Police Department

SPD Arrest Two Following Armed Burglary, Vehicle Theft, and Multi-Agency Pursuit

Ofc. Xenon Berkeley, PIO

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 8:12 a.m.

Spokane Police arrest two following armed burglary, vehicle theft, and multi-agency pursuit

On January 9, 2024 at approximately 140am, the Spokane Police Department received the first of multiple 911 calls advising multiple subjects were breaking into an apartment in the 8400 block of N Nevada St. The callers advised the suspects were wearing masks and carrying firearms. As officers were responding, the callers advised the subjects were fleeing from the scene in a vehicle.

A vigilant Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy was in the area and soon located the vehicle. He began to follow it from a distance while awaiting further resources. Once those resources arrived, officers attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle but it fled recklessly. At that time, officers had reasonable suspicion the suspects had committed Burglary 1^st Degree. A pursuit was initiated. During that pursuit, officers successfully deployed spike strips to partially disable the vehicle. However, the vehicle continued to elude. Out of concern for public safety, the pursuit was terminated.

A short time later, the vehicle was located unoccupied in the area of Cincinnati St and Everett Ave. Officers built a perimeter and a K9 officer responded to attempt to track the suspects. SPD then received a 911 call from a civilian in the 600 block of E Crown who advised she had left her vehicle running in front of our house and it was stolen. It was quickly determined the burglary suspects had stolen the vehicle.

Officers throughout the city and county began searching for the stolen vehicle. It was located in the area of Sprague Ave and Havana St by another SPD officer. Again, once additional resources responded, they attempted a traffic stop on the stolen vehicle. The suspects again attempted to elude law enforcement by driving away recklessly. A second pursuit was initiated, which ended near the Liberty Park Library. The suspects fled the vehicle on foot. Again, a perimeter was created and multiple K9 officers responded to track the suspect.

The K9 tracking team located two suspects in this incident, Shane Johnson (31) and Makenzie McFarling (18), and took them into custody for Burglary 1^st Degree and Theft of a Motor Vehicle. Makenzie was also arrested for Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle. Additional charges are pending. Johnson is an 8-time convicted felon with prior convictions including Criminal Mischief with a Deadly Weapon, Assault 2^nd Degree, Assault 3^rd Degree, and Felony Harassment—Threats to Kill.

SPD is continuing to seek the additional suspects in this incident. At this time, we do not believe the suspects pose a specific threat to the public. If you have any further information about this incident and have not spoken to law enforcement, we ask that you call Crime Check 509-456-2233 and refer to case #2024-20005071. SPD was assisted in this incident by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Valley Police Department.

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