Police Department

SPD Officer Charged In Car Accident

Julie Humphreys, 509.622.5868

Thursday, July 9, 2020 at 10:32 a.m.

SPD Officer charged in an injury collision, to appear in court next week.

On March 25, 2020, Spokane Police Officer Michael Brunner was involved in a three car accident on Lincoln Street and Fifth Avenue in Spokane. Officer Brunner was on duty driving northbound on Lincoln in his police vehicle. At the same time, another vehicle was traveling westbound on Fifth Ave. The civilian vehicle was attempting to cross Lincoln St from east to west in front of Officer Brunner who was unable to bring his vehicle to a stop before colliding with the driver’s side of the civilian vehicle. After the initial impact, the civilian vehicle then hit another car parked on a nearby curb.

The day of the accident SPD contacted the Washington State Patrol to conduct an investigation as SPD recognized the possibility of criminal charges related to the accident. WSP completed its’ investigation and forwarded a recommendation of vehicular assault to the Prosecutor’s office. Prosecutors charged Brunner with 2 counts of vehicular assault.

Officer Brunner was placed on administrative leave the day after the accident.

He is scheduled for a first court appearance July 15^th, 2020.

When the criminal case concludes, SPD will initiate an administrative investigation.

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