Police Department

Suspect in Custody after Carjacking, Car Crashing, & Dognapping Melee

Cpl. Teresa Fuller

Friday, March 8, 2019 at 6 p.m.

A female is in custody after a carjacking in East Central Spokane this afternoon. Marie A Henning (33) was taken into custody after pushing an adult female victim out of her mother’s car and then crashing the car on I90 just west of the Altamont on-ramp. The victim’s dog was still in the vehicle when Henning fled in the car and ran, terrified, onto the freeway after the crash. Fortunately, one of the victims of the crash was able to corral the dog and keep her in her vehicle until officers could reunite the pup with her proper owner. Henning was booked for 1^st Degree Robbery, Theft of a Motor Vehicle, and will be charged with Reckless Driving for the crash.

Today, March 8, 2019, just before 3:30pm, Spokane Police received a call of a carjacking in the 3500 block of east Ben Burr Blvd. The victim reported she was in a relative’s running vehicle, in the passenger seat with her dog. The suspect, later identified as Henning, opened the driver’s door, pushed the victim out and fled with the car and the dog.

Ofc. Chris LeQuire was in the area checking for the stolen car when he saw there was a crash on westbound I90 just west of the Altamont on-ramp involving a vehicle that looked very much like the description of the victim’s car. Once officers arrived on scene, it became very apparent citizens were key in the successful resolution to this incident. Witnesses reported seeing Henning enter I90 at a high rate of speed in the victim’s vehicle. She barely missed crashing into a large pickup truck, but then ran into two other vehicles before crashing into the barrier in the center of the freeway. That crash disabled the carjacking victim’s vehicle, but the victim’s terrified pooch fled onto the freeway. One of the crash victims was able to grab the dog and kept her in her vehicle until police retrieved her.

Meanwhile, Henning was corralled by three witnesses on I90 until officers arrived on scene to take her into custody. She was taken into custody without incident. None of the victims, of the carjacking or the crash, were injured. The pooch was safely returned to her owner. The Spokane Police Department very much appreciates the assistance of the citizens involved as well as the patience of all the drivers stuck in the ensuing traffic jam on I90 while officers and WSP Troopers worked to investigate and clear the crash.

Henning was booked on the above charges and will be in court on Monday at 1:30.

• Newer
• Older