Court to deputy: No guns, drinking

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Court to deputy: No guns, drinking Man accused of firing machine gun in Suncrest

John Craig - Staff writer

COLVILLE, Wash. _ A Stevens County sheriff's deputy accused of shooting up his Suncrest neighborhood with a machine gun was ordered Monday to surrender all his guns and to refrain from alcohol.

District Court Judge Pam Payne set those conditions Monday in a ruling that allows Deputy Will Clark to remain free on $6,000 bail while awaiting arraignment on charges of possessing an illegal weapon, reckless endangerment and obstructing law enforcement.

Clark, 29, said little in court and, outside the courtroom, declined to comment on charges that could result in a prison sentence up to five years.

Defense attorney Carl Oreskovich said Clark is "extremely remorseful about what has occurred, and he is extremely upset about the accusations that have been made. I would say, on behalf of Mr. Clark, that he is apologetic to his neighbors."

Oreskovich prevented the release of details about the incident for a few more days. He waived the requirement for Deputy Prosecutor David Bruneau to present enough evidence to show there is probable cause to keep Clark under court control.

Clark and three others are suspected of firing shots that struck two Suncrest homes, one of them missing a sleeping man by about five feet. Residents of North Sagewood Road said they were awakened shortly before 2:30 a.m. last Tuesday by three bursts from a machine gun.

One bullet penetrated two walls and a decorative indoor birdhouse before lodging in a stack of books about five feet from 22-year-old Kristopher Granlund's bed. Another struck the deck of David and Shannon Granlund's home, and a third bullet shattered a canopy window on a pickup before striking the garage of David and Diana Brink.

The Brinks live across the road from the Granlunds, whose back yard adjoins that of Clark and his roommate -- and fellow suspect -- Chris Spurlock.

Spurlock, 27, is expected to surrender and be arrested today in an agreement negotiated with his attorney.

Clark and unpaid Stevens County Reserve Deputy Brian Cravens, 24, were arrested Friday. Cravens, who is free on bail, is to make his preliminary court appearance Wednesday.

A fourth suspect, who is not a law enforcement officer, is in Utah. Authorities declined to identify that suspect until he is formally charged, but said he is not a fugitive.

Prosecutor Jerry Wetle said formal charges against each of the men likely will be filed Thursday, in time for Clark's arraignment in Superior Court at 9 a.m. Friday. Wetle said he is waiting for a crime lab report before filing charges.

Oreskovich proposed in Monday's bail hearing that Clark be allowed to give his firearms to his parents in Chewelah for safekeeping. But Deputy Prosecutor Bruneau objected.

"The defendant is a grown man, ostensibly a grown man, but I don't know whether that ensures the safety of the community," Bruneau said.

Payne ordered Clark to surrender any firearms in his possession to the sheriff's office, which already has seized three guns from him.

Bruneau said the backyard gunfire Tuesday involved drinking, so Payne also ordered Clark not to consume alcohol.

Clark agreed to move out of his home and live with his girlfriend when Payne ordered him to have no contact with three other suspects, including his roommate, Spurlock.

Spurlock is a state corrections officer at the Airway Heights Corrections Center and is an unpaid reserve police officer for the city of Newport.

Clark, Cravens and Spurlock all have been placed on administrative leave from their law enforcement duties. In addition, Spurlock has been placed on leave from his corrections job.

Oreskovich said Clark hopes to retain his job, which is "near and dear to him and is something that he worked very hard for." Oreskovich cited Clark's previously unblemished record, which includes 11/2 years as a Kettle Falls police officer and almost two years as a sheriff's deputy.

Clark was awarded a certificate of commendation and a Purple Heart medal last year for his performance during an ambush last April at Loon Lake. Clark was shot in the arm and thigh while responding to a reported assault.

Oreskovich said other stressful events in Clark's life included the death of his wife, Stevie Jo Clark, in October 1999 from a brain aneurysm.



-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002


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