Sheriff considers housing federal prisoners

Sheriff Brett Myers is closing in on a deal with the U.S. Marshall’s office to house federal prisoners at the Whitman County jail.

“We have the space to squeeze these guys in,” said Myers. “And if we have a real busy weekend and run short on space, we can always throw a mattress on the floor.”

The U.S. Marshall typically houses prisoners at large county jails. Prisoners nabbed by the local marshall stay at the Spokane County jail, but Spokane’s jail has been running out of space, and Whitman County’s proximity makes it an attractive alternative for long-term inmates.

Myers said most of the pri...