Police Department

Overnight Incidents: Fleeing Vehicle Nearly Hits SPD Officer; Shots Fired at Swaxx

Monique Cotton, Public Information & Communication Director, 509.363.8285

Monday, June 2, 2014 at 9:21 a.m.

Spokane Police Officer nearly hit by fleeing vehicle; Fleeing car crashes; Firearm located inside; All juvenile suspects arrested and two booked into Juvenile Detention after K-9 track; No one injured in the incident.

Last night, 5/31/14, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Spokane Police Officer, Tim Ottmar spotted a suspicious vehicle at Manito Park after the park had already closed at 11 p.m.. Ofc. Ottmar approached the vehicle and spoke with the occupants. He reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana and was concerned about the occupants (all juveniles) driving home. As Ofc. Ottmar was speaking with the juvenile driver ( a 17 year-old male) and the other juvenile passengers, the male driver took off in the vehicle, nearly hitting Ofc. Ottmar. Ofc. Ottmar was not injured as the vehicle fled, and activated his lights and sirens to pursue and located the vehicle. He observed the vehicle crash into a tree near 17th and Grand. The occupants of the vehicle fled on foot. As Officer Ottmar approached the vehicle, he located the gun that he had observed inside the vehicle earlier.

Ofc. Ottmar advised Police Radio of what had occurred and other SPD officers responded to the scene. A K-9 track was initiated. Ofc. Paul Buchmann and K-9 Talon located one of the occupants of the fleeing vehicle, a 17-year-old male, hiding in some tall weeds near the 200 block of E. 17th Ave. He was taken into custody without incident and officers determined he was the individual who was seen with the gun while in the vehicle. He was booked into Juvenile Detention and charged with 2nd Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

Ofc. Buchmann and Talon continued to track the remaining outstanding suspects (one juvenile male and two juvenile females). Talon led Ofc. Buchmann to a garage in the 1600 block of S. Latawah. Ofc. Buchmann could hear voices from inside the garage. Ofc. Buchmann identified himself as a police officer and told the garage occupants they needed to exit the garage. Two juvenile females and a juvenile male (17 years old) came out of the garage and were taken into custody without incident.

The juvenile male was arrested and booked into Juvenile Detention on charges of 1st Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Attempting to Elude a Pursuing Police Vehicle. The male (determined to be the driver of the vehicle) is a convicted felon and therefore unable to possess a firearm.

SPD investigates shots fired at outside Swaxx; No one injured; Investigation on-going.

This morning, 6/1/14, at approximately 1 a.m., Spokane Police received to a report of shots fired at Swaxx, located at 21 E. Lincoln Rd. Officers were on-scene minutes after the initial call and determined individuals in a maroon SUV had fired 3-4 shots in the air at the location and fled. No one was injured.

No suspect description or further details were provided by witnesses. Detectives continue to investigate the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Check at 509.456.2233.

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