Bulletin Column

These reports are from the previous four issues of the Daily Bulletin in Colfax. They are reprinted here for the benefit of Gazette readers who reside outside of Colfax. Some accounts have been updated.

BOMB THREAT AT JAIL

A bomb threat at 5 p.m. Monday led to a search of the jail, sheriff's office and courthouse. No suspicious items were found and inmates in the jail remained in their cells, according to a report by Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Chapman.

An anonymous male called the county's human relations department at 5 p.m. and said he had placed a bomb in the jail.

Chapman reported detectives after the search continued an investigation in an attempt to determine who made the threatening call.

Correctional officers, deputies and Colfax police all participated in the search.

FIRE CODE CHANGES REVIEWED

A proposed change in the city's fire code will revise the fire department's administration to reflect staffing the department has followed over the past 18 months. The code will call for an "officer in charge" to head the day-to-day operations of the department. The fire chief will be selected by the members of the volunteer fire department.

Councilman Jim Kackman at Monday night's city council meeting noted the change of code would mean the city council will turn over the authority to select a fire chief to the volunteer firefighters group. He added he favored the proposed change.

Fire Chief Craig Corbeill, who was selected by the department volunteers, has served as chief.

The fire department for several years had operated with a chief of the city fire department and a chief of the volunteers.

Tim Tingley had acted as officer in charge of the department's operations. Tingley is one of three full-time city firemen to rotate through shifts at the department.

Interim City Administrator Chris Mathis reported she has checked with several towns and cities around the state and located just one which has the same leadership structure which is now in place at Colfax.

Colfax has been in the one-chief mode since City Chief Steven Thime resigned in June of 2017.

ALLEGE GRAIN TRUCK THEFT ATTEMPT

Anthony A. Henare, 24, identified as homeless, was booked into the jail here Saturday night on a probable charge of robbery after he allegedly attempted to take a grain truck which was being emptied at elevators near the intersection of NW Park and State streets in Pullman.

According to the arrest report by Pullman Officer Nathan Padrata, Zarn Clausen was unloading the grain truck when Henare was suspected of climbing into the cab. Clausen told Officer Padrata he became aware of Henare's presence in the cab of the truck when he heard gears grinding.

The report said Clausen opened the passenger side door of the truck and turned off the ignition keys. The suspect allegedly hit Clausen above his right eye.

Henare then fled the truck and was spotted later up against an embankment in the area which is next to the S. Fork of the Palouse River. He was identified by Clausen as the man he saw in the truck and the person who hit him.

The arrest report said Henare gave varying accounts of why he was in the cab of the truck. His initial bail for pre-trial release was set at $250,000.

JURY CONVICTION ON ONE COUNT

A superior court jury Monday returned a verdict of guilty on a theft charge against Karl Barnes, 35, Moscow. He was charged with taking tools from the Unlimited Heating and Refrigeration shop in the 400 block of S. Grand in Pullman during the early morning hours of Dec. 22, 2017.

The jury found Barnes not guilty of a second charge of burglary.

The one-day trial included showing of surveillance recordings of Barnes entering the shop and taking the tools. Barnes also testified in his own defense.

According to the investigation report, Barnes had been terminated as an employee a week before the theft. The investigation report also said some of the tools were later returned to the shop owners.

SEATTLE FIRM FILES FOR USC

A notice of appearance on behalf of the University of Southern California and one of its football players was filed Aug. 13 in the civil suit for damages alleged sustained after the WSU-USC football game at Martin Stadium last fall. Attorney Michael Jaeger of the Seattle firm of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith filed the notice.

The complaint for personal injuries was filed Feb. 5 in court here. WSU student Kyle Departee contends he was injured and required hospitalization after he was allegedly hit by USC's Liam Jimmons.

The collision allegedly took place when WSU students ran out onto the football turf at Martin Stadium to celebrate a win while USC players were leaving the field last Sept. 29. The celebration started after the Cougars won the game 30-27 on a field goal.

Video recordings of the celebration after the game allegedly showed the collisions between the football players and fans in televised reports of the celebration.

Jimmons, listed as a defensive lineman for USC, is a 2016 graduate of Huntington Beach High School in California. Departee is a graduate of Lake Washington High School in Kirkland. The suit contends Jimmons was under the supervision of USC as a member of the team.

The notice of appearance for the defense filed by Jaeger is the first legal document recorded in the court clerk's office here since the suit was filed in February. Amount of alleged damages was not listed in the suit.

VIDEO DEDICATED TO HILINSKI

Pullman's Police Department lip sync video can now been seen on the department's Facebook page. Chief Gary Jenkins said they have dedicated the video to the memory WSU quarterback Tyler Hilinski,who tragically took his own life earlier this year. The video promotes the Hilinskis' Hope Foundation.

Volunteer participants were asked to turn out at 6 a.m. at Pine Street Plaza to shoot the video.

Chief Jenkins said Pullman businesses, organizations and Cougar nation all helped make the video. Brett Hogaboam and Mirror Up Imagery donated time and talent for the production.

http://www.facebook.com/PullmanPD

LACROSSE FIRE DISTRICT BAN

Fire District 8 at LaCrosse Friday posted a fire ban effective immediately due to the current temperatures and dry conditions. All open flame fires are prohibited.

The ban includes campfires, yard debris fires, burn pits and agricultural spot burning.

Any violations will be documented and evidence handed over to the Whitman County Sheriff's Office.

Outdoor barbecues using propane, pellets or briquettes, and propane fire pits will still be allowed.

ORDER BENCH WARRANT

A bench warrant for the arrest of Jory D. Smith, 25, Pullman, was ordered after he failed to appear in court Friday on drug charges. Smith, who was sentenced last October on a drug conviction and allowed release last April, faces new drug charges of possession of heroin and methamphetamine with intent to deliver and a charge of delivery of heroin.

The new charges June 13 allege deputies learned from other drug suspects that they had purchased heroin from Smith at a mobile home on S. Grand in Pullman.

Smith last April was allowed early release from a year-long sentence. The court approved a request to trade 120 hours of public service Smith had completed for 15 days of jail time. Smith was recognized for the work he did around the courthouse, and the order approving the exchange of the work time for jail time noted the public service work had been done in a first class manner.

Defense Attorney Steve Martonick told the court Friday he has had difficulty getting Smith to keep in contact with his office.

Smith later contacted his attorney and issuance of the warrant was placed on hold on condition he appear in court this Friday.