In brief: Valley Mall arcade robbed; police seek suspect

Nov. 24--Spokane County sheriff's deputies are seeking a robber who entered an arcade at Spokane Valley Mall on Friday night and held an employee at gunpoint, demanding money.

A white man in his late 20s to early 30s pointed a rifle or shotgun at the employee's chest at about 10 p.m. as he was closing the Tilt arcade, according to a Sheriff's Office news release. The man was wearing a dark hoodie and jeans with a white kerchief over his face. He demanded money then fled.

Sheriff's deputies evacuated the nearby Regal movie theater as a precaution.

Deputies were unable to locate the robber, who resembles the man who robbed Zip Trip at 8215 E. Trent Ave. on Wednesday night, the release said. That robber pointed a rifle at the clerk and demanded money before fleeing.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. Call (800) 222-TIPS or visit crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org. Tipsters do not have to give their name to collect the reward.

Spokane police are investigating an apparently accidental death in a field near North Foothills Drive and Pittsburg Street.

A man's body was found at 9:45 a.m. Saturday morning in the field, Lt. Alan Arnzen said. About a block away, police found a truck crashed into a fence, still running.

Though the details of the crash remain unclear, police believe he may have been run over by his own truck. Major Crimes detectives are investigating the incident, but police believe the death was an accident.

Idaho state Sen. Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian, launched his campaign for governor Saturday, flying from Meridian to Coeur d'Alene to Idaho Falls to announce that he'll run against GOP Gov. Butch Otter in the state's May primary.

Otter, 71, is a second-term governor who's seeking a third term. He earlier served three terms in Congress and 14 years as the state's lieutenant governor.

Fulcher, 51, is a former high-tech executive who's taken exception to Otter's move to establish a state-based health insurance exchange, rather than letting the federal government run Idaho's exchange. He's making that his top campaign issue.

"I also believe our state is going down the wrong path in areas of education and the adoption of other federal programs," Fulcher, the current Senate GOP caucus chair, said Saturday.

Otter is on a state trade mission to Russia.

Spokane County sheriff's deputies responded Thursday to reports that someone had burglarized the rental van of the Stonehill College cross country team.

The team, which traveled from Easton, Mass., to Spokane for Saturday's NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships, reported $1,300 in goods stolen from their rented van, which was parked at Plantes Ferry Sports Stadium on East Upriver Drive in Spokane Valley.

The burglar removed the locking mechanism from the side door and took seven team members' duffel bags, which contained wallets, identification, clothing and electronic devices.

There were no suspects.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $500 reward for anyone providing information leading to an arrest in this incident. People with information should call (800) 222-TIPS or forward the tip to crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org. Tipsters do not have to give their name to collect the cash reward.

Scammers claiming to represent Modern Electric Water Co. in Spokane Valley are calling unsuspecting customers and demanding personal information.

Scammers contact victims to tell them their utility bills are overdue and that they need payment for the account, according to a Better Business Bureau news release. The scammers have also threatened to visit the victims' homes to shut off their utilities or evict them.

The BBB reminds consumers to be cautious before providing personal information to individuals claiming to represent a utility company.

Targeted consumers should also hang up the phone and call their utility company's customer service if they feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information by a caller.

If you have any questions about the scam, call the BBB at (509) 455-4200.

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