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Major Crimes Investigating Homicide in Northeast Spokane
The Spokane Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating a homicide in northeast Spokane. The call originally came in as a vehicle vs. pedestrian collision, but through the course of their investigation, officers determined the victim was deliberately struck by the vehicle. Central is currently closed between Cook and Market so motorists are asked to take an alternate route.
Early this morning, July 31, 2016, just before 5:00am, Spokane Police were called to what originally came in as a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash in the 2700 block of east Central. Witnesses also reported the suspect vehicle had fled the scene. The adult male victim was pronounced deceased on arrival. Major Crimes Investigators were then called out to assist in the investigation.
Officers flooded the area in an attempt to find the driver who had fled. He was eventually located and taken into custody without incident at about 6:20am. Through interviews with witnesses, officers were able to determine this incident started as a dispute between the victim and suspect. At least two vehicles chased the victim on his bicycle, one of the vehicles running him over causing the fatal injuries.
Forensics and the Major Crimes Unit is almost done processing the scene and conducting interviews of the involved parties. Spokane Fire Department responded back to the scene to assist with a ladder truck so we could take elevated photographs.
Billy J. Dalager (23) is being booked into jail for 1st Degree Murder. He will be in court tomorrow, August 1, 2016, at 1:30pm.
This weekend has been an unusually busy one for the Spokane Police Department. We would like to take a minute to thank the community; not only the neighborhoods that have been disrupted by street closures and police activity around these tragic incidents, but the citizens who have also been impacted by delays in service because of the drain on resources these type of crimes cause. We appreciate your patience and assistance while we strive to investigate each of the scenes thoroughly in order to hold the suspects accountable for their actions.”