MADISON, WI  –  A motorist was driving his vehicle westbound on Hwy 12 and attempted to take the exit ramp to S Park Street.  The motorist skidded off the snow-covered ramp, careened down an embankment, traveled up the opposite side of the embankment, over the Hwy 12 entrance-ramp from S. Park St, down another embankment, and into a retention pond.  The motorist was rescued from his rapidly sinking vehicle by two witnesses.  When police arrived, the motorist’s vehicle was almost completely submerged (only the driver’s door was visible). The motorist was uninjured.

TACOMA, WA – Shortly after 7:00 p.m. on the night of Monday, December 7, 2020, our deputies and detectives responded to a report of an attempted carjacking in a driveway along with Gratzer Road E. in the Waller area. The victim told deputies that as she was backing out of a driveway, one of her former roommates approached her car and pointed a handgun at her. The suspect reportedly told her to open the car doors, while a second male also approached her car and displayed a firearm. The armed suspects then reportedly fled in a silver vehicle after a witness intervened. Deputies learned that the first suspect had multiple active felony warrants for his arrest; additional patrol units were advised to be on the lookout for the suspect.

On the morning of Wednesday, December 9, one of our property crimes investigators obtained information on a possible location for the wanted fugitive at an apartment complex on Waller Road E. near 112th St. E. The investigator was also looking for the same suspect on an unrelated credit card fraud case from August of 2020.

Multiple deputies from our Crime Suppression Team, Domestic Violence Unit, and Proactive Property Crime Unit set up surveillance around the apartment complex. Deputies later observed the suspect in the parking lot standing in front of a silver Chevrolet Equinox; as deputies approached the suspect, he suddenly dove into the vehicle and was seen moving something into the back seat of the vehicle. Deputies dragged the suspect out of the vehicle and to the ground, then placed him into handcuffs.
The suspect was found to be wearing an empty holster, and a handgun was observed on the vehicle’s floorboards behind the driver’s seat. Deputies also observed that the suspect had a gunshot wound on his leg, which they learned was from reportedly being shot by an unknown person the previous day.

After being checked by medics at the scene, the 29-year-old male suspect was booked into the Pierce County Jail Assault in the 1st degree, Robbery in the 1st degree, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the 1st degree, Obstructing Law Enforcement, Identify Theft in the 2nd degree, Theft in the 2nd degree, Identity Theft in the 1st degree, Possession of Stolen Property in the 2nd degree, and Retail Theft… as well as warrants for two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, two counts of Burglary in the 2nd degree, Riot with a Deadly Weapon.

Police did not reveal the name of the suspect.

FORT MORGAN, CO –  A man accused of shooting a gun inside his home back in October has been arrested by police in Fort Morgan.

According to Fort Morgan Police, on October 14, 2020, Fort Morgan Officers were called to a residence in the 300 block of Meeker Street for gunshots. Officers soon learned that a male party had brandished a weapon and fired the weapon inside the home, at others present.

After investigation in this case, Detective Hochanadel was able to identify the suspect as Michael Mauro, age 34. Mauro is believed to frequent Fort Morgan. A warrant for Mauro’s arrest has been issued, on December 9th, for charges of Attempted Second Degree Murder, Menacing, Illegal Discharge of a Firearm, and Prohibited Use of Weapons.

If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Michael Mauro, they are asked to please contact Detective Hochanadel at 970-542-3942.

SPOKANE VALLEY, WA – An increased level of oxygen emitted from a homeowner’s medical oxygen tank has been determined to be the cause of a fire that fully gutted a Spoke Valley trailer, killing the occupant inside.

The Spoke Valley Fire Department reports:

911 dispatched Spokane Valley Fire crews after a passerby saw flames from a Trailer Home and called 911. The passerby knew the home and the resident. He attempted entry but was unable due to black smoke and intense flames.

Crews arrived knowing potentially someone was inside. They made rapid entry into the mobile home looking for the resident. Black smoke and a heavy working fire were underway and unfortunately, the elderly resident did not survive the fire. The home was familiar to SVFD Fire crews from prior 911 calls for medical help.

Information regarding the fatality was initially withheld from reporting until family members could be notified. Spokane Valley Fire is saddened at the loss of a member of our community and offer condolences to the family for their great loss. The SVFD Chaplain arrived on scene to help with the needs of the family members and Firefighters.
The fire continues to be under investigation through a collaboration between the Spokane Valley Fire Investigator and an additional Forensic Investigator.
ORIGINAL RELEASE – December 10, 8:55 a.m.

Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) units were dispatched at 5:43 this morning for a report of a structure fire in the 900 block of S. Nina Cir. A passerby saw flames from a Trailer Home and called 911. The passerby knew the home and the resident. He attempted entry but was unable due to black smoke and intense flames.

Firefighters on Engine 1, from SVFD’s University Station, arrived within five minutes of being dispatched to find a single wide mobile home with flames showing in four windows on one side of the home. The fire was quickly declared a working fire, which brings additional preplanned resources bringing the total to six engine companies, two ladder companies, along with command staff. Units from the City of Spokane, and Fire District 8 responded as part of automatic aid.

This was the second working fire of the shift, with crews also rotating through a ‘Firewatch’ on the N Best incident overnight dealing with hotspots. No injuries were reported to firefighters during suppression operations.

Photos by Spokane Valley FD

CORPUS CHRISTIE, TX –  On December 10, 2020 at approximately 5:56 pm a 61-year-old pedestrian was struck while crossing Gollihar Road near Christie Street. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop, render aid, and then fled the scene.