Peaceful Ending to Spokane Valley Standoff
Spokane Valley SWAT and Hostage Negotiation (HNT) Teams, assisted by responding deputies, successfully convinced a wanted suspect to release the adult female victim he was holding against her will and peacefully surrender.  Â
On April 19, 2017, at approximately 11:00 p.m., Spokane Valley Deputies responded to an apartment located in the 13300 block of East Mission for a report of a wanted suspect, 23-year-old Zachary D. Edinger, who was at the location. Deputies learned Edinger was possibly armed, had an active extraditable felony warrant for a drug trafficking charge in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, and two local misdemeanor warrants for his arrest.
Deputies could see lights on inside the apartment and could see movement. They knocked on the door and a few moments later began making announcements over a patrol car’s PA system advising Edinger to exit the apartment and comply. They also told the female who was believed to be inside to exit and contact them, but they did not receive a reply.
Deputies confirmed the two vehicles Edinger was reported to use were parked in the apartment complex lot. They again received information from a witness Edinger was in the apartment, known to keep firearms inside and there was an adult female inside the apartment.
With the information gathered regarding Edinger, who was refusing to exit the apartment, wanted for confirmed felony and misdemeanor warrants, known to possess firearms, and with an uninvolved female inside, SWAT and HNT were requested while deputies applied for a search warrant and continued attempts to make contact with the suspect.
Information was received a short time later: Edinger was holding the female against her will and would not allow her leave the apartment.
SWAT and Negotiators arrived and quickly began working toward a peaceful resolution to this intensifying situation. Residents in the uninvolved apartments were asked to shelter in place or evacuate with the assistance of deputies.
Negotiators made phone contact with Edinger and eventually convinced him to releasing the female and surrender. After three hours from the time the call initially began, the female was released and Edinger was successfully taken into custody without anyone being injured.
A peaceful ending is the ultimate goal of the Spokane Valley Police Department and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. With time, specialized equipment and advanced training, the members of the SWAT Team, HNT and responding deputies worked together to keep the residents of the surrounding apartments safe and peacefully ended this very intense situation with the arrest of the suspect and no one injured.
Edinger was transported and booked in the Spokane County Jail for local charges of Unlawful Imprisonment (DV), Resisting Arrest and the misdemeanor warrants. He is also being held on a Fugitive charge for the Idaho Felony Warrant.
Spokane News original and live coverage of this incident can be found HERE
Deputy Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Spokane Valley Police Department
Public Information Officer