Police Department

SPD Arrests Man Who Randomly Attacked People Around Spokane

Julie Humphreys, Communications Manager, 509.625.5868

Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 4:41 p.m.

On 12/17/22 SPD officers responded to 3 separate assaults involving 5 victims.  The first took place at Wall and Spokane Falls Blvd when a man walked up to 2 women who were sitting on the ground, sprayed them with bear spray, kicked them in the head, and walked off.  The video link showing this attack is graphic and has been redacted to protect the victims. It shows the brazen manner in which the suspect carried out the assaults. Not long after this attack, 2 people sitting outside a business on W. Main St were both punched in a similar unprovoked manner. Later the same day, a woman standing outside a store in the 9400 block of North Division was also sprayed with bear spray then kicked without warning or provocation. Several days later on 12/20/22, a man in a bathroom of a store in the 9700 block on N. Newport Highway was punched and hit with a hammer in another random attack.

SPD’s Major Crimes Unit immediately began investigating these seemingly unrelated attacks and eventually investigators were able to piece the separate incidents together and develop probable cause to charge a suspect.  Last week Gary B. Ault – age 37 – was charged with 3 counts of assault  –  Assault 1, Assault 2, and Assault 3 – related to the attacks. Additional charges are possible. Ault was booked into the Spokane County Jail where he remains on a $175,000 bond. Ault has 14 prior felony convictions to include Burglary, Theft, and Possession of Stolen Property.

Video link of attack  https://vimeo.com/786748271

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