Police Department

Six Officers Quarantining After Arresting the Same Man Twice In a Week

Sgt. Terry Preuninger, PIO

Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 3:50 p.m.

The Spokane man who exposed 6 police officers and the public to COVID-19 and was subsequently ordered to isolate, has turned himself in.

The man turned himself in to the regional health department on Thursday the 28^th in the afternoon. Spokane Police had been trying to locate the man after the Spokane County Health Officer issued an “Emergency Involuntary Detention Order for Purposes of Isolation” yesterday but were unsuccessful.  Once he turned himself in to the regional health department he agreed to self-quarantine for the remainder of the duration of the isolation as set out by the health department.  This time period ends tomorrow, Friday the 29^th at 5:00 PM.   He was then released by the regional health department to quarantine at home. 

Please direct any questions regarding the isolation order to the Spokane Regional Health district Communications Manager, Kelli Hawkins at khawkins@srhd.org or at 509 324 1539.

 

                                ************See Previous Release Below*************

A Spokane man who has tested positive for COVID–19 and refuses to self-isolate has been arrested twice in five days, sending six Spokane Police Officers into quarantine.  

On May 20^th at 3:30 AM Spokane Police officers responded to a suspicious vehicle call in the area of Longfellow and Ash.  The caller advised the car had been parked and running since 11:00 PM the night before.   The officers located a male passed out in a running Toyota Avalon, sitting in the driver’s seat slumped over the wheel. 

When the officers woke him driver had no idea where he was and stated he had drank a fifth of Whiskey.   After an investigation the driver was placed under arrest for DUI / Vehicle Physical Control.  During the investigation it was determined the driver’s blood alcohol content was well over the legal limit.  The driver was booked into the Spokane County Jail.  Corrections staff later contacted the police department to advise they had discovered the defendant had tested positive for COVID -19 prior to this incident.

SPD Report #2020-20084045

 

Less than a week later on May 25^th a Spokane Police officer saw a Toyota Avalon occupied by six people driving downtown with no tail lights.  When the officer stopped the car the driver yelled out in a slurred voice at the officer wanting to know why he was being stopped.  The officer and back up officers conducted an investigation and arrested the driver for DUI.  During the investigation it was determined the defendant’s blood alcohol content was over twice the legal limit.                            

After being arrested and prior to completing the processing for the DUI arrest, the driver advised the officers he had tested positive for COVID -19.  He further stated he was supposed to be in quarantine until the end of this week.  

SPD Report#2020-20087756

 

All six SPD officers who came into contact with the defendant are currently now under self-quarantine.  None of the officers appear symptomatic at this time however the department is exercising an abundance of caution. The Spokane Police Department would like to remind anyone in our community who has tested positive for COVID-19 to follow the directions of your doctor’s and health officials and isolate yourself to prevent the spread of the virus. 

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