Police Department

SPD Brings Suspect Safely Into Custody After He Assaults Officers and a Police K-9

Monique Cotton, Public Information & Communication Director, 509.363.8285

Monday, June 16, 2014 at 11:11 a.m.

Spokane Police arrest Adam T. Butler (33) after he allegedly hid in a garage, refused numerous commands to exit the garage (where there was a large saw blade in close proximity to the suspect), punched and kicked a police K-9, assaulted officers, and was eventually taken into custody. The suspect later told police he appreciated their professionalism during the situation. Neither the officers, nor the K-9 sustained serious injuries.

On 6/14/14, at approximately 4:45 a.m., Spokane Police Patrol officers received a report of a suspicious person hiding near the 1800 block of W. 2nd Ave. The caller also reported flowers on the porch of his home were overturned, clothes were scattered in the yard, and the caller believed the suspect was attempting to break into his truck.

Officers arrived on scene and observed a partially clothed male running in the area. Officers attempted to contact the man, identifying themselves as police officers. The man did not comply with police commands to stop running and he entered a nearby garage, connected to a duplex. Through the open garage door, officers could see a large folding saw laying on the floor with the blade facing up. Concerned for the safety of the residents in the duplex, others in the area, officer safety, and the suspect’s safety, officers continued to give verbal commands, telling the suspect to exit the garage. The officers could hear banging inside the garage, however the suspect still did not respond to the officers verbal commands to exit the garage.

After working for some time to get the man out of the garage, and fearing the suspect would gain entry into the attached duplex, officers brought in a K-9 to assist. Officers announced the K-9 several times, in order to get the suspect to exit the garage and away from the large saw blade. The suspect continued to ignore officer directives and the repeated K-9 announcements. The K-9 entered the garage and the suspect began to assault the K-9, and move towards the officers, still fighting.

A female (later identified as the suspect’s girlfriend) then sprinted into the garage and attempted to jump on the back of one of the officers, telling officers that the suspect was not supposed to be at the residence. The female was taken outside the garage and away from the scene in order to keep her and officers safe.

Officers continued to work to bring the suspect safely into custody, however he continued to fight violently, hitting and kicking the officers. In order to protect the safety of officers and the suspect, a Taser was applied. The suspect continued to hit and kick officers.

After continued efforts to get the man to stop fighting and keep him from harming officers and himself, the suspect stopped fighting, and officers took him into custody.

The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Adam T. Butler, was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail on two counts of 3rd Degree Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Harming a Police Dog.

After being arrested, Butler told officers he appreciated that they treated him with professionalism and appreciated that a very minimal amount of force was used by officers during the chaotic incident.

Butler will appear in court today at 1:30 p.m.

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