SIIR Team Investigating Deputy-Involved Shooting
in the 5400 block of E. Bigelow Gulch Road
The Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team (SIIR) is investigating a Deputy-Involved shooting involving an adult male suspect who fled on foot from the scene of a vehicle that fled from Deputies and was believed to be stolen. During a lengthy search for the male suspect, he was located near a home in the 5400 block of E. Bigelow Gulch Road. As Deputies searched, a possible identity of the suspect was learned, which showed he was a convicted felon and wanted for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. At the scene where the vehicle crashed after it fled from Deputies, an adult female who was in the vehicle with the male suspect provided the suspect’s identity. She was detained without incident at the scene, pending further investigation.
Soon after locating the male suspect, Deputies advised shots (suspect and Deputies) had been fired, and medics were requested. Live-saving medical attention was provided, but the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene despite everyone's efforts. The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the deceased suspect's name at a later time when verified and appropriate.
No uninvolved citizens or Deputies were injured during this incident. The Spokane Independent Investigative Response (SIIR) Team is investigating.
In compliance with WAC 139-12, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office/Spokane Valley Police Department personnel will not be involved in this investigation.
Initial information indicates that on December 10, 2021, at approximately 2:53 am, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies located a suspicious vehicle. A check of the license plate showed the plates were reported stolen and did not match the vehicle they were display on. The truck appeared to be occupied and took off almost immediately after the arrival of the Deputies. Due to the recently enacted law passed by the state legislature that severely restricts law enforcement’s ability to pursue suspects, Deputies did not actively pursue the potentially stolen vehicle. They advised additional responding patrol units and dispatchers of the information.
The vehicle was located a short time later near N. Havana and E. Valley Springs Road, where it had crashed. Deputies quickly detained an adult female and began searching for a second suspect by tracking fresh footprints in the snow.
A K9 Unit and UAS Team members also responded to aid in the search during which the possible identity of the suspect was learned, which showed he was a convicted felon and wanted for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. The detained adult female confirmed the male suspect's identity. A pistol was located in a backpack at the scene where the vehicle crashed, which was later determined to be a realistic-looking BB gun.
At approximately 5:06 am, Deputies contacted the male and advised via their radio shots had been fired (exchanged between suspect and Deputies). Once the scene and the suspect were secured, medical aid was provided, but unfortunately, he was later pronounced deceased at the scene.
As per standard protocol, the two Deputies who fired their weapons were placed on administrative leave.
The Officer-Involved Protocol was enacted. The SIIR Team is on-scene investigating the incident and processing the scene. The SIIR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane Police Department, the Washington State Patrol, Liberty Lake Police Department, Airway Heights Police Department, and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office.
- The Spokane Police Department is the managing agency in this incident. All future communications regarding this incident will be sent via the SIIR Team.
- The Spokane County Sheriff's Office will release the names of the Deputies involved in this incident at a later time.
- The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the decedent’s name when appropriate.
In compliance with WAC 139-12, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office/Spokane Valley Police Department personnel will not be involved in this investigation.
Once the SIIR Team investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office for review.