Ritzville Police Report

Oct. 24, 12:08 p.m. – Chief Dave McCormick was requested to contact a complainant regarding a possible credit card fraud. Chief McCormick contacted the complainant who advised they got a credit card in the mail from PayPal that they did not apply for. The complainant further advised they use a post office box for important mail and the card arrived at their house. PayPal was contacted about the situation. Chief McCormick advised the complainant to keep an eye on their credit report for other fraudulent activity.

Oct. 23, 3:16 p.m. – Chief McCormick responded to a suspicious vehicle call in the 300 block of East Second Avenue. Complainant advised of a suspicious red Ford Taurus parked across the street for the last few days. Chief McCormick found the car to be legally licensed and parked and belonging to a subject that recently moved back to town.

Oct. 23, 2:39 p.m. – Complainant requested contact regarding a medical issue. Chief McCormick contacted the complainant who advised there were having complications from a surgery they had the day prior and needed assistance in contacting an inmate in the jail. Chief McCormick escorted the complainant to the hospital and advised them to take care of their medical problem before dealing with the inmate.

Oct. 23, 2:26 p.m. – Complainant came in to the office wanting to drop off two dogs for the city pound that they had located running loose in the county. The owner of the dogs showed up at the pound and the animals were released.

Oct. 23, 7:36 a.m. – Chief McCormick responded to a possible citizen dispute in the 200 block of East Birch Avenue. Upon contact, Chief McCormick spoke with the complainant who advised they had loaned a toy rocking horse to their neighbor, who in turn lent the toy to another subject. The subject sold the toy and now the complainant wants it back. Chief McCormick advised the complainant this is a civil matter and would need to go to small claims court.

Oct. 22, 9:00 p.m. – Officer Hunter Klewin responded to a citizen assist on East First Avenue and South Palouse Street. Complainant advised they ran out of fuel and needed assistance. Officer Klewin transported the complainant to the Conoco and back to their vehicle.

Oct. 22, 12:59 p.m. – Complainant came into the office to discuss an incident that occurred the night prior. Sergeant Mark Cameron spoke with the complainant who advised that last night, their neighbor had called in an illegal burn on the complainant, in which led to the fire department responding to the residence. Sgt. Cameron advised the complainant to contact the fire chief to discuss the details of the call.

Oct. 21, 10:57 p.m. – Officer Klewin responded to a suspicious circumstance in the 200 block of East Birch Avenue. Complainant advised their roommate was hitting themselves and the complainant wanted it documented so they did not later get blamed for it.

Oct. 21, 12:50 a.m. – Officer Klewin stopped a vehicle on South Division Street and Smitty’s Blvd. for a defective taillight. Trooper Dustin Stephan assisted. The driver, Christopher Harnett, was arrested for DUI.

Oct. 20 6:07 p.m. – Officer Klewin responded to a suspicious person call on West Alder Avenue at Moore Aircraft Inc. Complainant advised of an older blue Chevy truck, occupied by two male subjects, pulled up in front of the hanger, saw complainant, and backed out and left the area. Officer Klewin checked the area and was unable to locate a vehicle with said description.

Oct. 19, 11:16 p.m. – While on patrol, Sgt. Cameron drove past Les Schwab on First Avenue and heard a loud hissing noise. Upon further investigation, Sgt. Cameron found the air compressor was left on and a valve was left open. Sgt. Cameron contacted the responsible party to come and take care of it.

Oct. 19, 6:37 p.m. – Sgt. Cameron responded to a possible threatening situation in the 200 block of East Birch Avenue. Upon contact the complainant advised they had received numerous threatening phone calls from a subject in Oklahoma. Sgt. Cameron advised the complainant that he would need to contact the authorities in Oklahoma to pursue charges on the subject and to obtain an anti harassment order on the subject. Complainant advised they would.

Oct. 19, 4:34 p.m. – Officer Tom Gracie responded to a possible theft in the 600 block of West First Avenue at Harvest Foods. Complainant advised of a female subject that took approximately $8 worth of groceries without paying for them. Subject stated they left the store to look for their child. The unidentified female was administratively booked at Adams County Jail for third degree theft.

Oct. 19, 9:48 a.m. – Officer Gracie responded to a suspicious person call in the 100 block of West Galbreath Way. Complainant advised of a panhandler on Galbreath Way near the Starbucks. Officer Gracie located the subject and advised the subject that panhandling was a city ordinance violation. The subject advised they understood.

Oct. 18, 4:25 p.m. – Officer Gracie responded to a possible citizen assist in the 200 block of East Fourth Avenue. Complainant advised of an intoxicated female on the sidewalk crying. Officer Gracie arrived and contacted the subject who was having difficulty standing up. Officer Gracie assisted the subject home.

Oct. 18, 11:51 a.m. – Officer Gracie responded to a suspicious 911 hang up call at the Ritzville High School. Officer Gracie contacted the school staff who stated a student was attempting to make a long distance call and misdialed.

Oct. 16, 10:17 a.m. – Officer Gracie responded to a possible theft complaint in the 800 block of West First Avenue at Evergreen Implement. Officer Gracie contacted staff members who advised a license plate had been stolen from a company vehicle sometime during the day on Oct. 15.

Oct. 15, 6:45 p.m. – Officer Gracie responded to a possible traffic accident on North Washington Street and Railroad Avenue. Officer Gracie located the vehicles involved and determined a hit and run did not occur and the damage from the collision was not reportable. Officer Gracie provided the drivers with insurance information.

Oct. 15, 2:05 a.m. – Officer Klewin responded to an agency assist call in the 400 block of East Wellsandt Avenue near Gilson Gymnasium. Complainant advised a pole was on fire behind the gym, on the track, toward the football field. Officer Klewin stood by until the fire department arrived on scene.

Oct. 15, 12:14 a.m. – Officer Klewin responded to a silent alarm in the 1600 block of Smitty’s Blvd. at Cow Creek Mercantile. The business owner canceled the alarm and Klewin checked the building and found it to be secure.

Oct. 14, 2:37 p.m. – While on patrol, Sgt. Cameron saw two subjects at the east end of the parking lot of Pacific Pride on First Avenue. Sgt. Cameron pulled in to make contact with the male subject and Trooper Carmen Herrington came to contact the female subject. The subjects advised that the female subject had seen a text message that upset her, and then the two subjects started arguing over the message and stopped at Pacific Pride. The subjects agreed the argument was over and they could continue on their travels.

Oct. 14, 12:40 a.m. – Officer Klewin responded to a possible fire on Weber Avenue and Jackson Street. Upon contact Officer Klewin located a small fire in a burn barrel in the front yard. Officer Klewin contacted the subjects and advised them of the statewide burn ban in effect. The fire was put out and the fire department was advised to stand down.

Oct. 13, 11:28 p.m. – While on patrol, Officer Klewin located a female subject walking slowly and swaying going south on Division. Upon contact Officer Klewin noticed the subject was intoxicated. The subject did not want assistance and continued walking home.

Oct. 13, 9:40 p.m. – Officer Klewin responded to a possible citizen dispute in the 500 block of West First Avenue. Complainant advised of a female subject that is outside. Complainant thinks there is a restraining order and yelling could be heard in the background. Officer Klewin made contact with the subject and determined that the dispute was verbal and no assault took place.

Oct. 13, 8:35 a.m. – Sgt. Cameron responded to a silent alarm in the 1600 block of Smitty’s Blvd. at Cow Creek. While en route, Sgt. Cameron was advised that the owner contacted the employees that were opening the restaurant. The employees advised they thought they deactivated the alarm before it sounded. Sgt. Cameron arrived and contacted the employees and determined that everything was fine.