Northwest Briefs February 12, 2011
Larson sought on warrant
COEUR d'ALENE - The North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force is seeking information leading to the arrest of Grant "Bear" Timothy Larson.
Larson, 32, is being sought based on a Washington probation and parole warrant charging him with escaping community custody. He was on probation for assault. This is a United States extradition warrant.
Larson is an Indian male, 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds.
He has brown eyes and black hair. Larson was last known to be staying in the Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint areas, but could be heading to Canada.
Anyone with information regarding this subject or other fugitives being sought for violent crimes should call the NIVCTF at (208) 665-1471. The identity of callers will remain confidential and reward money is available.
Newport robbery suspect captured
NEWPORT - Robbery suspect Benjamin Thomas Watson, 24, was taken into custody without incident on Wednesday at a residence near Newport.
Watson was wanted in connection with a Feb. 4 armed robbery at Westside Pizza.
Pend Oreille County Sheriff's deputies said the restaurant was empty when Watson entered, wearing dark clothing with a hood and scarf over his face. He allegedly displayed a handgun and demanded money before leaving the restaurant and walking away.
Sheriff's office officials said the quick identification of the suspect and his arrest was made possible by its many partnerships in community and other local law enforcement agencies.
Charges mulled in shooting case
SANDPOINT - A Pennsylvania man arrested following a shooting in the Upper Pack River Valley on Wednesday has been released while the Bonner County Prosecutor's Office weighs a charging decision.
John Chester Bilsky was arrested on suspicion of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Judge Barbara Buchanan released Bilsky on Thursday because Deputy Prosecutor Shane Greenbank was still evaluating possible charges.
Greenbank declined to comment on the matter because it remains under investigation.
Bilsky, a 58-year-old resident of Union Dale, Pa., is accused of shooting Richard Larson, 59. Sheriff's officials said the two were involved in an ongoing neighborhood dispute.
Sheriff's deputies were summoned to the 200 block of Makers Way about 4 p.m. after receiving a report of a shooting. Larson resides on Makers Way, according to sheriff's officials.
Larson was taken to Bonner General Hospital and later airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He was listed in serious condition on Thursday afternoon.
Libby school bond rejected
LIBBY, Mont. - School district voters rejected a $12 million bond issue that supporters say was necessary to perform critical structure upgrades and responsibly pare down kindergarten through 12th-grade into two buildings.
In a rough 61-39 percent split, Libby voters said no to a bond that would have increased annual property taxes for the next two decades.
"Right to the end when they were doing the printout I was expecting to see the numbers flopped around the other way, but they weren't," Superintendent Kirby Maki said. "... At least we had a good number of people vote. When you get that many to vote you get a pretty clear picture of what the community and parents think."
The 55.8-percent voter turnout was astounding, according to Lincoln County Elections Administrator Tammy Lauer. The measure was rejected by 1,844 voters and favored by 1,158.
"That is huge," Lauer said. "Sometimes in school elections we're lucky to get 10 percent. People just don't vote in school elections."