Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
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Deputy allegedly hit in face
A formal charge against Thomas W. Benson, 61, Colton, alleges he struck Deputy Sgt. Donald Anderson in the face during a domestic violence arrest Aug. 27, in Colton. The report by Deputy Brian Keller said he and Sgt. Anderson attempted to subdue the suspect at the scene but Benson began to struggle. The deputies eventually took him to the ground and a taser gun was used to subdue him the report said. The taser was applied to the suspect’s back and chest area after he rolled over.
Benson, who was allowed release on his own recognizance, is also charged with fourth degree assault of a family member and resisting arrest.
Charge incampus hill assault
Jacob Michael Allen, 21, Stanwood, was booked into jail after Pullman Police late Saturday, Aug. 29, night responded to a report of an assault in the campus hill area of Pullman. Police responded after getting a report a man had been knocked down. The report alleges the suspect continued to punch the victim after he had been knocked unconscious.
The victim was taken to Pullman Regional Hospital where doctors reported he has sustained a significant concussion and facial fractures.
Witnesses told police the assault was done by a man wearing a black cowboy hat, and a Pullman officer apprehended the suspect wearing that type of hat at Colorado and Ruby Streets. Witness from the assault scene identified Allen.
He was allowed pre-trial release on is own recognizance in a first appearance in court Monday.
Driver reports deer hit
A Spokane driver reported she had hit a deer on the Walla Walla highway south of Dusty Sunday, Aug. 30. Melissa Madaffer, 25, continued on to Dusty after the collision and made her report there. She was uncertain of the site but believes it was when she was coming up the Central Ferry grade.
According to the Washington State Patrol report, she was driving a 2008 Nissan Altima northbound at noon when the deer ran into the roadway.
Cyclist jailed after chase
A 20-year-old Redmond man was booked into the county jail on probable charges of attempting to elude a police car and reckless driving on a motorcycle. The suspect, Gerald D. Redding, was arrested in Adams County after a chase which started at about 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, in Whitman County was discontinued by a deputy.
The suspect was arrested at 4:20 p.m. near mile marker 57 on Highway 26. His alleged speed prior to the arrest was logged at 92 mph in a 65 mph zone.
Sgt. Chris Chapman in his arrest report said he was eastbound when he encountered the westbound motorcycle and turned in pursuit. He said he followed the cycle for six miles at 105 miles an hour and began to close ground when they encountered traffic congestion. The cyclist allegedly made a pass across the double yellow lines and the Highway 26 curve west of the LaCrosse Airport entry road intersection.
Sgt. Chapman lost contact with the suspect’s cycle when he briefly stopped to instruct another cycle rider who had stopped. He resumed his pursuit but was unable to get within sight of the suspect cycle and broke off the chase at the county line.
Redding, who was riding a Honda 600, was arrested by a Washington State Patrol deputy about 20 minutes later. Chapman’s report said Redding later told him he decided to ignore the arrest lights because of what he believed would be ramifications from prior traffic arrests.
He was allowed pre-trial release on his own recognizance. A formal charge was filed in court.
Bond set at $50,000
A $50,000 bail sum for pre-trial release was set Friday in superior court for Joseph A. Cole, 23, Colfax. Cole was arrested on probable charges of second degree domestic assault and unlawful imprisonment after police were called to an apartment in the S. 900 block of East Street in Colfax at about 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, night.
The city police arrest report alleges Cole applied a strangle hold to a woman at the apartment and attempted to prevent her from leaving for work.
The court also ordered Cole to have no contact with the alleged victim. Formal charges have not been filed.
Seattle driver hurt
Valerie A. Jones, 25, Seattle, was taken by Colfax ambulance to Pullman Regional Hospital Sunday, Aug. 30, from the scene on a one-car accident on Highway 195 six miles north of Pullman. She complained of back pain.
According to the Washington State Patrol report, she was driving a 2000 Suzuki Esteem southbound at 4:15 p.m. when the car slid out of control, crossed the centerline and came to a halt in the northbound ditch.
Driver rolls Pontiac on 26
Christian Eusthehus, 34, Koln (Cologne), West Germany, was unhurt Aug. 26, when he lost control of a 2008 Pontiac which went out of control and rolled on its top near mile marker 102 on Highway 26 near LaCrosse. According to the Washington State Patrol report, he was driving eastbound at 6:05 p.m. when the Pontiac drifted onto the shoulder. He over-corrected and the car crossed the centerline and struck the embankment on the west side and rolled onto its top.
