Police Department

SPD Officers and Medical Personnel Render Aid to Collapsed Man

Sgt. Terry Preuninger, PIO

Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 5:22 p.m.

Spokane Police Officers and medical personnel render aid to a man who collapsed after running in and out of traffic and kicking passing vehicles.  This incident started as what appeared to be a simple traffic problem consisting of a vehicle blocking the road with a flat tire.  

At about 7:00 am on Thursday Spokane Police Officers were dispatched to a vehicle blocking traffic due to a flat tire on Freya south of Desmet.  Before Officers arrived SPD dispatchers realized that the vehicle identified as blocking traffic had been involved in recent previous reckless driving calls in that area.  (In total, 9 different calls were generated from November 4^th to this morning involving that car, and incidents related to suspicious persons, check on the welfare, disorderly activity and persons bothering.) 

When the first officer arrived he found the vehicle occupied by a male who appeared uninjured but was acting irrationally.  The officer attempted to evaluate the driver as well as direct traffic to prevent further incidents.  As back up officers were arriving the male abruptly jumped from the car and began to run through traffic, at times kicking at or even trying to get into passing vehicles.  Officers tried to reach him but were unsuccessful. 

911 received calls from citizens describing the man’s actions and advised that the officers on scene were going to need assistance.  As the male was running through the intersection of Freya and Desmet he collapsed.   Officers were able to contact him and detained him, placing him in handcuffs and confirmed medics were responding.  Within a short time the man appeared to be in medical distress.  The officers un-handcuffed him and began rendering aid just as medics arrived.  It appeared the man had stopped breathing, medics took over and continued to treat and then transport the male to the hospital. 

The male is still hospitalized at this time and in stable condition. 

Traffic was opened up at around 10:00 am. 

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