SEATTLE — Seattle police say a man has reported that two women entered his home, demanded money, then pulled guns out of their purses and scuffled with him as he tried to push them out of his house. He says he was pistol-whipped on the head by one of them.
The 45-year-old man said one of the guns discharged in the scuffle Wednesday afternoon but no one was hit.
The man was treated by medics after his attackers fled.
Police in the area later stopped a suspicious vehicle carrying two men and decided that at least one of them was involved in the case. That 34-year-old man was booked into jail for investigation of burglary and assault.
Detectives are continuing their investigation.
More security added for gang murder trial
More security officers have been assigned to the Seattle murder trial of a man who claims to be the founder of a street gang.
A fight broke out Monday in the King County Courthouse after Seattle police arrested a man attending a pretrial hearing. He was wanted on an outstanding warrant.
The Seattle Times reported opening statements are expected next week in the murder trial of Omar Ali Norman, who claims to be the founder of the Low Profile street gang.
He’s charged with murder in the 2005 shooting death of Terrell Milam. Prosecutors said Milam was a head of the Deuce 8 gang.
Bellingham: Man trashes store with no restroom
When employees of a Bellingham lighting store refused to let a man use the store’s bathroom, he grabbed a fixture and began smashing boxes of merchandise.
Police caught up with the man Friday and used a stun gun to arrest him when he refused to cooperate.
The Bellingham Herald reported the 29-year-old man was jailed for investigation of assault and malicious mischief.
Bellevue: Office building fire wafts smoke across I-90
A stubborn fire has damaged much of an office building near I-90 in Bellevue, wafting smoke across the freeway and disrupting rush hour traffic.
No injuries were reported in the fire that broke out shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday at the McCarthy Building.
Bellevue Fire Department Lt. Eric Keenan said officials don’t know what caused the blaze. Firefighters from Bellevue, Mercer Island and Eastside Fire and Rescue responded.
Tacoma: Accused judge wants to move trial
Pierce County Superior Court Judge Michael Hecht has asked to have the criminal trial against him moved outside the county.
He argued that coverage by The News Tribune of Tacoma poisoned his right to a fair trial.
Hecht has pleaded not guilty to charges of harassment and patronizing a prostitute and is scheduled to go on trial June 8 at the County-City Building in Tacoma. The state Attorney General’s Office is handling the prosecution and a King County judge is presiding.
The News Tribune’s executive editor and chief editorial writer stand by its coverage of Hecht.
Fort Lewis: Hearing continues in overdose death
Three Fort Lewis soldiers testifying in a military hearing have implicated a fellow soldier in providing marijuana and other drugs.
Pvt. Timothy Bennitt is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the drug overdose death of a 16-year-old girl who was found in his barracks.
Spc. Brandon Savoy testified Wednesday that he was nervous about snorting the pain killer Percocet, but that Bennitt told him it was safe if he didn’t use too much.
Savoy was testifying on the third day of Bennitt’s hearing, the military equivalent of a grand-jury proceeding.
It will resume June 2, when the defense can begin its case for the 19-year-old Bennitt, from Rolling Prairie, Ind.
The hearing will determine whether there’s enough evidence to court-martial Bennitt, who also faces drug charges.
Pullman: Lawrence Pintak is WSU Murrow College dean
Lawrence Pintak will be the first dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University. He will begin his new duties on Aug. 17.
Pintak has spent the past four years as director of journalism training at The American University in Cairo.
In 30 years as a journalist he has worked for several television networks and written for many newspapers.
His latest book is “Reflections in a Bloodshot Lens: America, Islam &the War of Ideas.”
The former Murrow School was elevated to a college of communication last July.
Renton: High school open despite sickness outbreak
Lindbergh High School in Renton reported 330 students absent on Wednesday, about 70 fewer than Tuesday as an outbreak of flu-like symptoms runs its course.
School district spokesman Randy Matheson said the school remained open for about 870 students. He describes most symptoms as “light flu” or seasonal allergies. He said he’s not aware of any ill students being tested for swine flu.
The district sent a letter home with students Monday asking parents to keep students home if they have a fever of 100 degrees or more, cough, chills, vomiting or diarrhea.
Richland: Too few legal farmworkers for subsidized housing
The Richland Housing Authority has opened a farmworker housing facility to low-income renters because it can’t find enough farmworkers who can prove they’re in the country legally.
The director of the 27-unit Cherry Hills Villas, Al Watson, told The Tri-City Herald that staffers have taken trips to fields to recruit tenants with little success.
Spokane Valley: Teens accused of passing bogus bills
Spokane Valley police say two Cheney 19-year-olds were spending counterfeit $100 bills.
KREM-TV reported they were caught Sunday when one tried to use a fake bill to buy turtle food at a pet store.
Chehalis: Operator trapped as crane topples
It took a tow truck and bulldozer to lift a toppled crane and free the operator in Chehalis.
The logging crane tipped over Tuesday, pinning the man inside at the Diamond Manufacturing company.
KITI reported the man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Oregon: No street repairs after Springfield voters reject gas tax hike
Springfield officials say eight city jobs will be eliminated and street maintenance will end temporarily after voters rejected a proposed hike in the city gasoline tax.
The proposed tax increase garnered only 44 percent of the vote while 55 percent of residents rejected it, leaving the public works department with a budget shortfall of about $650,000.
Springfield has exhausted its street fund reserves and has a backlog of about $4 million in undone work.
The tax would have increased a three-cent-a-gallon tax to five cents.
The increase, which would have raised about $570,000 a year, was projected to cost the driver of a car getting 20 mpg about $20 a year.
Associated Press
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