U.S. fugitive escapes at Tekoa
A man wanted by the U.S. Marshall’s office was spotted at the Tekoa swim pool at about 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, by an off-duty sheriff’s deputy. The suspect, Clifford Charles Pluff, 31, was reported to be wanted for escape from the Geiger Correctional Facility in Spokane.
Pluff left the pool, and the off-duty deputy identified himself and told Pluff he was under arrest. Pluff ran from the deputy and an extensive search ensued.
The department later received a report of a man walking toward Desmet without shoes.
Endicott woman charged
Cathy Schaal, 56, Endicott, was charged with residential burglary Thursday, Aug. 20, in superior court after she was arrested Wednesday night in Endicott. The deputy’s arrest report alleges Schaal entered the residence of an elderly man and attempted to take items from his house.
Another Endicott woman who assists at the man’s house at dinnertime was with the alleged victim when they realized someone had come into the house, according to the report. They encountered Schaal who allegedly was trying to take items from the residence. They said she threw them on a bedspread and attempted to take them out of the house.
The woman who had been in the house said she stopped the suspect from removing the items. She alleged the suspect clawed her and stepped on her foot.
The investigation said the present assigned care giver for the alleged victim later told the deputy the suspect at one time had been assigned to assist at the residence but was dismissed two years ago.
Schaal was allowed pre-trial release on her own recognizance in a first appearance in court.
Microbrewery files suit
A suit alleging failure of an Irish brewing company to meet terms of a contract to provide equipment and supplies for production and sale of Irish brews here was filed Thursday, Aug. 27, in superior court by Jeffrey and Melinda Greene who do business as Palouse Falls Brewing Co. in Pullman. Pullman Attorney Linda Schauble-Ruff filed the suit against Strangeford Lough Brewing, Co. Ltd., Killyleagh, County Down, Ireland.
The suit alleged the Greenes paid $297,500 out-of-pocket and incurred over $285,000 in costs in anticipation of producing the Irish brew.
The suit asks the court to order rescission on the contract and a return of the out-of-pocket payments or award treble damages. They also ask the court to enjoin the Irish company from acts of deception and other practices.
The suit alleges, among other things, that the Irish company failed to provide equipment specified in a November 2008 contract. Among out-of-pocket expenses was $50,000 paid for licensing rights. The first batch of brew was promised to be produced 21 days after arrival of the equipment. Numerous delays and failures of shipped equipment were alleged. The suit also alleges the Irish company, had agreed to ship its Advanced Wort Irish brew and instead provided a malt extract which was produced in Scotland.
File for Red Tail Ridge split
A petition to divide one of the Red Tail Ridge lots has been filed at city hall. The petition seeks to divide lot 6 of the development, which is 11.5 acres, into two parcels, 6.45 acres and 5.05 acres. The short plat petition was filed by Robert Murtha, an engineer in the Munir Daud firm in Pullman. Proposed name is Bill Johns short plat after the name of the owner of the lot.
Red Tail lot six is located along the N. Palouse River Road.
Plaintiff seeks Rosalia MC defaults
A motion for a default judgment in the Rosalia motorcycle rally was filed Thursday, Aug. 27, by James Studt, Spokane attorney who represents Josh Bryan. The motion alleges four of the named defendants in the suit should be judged in default because they failed to file a response to the suit within the required 20 days.
The default motion alleges the suit and summons for response was filed against the town of Rosalia and the Chamber of Commerce April 22 and against Kelley and Roberta Meserve and Studebaker Mfg., Inc., one of their companies, June 2.
Bryan seeks damages for losses alleged when arrangements to conduct the “100 Years of Motorcycles” rally in Rosalia ended in 2007.
The motion did not include other defendants listed in the suit.
Swim pool PE called off
Plans for use of the Colfax swim pool by junior high physical education classes have been called off because of concerns over insurance coverage. The city and school district were considering use of the pool at the end of this week and next Tuesday. A junior high swim-a-thon had been suggested as a means of raising funds to purchase a slide for the pool in exchange for use of the city facility, according to Pool Manager Connie Ellis.
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