Creach
Spokane has been buzzing for several weeks on a justifiably big story.

The story so far:

Scott Creach, a well-known and respected pastor and businessman, was accustomed to defending his business personally, in old West fashion. One night he came out to confront a possible thief with his six-shooter, and instead confronted a cop who was checking the property in response to Creach's frequent reports of thievery. The cop was in uniform, driving an unmarked but perfectly recognizable Crown Vic. When the cop told Creach to put away his gun, he put it back in his pants, but he apparently refused to drop to the ground. The cop shot and killed him.

The final act was a terrible tragedy, unavoidable once it started. Cop following Modern Enlightened Progressive Homeland Security rules of engagement (sacrifice your life to protect black gangsters and Arab terrorists, but shoot old white guys if they annoy you) confronts an old white guy following Neanderthal Knuckle-Dragging Prehistoric rules of engagement (you have the right to protect your property).

Result guaranteed: old white guy dead.

But as the background story leaks out, two things strike me as strange:

(1) Why did the thieves continue to take things from Creach's Plant Farm when he was known to defend it so constantly and dramatically? Thieves are social animals, and reputation spreads quickly.

(2) Why didn't Creach simply install an electric fence and some junkyard dogs? Not terribly expensive. He could then sleep every night, wouldn't need to be out patrolling and risking his life.

I'm starting to wonder if Creach was selling some very expensive plants ... and if he was accustomed to going out at night to deal with buyers of these expensive plants. The whole story, especially his hostility to the cop, would make more sense that way.

Or in words of one syllable, was this a drug deal gone bad?
  ¶ 6:44 AM