree sexual abuse.
The 31-year-old is also accused of sexual abuse and contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor for alleged encounters with Cottage Grove high schoolers in Douglas County. He is scheduled to be arraigned on those charges next week.
Mast resigned last year, telling his employer he planned to focus on his missionary work in Africa.
According to Cottage Grove prosecutor Martin Fisher, investigators suspect Mast of additional crimes involving Cottage Grove girls in Lincoln County and in Africa.
Crews breaching Savage Rapids Dam
After 88 years, the Rogue River will again flow through its historic channel at Savage Rapids.
A dam has blocked the river since 1921, but it’s being breached.
Demolition crews Friday will slowly divert the Rogue into a new “pilot channel” carved through the gravel. What will start as a trickle will later turn into the full force of the Rogue River gushing past the remnants of the dam.
The beginnings of that flow are expected to be followed by a small flotilla of rafts and kayaks.
Oregon fugitive sentenced for 1993 killing
A man who fled the state following a 1993 murder has been sentenced to almost 15 years in prison.
Lincoln County authorities say Robert Mohr and three accomplices lured an acquaintance to Highway 229, telling the man a friend needed a jump-start. Instead, they shot him and stole his truck.
District Attorney Robert Bovett told The Oregonian newspaper the three accomplices were convicted, but Mohr altered his name and fled the state.
He decided to turn himself in last year and pleaded guilty Oct. 1 to murder
The 52-year-old was sentenced under guidelines from 1993.
From Herald news services
