Driver Runs from Injury Accident, Enters Unoccupied Home, and Refuses to Surrender
Spokane Valley SWAT Team, K9 Units, EDU Technicians, and Deputies worked together to peacefully arrest an uncooperative suspect who ran from a minor injury collision. The suspect fled, eventually entered an unoccupied home, and refused to surrender. After several hours, SWAT Team members were able to take the suspect into custody safely.
On August 28, 2020, at approximately 2:20 p.m., Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a reported two-car injury collision at 32nd and Bowdish. While responding, Deputies received information one of the involved drivers fled the scene on foot.
Witnesses began reporting the suspect, later identified as 49-year-old Chad R. Englehart, a convicted felon, was running through the neighborhood. Information was also received, he attempted to enter occupied homes in the area during his attempted escape.
Additional witness information led Deputies to a home in the 2800 block of S. Bates, where they found an open door. Deputies established a perimeter, requested K9 Units to respond, and began giving announcements over the PA systems advising Englehart to surrender.
The homeowner was contacted and advised no one should be inside the residence. Deputies were given permission to enter the home, and they were advised weapons were accessible.
Englehart refused to comply with commands to surrender, and the SWAT Team was requested to assist. Deputies requested and obtained a search warrant.
SWAT took over the scene and, with the assistance of an EDU robot began to clear portions of the home. It was determined Englehart was inside, and with his continued refusal to reveal his location and peacefully surrender, chemical irritants were deployed.
With the homeowner’s information that Englehart could access firearms if he scavenged through the residence and visual confirmation, he had done exactly that; great care was taken as plans were made to end this extremely dangerous situation peacefully.
After all attempts to contact Englehart and convince him to surrender peacefully failed, SWAT Team members entered the home with the assistance of K9 Zeus and his handler Deputy Kullman.
At approximately 11:45 p.m., K9 Zeus located Englehart hiding under a bed. He was found to be in possession of several weapons, but due to the SWAT Team’s slow and methodical tactics, he was successfully and safely taken into custody.
Englehart will be transported and booked into the Spokane County jail on several charges to include Residential Burglary, Felony Hit and Run, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
We thank everyone in the area of this intense incident for the help and patience, as our Deputies and Special Teams planned and worked together to reach their goal of safely ending this potentially deadly situation.
###