Police Department

Chronic Offender Arrested After Choking Police K-9 Rav

Monique Cotton 509.363.8285

Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.

Spokane Police Arrest Chronic Offender Richard Urbanski (29) who has 10 Felony Convictions after he Chokes Police K-9 Rav. K-9 Rav was not seriously injured in the incident.

Yesterday, 8/12/14, at approximately 4 p.m., Spokane Police officers from the Chronic Offender Unit responded to a home in the 600 block of E. 9th Ave. to serve a Department of Corrections (DOC) Escape Warrant for 29-year-old Richard M. Urbanski.

Urbanski is a Chronic Offender with 10 felony convictions, including convictions for Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, and Resisting Arrest. Urbanski is considered a violent offender, who has had recent contact with law enforcement (he fled from arrest and was located by a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office K-9 several weeks ago) and officers received information he may be armed with a large knife.

Upon arrival, Chronic Offender Officers Yrigollen and Willard, Sergeants Waters and Hartman, and Officer O’Brien repeatedly announced their presence, told Urbanski he was under arrest for his warrant and told him to exit the residence. Urbanski refused to exit the residence after repeated announcements and K-9 Officer Dan Lesser and K-9 Rav were called to the scene to assist.

Officer Lesser made several more announcements, telling Urbanski to exit the residence. Urbanski did not exit the residence and Officer Lesser and K-9 Rav entered the residence (after receiving consent from the homeowner) in an attempt to locate Urbanski and safely place him under arrest.

K-9 Rav located Urbanski in a crawl space underneath a staircase in the home. Officer Lesser could hear a struggle under the staircase and a change in Rav’s breathing. Officer Lesser attempted to recall Rav, however Urbanski was holding on to and twisting Rav’s collar, choking Rav. Ofc. Lesser gave additional verbal commands for Urbanski to release Rav, however Urbanski continued to choke Rav and fight violently. A Taser was deployed and Urbanski released Rav.

Urbanski was arrested, transported to the hospital with minor injuries, and booked into the Spokane County jail on the DOC warrant and for Harming a Police Dog.

K-9 Rav was not seriously injured in the incident.

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

Related Photos

• Officer Lesser and K-9 Rav

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