Police Department

Downtown Standoff Subject Taken Into Custody

Ofc. John O'Brien, PIO

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 9:35 a.m.

On April 15, 2019, around 3:15pm, a Spokane Police Officer confirmed Jimmy Engleman had entered a motel room at 100 S. Washington Street. Engleman was being sought on an arrest warrant with nationwide extradition for Assault 1^st Degree that occurred last May. Patrol Officers along with assistance from the United States Marshalls Service contained Engleman in the room. Officers cleared all the tenants from the location to keep them safe.

Engleman had been involved in a several hour standoff on May 19, 2018, at 4700 N. Post after he had fired several rounds from a gun into the his neighborhood striking at least one house.

SWAT, K9 and the Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU) responded to today’s incident due to Engleman’s prior history of firearms and violence. SWAT used armored vehicles to provide safety to the community and transport a member of the Hostage Negotiator Team (HNT) to try and talk Engleman out of the room.

Engleman would not respond to several different methods HNT used to engage him in conversation.

SPD used noise distraction devices and gave Engleman a significant amount of time to surrender peacefully. EDU was able to open the locked door hoping to allow SWAT an opportunity to see Engleman inside the room.

Again after waiting some time, SPD used chemical munitions to try and influence Engleman into a peaceful surrender.

Engleman emerged from his room holding a knife and refused to follow commands. Engleman repeatedly stabbed himself with the knife.

SWAT deployed several specialty impact munitions (less lethal) and were able to disarm Engleman which allowed SWAT to take him into custody.

Medics, who had been on standby at the location, responded immediately and Engleman was transported to an area hospital for treatment. After Engleman’s release from the hospital, he will be booked on the felony warrant.

Numerous onlookers in the area were attempting to put themselves in a location where they could record the event as it unfolded. Some of these people had children with them. SPD would like to remind people these events can unfold and change rapidly without warning. They should avoid the area rather than try to live stream a tactical operation which could also put officers’ lives at risk.

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