Police Department

Spokane Police arrest 26-year-old Jonathan Johnson without incident for 1st Degree Robbery after barricaded SWAT standoff

Sgt. Lydia Taylor, 509.622.5847

Friday, August 23, 2013 at 4 p.m.

Spokane Police arrest 26-year-old Jonathan Johnson without incident for 1st Degree Robbery after barricaded SWAT standoff on E Sprague pawn shop. This is the second incident this week that Hostage Negotiators have successfully brought a very dangerous situation to a peaceful resolution.

On 08-23-13 around 10:14am Spokane Police Department received 911 reports that a man had entered the Double Eagle Pawn, 3010 E Sprague, jumped behind a counter and grabbed a shotgun. Witnesses reported the man loaded the shotgun and fired a shot. Employees and customers immediately started evacuating the business. Police responded quickly and assisted to evacuate the employees and customers.

Spokane Police immediately surrounded the business and shut down surrounding roads in order to keep citizens safe. They received information that a white male in his 20's was inside the business, with several firearms and indicated he had a hostage. Police Hostage Negotiators and SWAT responded to the scene and set up communications with the suspect. Police were concerned because the pawn shop contained numerous firearms and the subject had been armed with two firearms when people were evacuating the building.

After approximately two hours, the man, later identified as 26-year-old Jonathan Johnson walked out the front door and surrendered peacefully. Johnson was booked into jail for 1st Robbery. No citizens, suspects or police were injured in this high risk incident. This is the second incident this week that Hostage Negotiators have successful brought a very dangerous situation to a peaceful resolution. On Monday, 08-19-13, Spokane Police arrested bank robbery suspect, Scott Ruziecki, after a 3 hour standoff near 600 S Arthur. Hostage Negotiators and SWAT responded to that scene, because Ruziecki was reportedly armed and had threatened to shoot any law enforcement officer if confronted.

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