Bulletin Column: April 11, 2019

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.

ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED

A suspect in an armed robbery at the Bud Hut marijuana store on the Moscow-Pullman Highway was arrested Monday at about 9 p.m. at a residence in Moscow where Whitman County Deputies and Moscow Police executed a search warrant. The suspect was booked into the Latah County jail.

Items said to be related to the robbery were found at the Moscow residence, according to a report by Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Chapman.

The robbery was reported at 9:30 a.m. Monday. A masked man entered the Bud Hut carrying a handgun and demanded cash. After getting cash, he reportedly left the Bud Hut and took a vehicle parked at the business.

The vehicle was reportedly later found along Sunshine Road and deputies believe the suspect could have left a vehicle there to flee the scene.

The Bud Hut is located along the Pullman-Moscow Highway at the site of a former winery west of the Sunshine Road intersection.

After the robbery was reported, Pullman, WSU and Moscow officers responded to the scene to assist the county.

According to a report in Monday morning's Lewiston Tribune, police received a report of a man who was walking west of Sunshine Road and later observed him wading across Paradise Creek, which runs along the highway and the Bill Chipman Trail. The man wading across the creek is believed to be the suspect who subsequently entered the Bud Hut with the handgun.

The Moscow suspect is expected to undergo an extradition hearing to be brought here from Idaho in the event the state decides to prosecute.

SPOKANE MAN HURT IN COLLISION

Tracy McLean, Spokane, was transported by ambulance to Whitman Hospital early Monday morning after colliding with a Empire Disposal garbage truck along Highway 195, 1.75 miles north of Colfax.

Driver of the 2012 Peterbilt truck was Brian Johnson of Endicott.

According to the report by Trooper Jim Retzer, Johnson had parked the truck on the west side shoulder of the highway facing north.

McLean was driving a Toyota Rav southbound at 4:40 a.m. and swerved to the right, striking the front of the parked garbage truck.

BANDS CONCERT IN GYM

With construction now underway in the Colfax High School auditorium, the spring band concert for the first time will be in the high school gymnasium. Director Mike Morgan said Monday's concert, beginning at 7 p.m., will feature student musicians in the fifth grade through high school.

The fifth grade, sixth grade, junior high, high school and jazz bands will perform. The junior high and high school bands have received superior ratings in outings this spring.

Morgan said the jazz band will travel to Columbia Basin Community College in Pasco on Saturday to compete in the CBC Jazz Festival. The band is scheduled to play in the 11:25 a.m. time slot.

ASSAULT CONVICTION SAID UNUSUAL

Cameron T. Boyer, 19, Vancouver, was sentenced to serve seven days in jail Friday after she pleaded guilty in superior court to a charge of fourth-degree assault. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Merritt Decker told the court the charge derived from what he described as a very unusual set of circumstances.

The arrest report by Pullman Officer Teayana Dillon said she responded to a report of an assault early Nov. 25 at the Cedar Ridge Apartments in Pullman.

The report stated the assault victim and Boyer had contacted each other through the Tinder app and agreed to "hook up" at his apartment where they had consensual sex.

Afterwards, Boyer sent a text message to a male friend and reported she had been raped. When her friend, and another male, arrived at the apartment, she instructed him to "go get him" and the victim was punched. He sustained injury in the area of his right eyebrow and forehead.

Decker said he opted not to charge the male who did the actual assault. He said a review of the text messages, which were obtained by the state, showed the person who threw the punches was misled by Boyer.

Boyer's parents spoke in support of their daughter Friday. Boyer, who is now attending college in Portland, was allowed to serve the seven-day jail term there and submit an affidavit that she had completed the sentence by May 31.

Boyer was also initially charged with burglary, but that charge was dropped before Friday's sentencing.

CHEVRON THEFT TALLY $28,649

Christopher B. Mory, 35, St. John, was ordered to pay $28,649 in restitution to Colfax Chevron Friday after he pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree theft. Mory was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

In his investigation report, Deputy Jim Pelissier said he was called to investigate an alleged theft charge Dec. 12. The report said when Pelissier arrived at Chevron's Sunset Mart he met with the general manager, the area manager and Mory.

The two Sunset officials said they had determined funds were taken from deposits at the Colfax store between Sept. 1 and Dec. 1, 2018. They said they told Mory they suspected him, and he admitted taking the funds. He signed a termination notice which listed the amounts and dates. Pelissier said Mory was interviewed later at the sheriff's office and admitted the thefts.

The investigation report said Mory told the deputy he used the funds to pay bills, including medical expenses. He said the string of thefts spiraled out of control when he took funds on one day and attempted to cover funds taken on a prior day.

Mory was allowed work release while serving the sentence. He was ordered to have the jail time finished by June 30.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Merritt Decker initially charged Mory with first-degree theft, but he amended the charge to second-degree Friday. Mory faced a sentencing range of zero to 60 days.

Deputy Pelissier noted he responded to the report at Colfax Chevron Dec. 12 while he was filling a shift for the Colfax Police Department.

RE/MAX OPENING SET TODAY

Official opening of the new Re/Max real estate office in Colfax will be today April 11, from 4 to 7 p.m., in their newly-remodeled office at 415 S. Main. Mayor Todd Vanek will join for a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. The office open house will immediately follow, during which the building will be open to the public.

The Blue Highway band will perform live music. Coffee by Purpose Roasters and refreshments and snacks by Fonk's will be provided.

Residents are invited to stop by for the opportunity to tour the building and meet with the agents.

WSU TECH PARK FILES CIVIL SUIT

A civil suit for unlawful detainer was filed by Washington State University against Amplicon Express, Inc., April 3. Filed by Assistant Attorney General Nathan Deen, the suit contends Amplicon leased two suites at the WSU Technology Park as of Sept. 1, 2017, and has failed to keep up with rental payments set at a rate of $2,772 per month.

The suit asks the court to order a return of the property to WSU and payment of $12,298 alleged due in back rent.