Father faces abuse charges

A 32-year-old Post Falls father was arrested Tuesday for allegedly physically abusing his 12-year-old son.

Henry D. Heidecker turned himself in at the Kootenai County jail after the allegation surfaced following a SWAT team raid involving stolen property at two Spokane Valley homes earlier in the day, said Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Lt. Stu Miller.

Heidecker was arrested for one count of felony injury to child.

Miller said the alleged abuse occurred Monday in Kootenai County, but he declined to comment further on the alleged incident.

"I can't get into the details of any injury," he said. "We obtained information through the Spokane County Sheriff's Office that they were involved in an investigation where they had contact with the victim (at one of the homes that was raided)."

Subsequent interviews revealed that the alleged crime was committed in Idaho, Miller said.

This is the first time Heidecker has been booked into the local jail. He was being held Wednesday on a $10,000 bond.

"He was asked to meet the deputy at the jail. He complied, but wouldn't speak to us," Miller said.

During the raids of the Spokane Valley homes, the Spokane County SWAT team and Spokane Valley detectives served simultaneous search warrants at 4609 N. Calvin and 14323 E. Longfellow at 9:30 a.m.

The warrants were the result of a week-long investigation at the residences, dealing with stolen property from multiple burglaries in Spokane Valley. Nine adults were detained as a result of the warrants: seven at the Longfellow address and two at the Calvin address, according to a Spokane County Sheriff's Office press release.

One of the suspects attempted to run out the back of the Longfellow home, but was quickly detained by responders surrounding the home.

Multiple stolen items were recovered at both residences, including power tools, electronics, generators and other high-value items.

"It was determined the boy's father took (the alleged victim) to the residence (on Calvin) to be disciplined by the homeowner," the press release states.

An investigation continues.