Bulletin column - Feb. 17, 2011

Colfax arrest in drug case

A $5,000 bail was set for Holly Herne, 22, Colfax, who was arrested in Colfax Friday afternoon on probable charges of possession of illegal drugs with intent to deliver. A report filed with the court alleges an informant was used to arrange purchase of hydrocodone in December and methamphetamine in January.

Gunshot report invalid

A report of possible gunfire shots early Friday night on Main Street in Colfax turned out to be invalid. Chief Bill Hickman said they received a call at 6:20 p.m. from a resident who heard what sounded like shots being fired during an argument in a neighboring upstairs apartment in the 100 block of S. Main. The officer determined the sound was produced by a T-ball being thrown against the door of the apartment. Some damage had been sustained by the door.

Deer hit near LaCrosse

Timothy R. Cummins II, 19, Black Diamond, was unhurt Friday night when the 2001 Acura MDX he was driving struck a deer on Highway 26 near LaCrosse. According to the Washington State Patrol report, Cummins was driving westbound at 9:20 p.m. when the deer ran into the roadway and struck the Acura.

Three Honda Civics missing

Three Honda Civics have been reported missing in Pullman from the northeast section of town. A report from Detective William Orsborn Friday said the cars were taken from the area of Merman Drive and Terre View Drive.

The cars vary from 1994 to 2006 models. Police received the first report Sunday. Orsborn said the cars were owned by WSU students and not used on a regular basis. That led to a delay in discovery and reporting of the missing cars. He urged owners of Hondas on the NE hill to check their cars on a regular basis.

Another bogus ‘help me’ call

Colfax Police Feb. 4 received a report from a resident on the North Flat who said she had received a bogus “help me call” from a man posing as a relative in trouble. The call started out with a “Hi, it’s me,” greeting from the caller.

According to Officer Bryce Nebe, the Colfax resident cut off the caller before he was able to present himself as a grandson or a nephew.

Colfax residents have been bilked before by callers who pretended to be relatives in a predicament, such as in need of bail money after an arrest at a distant location.

Court appearance re-set

A first court appearance for Tiffani Zorb, former Colfax resident who faces drug charges related to an investigation last June in Colfax, has been re-scheduled for March 11. Her attorney, Michael Pettit of Pullman, told the court Feb. 4 Zorb had moved to Texas. He said plea negotiations are underway to resolve the case.

Zorb was charged Jan. 7 with delivery of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. She was originally summoned to appear in court Jan. 21.

Dreamworks fire repairs

Keith Brannan of Brannan Restorations Tuesday filed for a city building permit to repair smoke damage at the Dreamworks office in Colfax. The damage was sustained by the office at 612 N. Main by the Nov. 30 fire that destroyed Mitz’s Cabinet Shop which was located next door. The project will involve removal of insulation and wall materials which were contaminated by smoke during the fire.

Respond to cell phone fight

Colfax Police Feb. 8 responded to a domestic violence report at the north end of Colfax. The report involved an alleged fight between a mother and daughter which had erupted during a dispute over a cell phone. The Colfax officer arrested the mother and transported her to the jail where she was booked on a probable charge of fourth degree assault. She was allowed release on her own recognizance after a first appearance in city court. A formal charge has not been filed.

The 16-year-old girl was transported by a deputy to Martin Hall. She was allowed release the next day after a first appearance in juvenile court.

Kennewick suspect jailed

Kimberly S. Miller, 43, another Tri-Cities suspect in area burglaries, was booked into the county jail Feb. 9 after being brought here from Benton County. Miller was arrested in Benton County Feb. 3, according to arrest papers filed with the court. She was booked into jail on probable charges of burglary and theft involving an alleged Garfield area burglary two days prior to the break-in at Dusty. Miller allegedly traveled to Garfield with one of the suspects who was also named after the Dusty burglary.

A formal charge of second degree burglary was filed against her Monday. Her bond for pre-trail release was set at $10,000 in a first appearance in court the day after she was jailed here.

The arrest report said Miller was implicated in a Jan. 17 burglary of the rural property in the Elberton area. According to the arrest report, Miller is suspected of traveling here with Darin Williams, 43. He was also arrested and taken to the Benton County Jail. Whitman County has issued a warrant for his arrest here.

Williams was named by the sheriff’s report last week when they arrested Mark McKee, 43, Richland. McKee was jailed here and later released on a $10,000 surety bond. He is now scheduled for an April 18 trial after pleading not guilty to five charges of taking a motor vehicle and two counts of theft. Formal charges against McKee involved an alleged burglary of a farm shop on Highway 26 near Dusty Jan. 19.

Williams allegedly became a suspect when deputies tracked a credit card which was used to purchase fuel at the gas plaza at the junction of Highways 395 and 26. They allege videos at the station showed that some of the vehicles missing in the Dusty case, including a 25-foot Prowler trailer, appeared at the fuel plaza early in the morning after the heist at Dusty.

The report said Kennewick officers spotted a Ford pickup truck matching the description of one of the vehicles missing from Dusty parked outside a residence where Williams was residing in Kennewick.