Police Department

Off duty officer arrests domestic violence suspect; replica gun recovered

Monique Cotton, Public Information & Communication Director, 509.363.8285

Friday, February 7, 2014 at 8 a.m.

Incident #: 14-39546

The quick response of an off-duty SPD officer leads to the arrest of a domestic violence (DV) suspect. The suspect told officers he intended to force a confrontation with law enforcement. A realistic looking airsoft pistol, closely resembling a .45 caliber pistol, was recovered at the scene.

Last night, February 6, 2014, just before 8:30 p.m., Spokane Police received a call of a DV incident in the 2600 block of N. Ash. The caller indicated that an ex-boyfriend was trying to gain entry to her residence by kicking in the back door. She also indicated that he may be armed and she and her two small children were hiding in the residence.

SPD Ofc. Christensen was on his way home after his shift as a Downtown Neighborhood Conditions Officer, however he responded to the call because he was in close proximity to the scene. Ofc. Christensen arrived at the scene two minutes after the initial call and quickly confronted the suspect at the back of the residence. The suspect, who was reported to be armed, hid from officers and then reappeared. Ofc. Christensen was able to de-escalate the situation and apprehend the suspect peacefully. James R. Hill (35) was taken into custody and booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of City Assault – Domestic Violence and Interfering with Reporting Domestic Violence. Officers located a realistic looking airsoft pistol, closely resembling a .45 caliber pistol, where the suspect admitted to throwing it after being confronted by Ofc. Christensen.

The suspect told officers it was his intent to force officers to shoot him, however because Ofc. Christensen responded so quickly and de-escalated the situation, the incident was peacefully resolved.

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