Coeur d’Alene man charged with kratom theft
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 8 months AGO
COEUR d’ALENE — Police arrested a local man who they suspect of stealing kratom from multiple businesses.
Nathan P. Gadberry, 40, of Coeur d’Alene, is charged with two counts of grand theft and two counts of burglary, all felonies. He also faces three counts of commercial burglary and one count of malicious injury to property, all misdemeanors.
In recent weeks, Coeur d’Alene police have investigated a string of burglaries at area businesses, according to a news release issued Friday.
The suspect, later identified by police as Gadberry, allegedly targeted three different businesses and specifically asked to purchase kratom.
Kratom is an herbal substance that can produce “opioid and stimulant-like effects,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Police said that, on multiple occasions, the clerk started processing the transaction, only for Gadberry to flee the store with kratom he hadn’t paid for. In one instance, Gadberry allegedly took the kratom directly from behind the counter before leaving without paying.
Most recently, police said Gadberry broke into a locked case and took more than $2,000 worth of kratom before fleeing the store.
Police said input from the public helped them identify Gadberry. After obtaining a warrant to search his residence, detectives recovered some of the stolen goods, as well as “other evidence linking him to the burglaries,” according to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.
ARTICLES BY STAFF REPORT
Connell woman killed in Booker Road crash
CONNELL — Charges are pending against a Kennewick man following a collision about 12 miles south of Othello that killed a Connell woman and injured three other people Tuesday evening. A Washington State Patrol press memo said intoxicating substances were a factor. Jessica Zarate, 37, Connell, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the intersection of SR 17 and South Booker Road, the WSP memo said. She was driving south on Booker Road approaching the intersection when her car was hit by a pickup driven by John Reiss, 62, Kennewick. Edgar Garcia Quirino, 28, Othello, was driving north on SR 17 and ran into Zarate's car, the WSP memo said. The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m.
Wheeler Road closed because of traffic collision
UPDATE: The road was reopened as of noon, according to a GCSO media release. MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced there is a road closure between Road 3-NE and Road S-NE. There was a serious traffic collision. GCSO is asking for drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Doors opening: The Currents will provide homeownership for more local workers
About 104 homes are planned at the former Atlas sawmill site
Teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers who keep Coeur d’Alene running will soon have more places to buy a home in the community where they work. About 104 homes are being planned to be built at Atlas Waterfront, on roughly 10 acres that are part of a swath of land that was once home to the Atlas sawmill and is being redeveloped. Ignite CDA, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, is leading this effort.