Police Department

Suspect Who Shot at Deputy Charged with Attempted Murder

Julie Humphreys, Public Safety Communication Manager, 509.625.5868

Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 8:40 a.m.

Suspect who shot at Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy charged with attempted 1^st degree murder

On 08-04-23, 53-year-old Robert L. Talley was booked into Spokane County Jail for Attempted 1^st Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement officer.

On 08-03-23, the Airway Heights Police Department was advised of an argument in the 12500 block of W Sunset Hwy. Initial responding officers observed a vehicle fleeing that location at a high rate of speed.

A short time later, an SCSO deputy located the involved vehicle in the 7600 block of W Sunset Hwy. The deputy observed a suspect flee from the vehicle and run towards an apartment building. The Deputy, driving a fully marked Spokane County Sheriff’s vehicle with emergency lights activated, proceeded after the suspect.

As the Deputy’s vehicle rounded the corner of the apartment building, he encountered the suspect, who had taken up a shooting stance near a tree and apparently waited for the deputy to come into view. The initial investigation shows the suspect fired at least one round at the deputy from his initial position. The suspect then moved, and fired additional rounds towards the deputy. Shell casings were collected at the scene, and at least one parked vehicle appeared to be struck by gunfire.

The deputy, who did not discharge his weapon during the incident, sought cover and the suspect quickly re-entered his vehicle and fled.

A pursuit ensued, during which the suspect fled towards Spokane, traveling the wrong direction (Eastbound in the Westbound lanes) on Interstate 90. The pursuit terminated when the suspect crashed into a building near W 2^nd Ave and Lincoln in Downtown Spokane.

Despite crashing, the suspect refused to immediately surrender; he remained barricaded in the vehicle and would not comply with law enforcement directives. Multiple specialty resources were summoned, including SWAT team members, and negotiators. A Chemical agent was deployed into the vehicle, and the suspect was eventually taken into custody without further incident.

At the termination of the pursuit, as the suspect crashed into the building and officers moved to contain and apprehend the suspect, an SPD vehicle struck a pedestrian. That person was not seriously injured and left the scene on their own accord. When contacted later by officers and medical personnel, the pedestrian refused further medical treatment. Multiple law enforcement vehicles were damaged during the pursuit.

Subsequent investigation showed that the vehicle Talley was driving had been reported stolen. Additionally, a firearm recovered from the suspect vehicle had also been reported stolen.

This is an on-going, joint investigation between the Spokane Police Department and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office; additional criminal charges are likely.  

The suspect, Robert Talley, is a 21-time convicted felon with a criminal history that includes felony malicious mischief, burglary, possession of stolen property, and trafficking in stolen property.

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