Police Department

DV Suspect in Custody after Hours Long Standoff on South Hill

Cpl. Teresa Fuller

Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 2:35 p.m.

After a more than four hour long standoff, Ryan F Whyte (31), was taken into custody for 2^nd Degree Assault and Residential Burglary; both Domestic Violence charges. Officers responded to the apartment in the 2500 block of east 53^rd after Whyte assaulted his significant other. That person did not seek treatment at this time and no one else was injured during the incident.

Early this morning, December 7, 2019, just before 2:00 a.m., officers responded to the report of a female choked by her boyfriend near her apartment in the 2500 block of east 53^rd. After speaking with the victim, officers determined there was probable cause to arrest Whyte for 2^nd Degree Assault DV. Initially, they checked the area and the victim’s apartment, but were unable to locate him in order to take him into custody.

Just before 8:30am, an off duty officer on his way home, saw the suspect enter the apartment and called in notifying dispatch. Additional officers were called to the scene. Whyte has a previous history, unrelated to this incident, of being armed and of making threats to officers, so other resources were called in out of an abundance of caution.

SWAT, Hostage Negotiators, K9 Officers, the Explosives Disposal Unit, the Air Support Unit, Spokane County Fire District 8, and AMR were all called to the scene. These resources are often utilized to ensure the safety of not only the surrounding neighborhood and responding officers, but of the suspect as well. A number of surrounding apartments were evacuated  in order to keep those innocent civilians safe.

Verbal announcements were made advising Whyte he was under arrest and he needed to come out of the apartment. Whyte acknowledged officers were there, but continued to refuse to come out.

Just after 1:00 p.m., the door to the apartment was forcibly breeched at which point Whyte decided to exit the apartment. Whyte then gave up peaceably and was taken into custody without further incident.

SPD very much appreciates the patience of the neighborhood and apartment complex impacted by the significance of the response this morning.

Whyte will have his first court appearance Monday at 1:30 p.m.

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