Police Department

Follow Up Investigation from Cora Avenue Burglaries

Ofc. John O'Brien, PIO

Monday, July 2, 2018 at 10:34 a.m.

Update to original release:

Extensive follow up investigation by detectives from the Targeted Crimes Unit (TCU) arrests a male and locates many of the stolen guns after an extensive standoff.

On June 29^th, 2018, Spokane Police Department (SPD) TCU detectives attempted to contact a person of interest from the burglaries at a residence near 2100 W. Grace Avenue. When the detectives approached the house, the male ran inside and fired a gunshot. Detectives and patrol officers locked down the location and started to evacuate people in the neighboring houses while a search warrant was sought. The standoff lasted over ten hours.

Due to the subject, 34 year old Jeffrey M. Matthews, firing a round, his criminal history, having an outstanding felony warrant for Assault 2^nd degree, and possibly possessing numerous stolen firearms inside the house, several specialty units were requested to keep the neighborhood and officers safe. Matthews is a ten time convicted felon to include convictions for manslaughter, robbery and felony assault.

The SPD Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), K9, Explosives Device Unit (EDU), Hostage Negotiations Team (HNT) along with armored vehicles from Spokane County Sheriffs Office and Kootenai County Sheriffs Office contributed to safely resolve the incident.

A search warrant to enter the home on west Grace Avenue was sought and approved by a judge.

HNT stayed on the phone with Matthews for several hours and gave him numerous opportunities to peacefully surrender which he never complied with. SWAT initiated a plan to persuade Mathews to surrender but again he refused to comply. SWAT and the K9 team eventually located Matthews in the basement. Matthews resisted the K9 and SWAT officers but he was eventually taken into custody.

Several firearms were recovered from the residence believed to have been stolen from the Cora Avenue burglaries. Matthews had been removing floors boards in an attempt to hide the stolen firearms.

Matthews was booked into the Spokane County Jail on his outstanding felony warrant in the early morning of June 30^th, 2018.

SPD thanks the area pawn shop that immediately contacted the police when a subject pawning a firearm raised a suspicion and caused them concern.

This investigation is ongoing and more felony charges may be added.

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Original Release:

Audubon neighborhood home burglarized. One female in custody and one male still outstanding.

This afternoon a homeowner at 3100 W. Cora Avenue caught two burglars in his home. Both subjects fled from the house and a motorcycle officer responding to the call caught the female suspect nearby. A K9 unit searched the house and the surrounding area but the male suspect was not found.

On June 26^th, 2018 around 2:30 p.m., a home near 3100 W. Cora Avenue was burglarized. Thirty-four year old Tanya P. Myers was stopped leaving the area and she was detained. The male suspect, believed to be armed, fled and has not been located yet.

Several Spokane Police Department (SPD) officers set up a perimeter in the surrounding area. An SPD K9 team assisted by searching the home to confirm no others suspects remained inside. They searched the contained neighborhood but were not able to find the male suspect.

This was the third burglary at the location within the last 24 hours. Several firearms were stolen from the residence.

Detectives from the Targeted Crimes Unit (TCU) began their investigation this morning from the first two burglaries. The home was being processed to collect evidence.

Probable cause was established to arrest Myers. She was booked into the Spokane County Jail for Burglary 1^st Degree. More charges could be added.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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