Male with Knife Refuses to Evacuate Burning Motel
Advances Toward Deputies and is Shot
Early this morning, Spokane Valley Deputies were called to assist Spokane Valley Fire (SVFD) with an active fire on the 2nd floor of the Motel 6 located at 1919 N. Hutchinson. Responding Deputies were advised an adult male, armed with a knife, was suspected of starting the fire in his 2nd floor room and refused to leave. While the other motel guests were being evacuated, deputies encountered the male who refused commands, made statements law enforcement would have to shoot him, and advanced toward deputies with a knife in his hand, causing them to fire their weapons.
On June 7, 2017, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Spokane Valley Deputies were called to the Motel 6 to assist Spokane Valley Fire. Information received at that time was a male on the 2nd floor started a fire in his room and was refusing to come out.
Arriving deputies observed heavy smoke on the 2nd floor of the building and began assisting SVFD with the evacuation of the motel guests.
They encountered a male on the 2nd floor, armed with a knife, and would not follow commands. Deputies lost sight of the male when he walked back into the smoke filled hallway slowing the ability to complete the evacuations. He was heard yelling he would not leave and deputies would have to shoot him. Deputies made contact with the male again as he walked down the stairs to the 1st floor, still armed with the knife, and advanced toward them. Shortly after, deputies advised shots had been fired and requested medics.
The male was transported to an area hospital where he was undergoing surgery for his wounds.
The Officer Involved Protocol was enacted and SIRR Team investigators responded to the scene to conduct the investigation and processed the scene for evidence. The SIRR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane Police Department, the Washington State Patrol and the Spokane Valley Police.
• The Washington State Patrol is the managing agency in this incident. All future communications regarding this investigation will be sent via the SIRR Team.
• The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office will release the names of the deputies involved in the incident.
• Once the SIRR Team investigation is complete the case will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Deputy Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Spokane Valley Police Department
Public Information Officer