Police Department

Juvenile Arrested with Stolen Firearm Fights with Police

Lt. Terry Preuninger, PIO

Friday, February 9, 2024 at 5 p.m.

SPD arrests teenager, after he assaulted a female juvenile, displayed a stolen gun to witnesses, got on an occupied bus with the gun, and fought with police.

On 2/9/24 just after 9:30am, SPD patrol officers responded to the area of 100 S. Arthur on a person with a weapon call. Witnesses relayed a male had just assaulted a female by pulling her hair and shoving her around. When the witnesses confronted him, he showed them a gun which stopped them from interfering further.

Officers arrived and were directed by witness to about a block away where the suspect (later confirmed as a 16-year-old student who attends a school in the area and is a convicted felon) was headed toward a bus stop with a female.

An officer contacted both the male and female who were only somewhat cooperative. A bus arrived and the officer verbally directed the two juveniles to stop however they ignored his direction and got onto the bus. The officer ordered the driver not to leave, and other officers responded while the initial officer kept the male and female who were on the bus, engaged in dialog.

Several officers then got on the bus and contacted the male and female who had moved to the rear of the vehicle. Both ignored all of the officer’s verbal attempts to gain compliance and the female physically interfered with the officers attempting to block them from the male. The male continually screamed at officers as they attempted to physically detain him – he is approximately 6’2 and nearly 200 pounds.

A struggle ensued and an officer used a taser which briefly incapacitated the male long enough to get one handcuff on him. The male then resumed the physical struggle and was able to pull a handgun from somewhere near his waistband which he tossed under a seat on the bus.

Officers were able to finish taking the male into custody after even more physical resistance.

There is probable cause to arrest the female for Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer.

Additionally, a female passenger on the bus was continually screaming at officers with her phone in one officer’s face. There is probable cause to arrest her for Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer as well.

The 16-year-old juvenile male was booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center on two counts of 1^st Degree Assault, one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, one count of Possession of a Stolen Firearm, one count of Assault 4^th DV, obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Arrest.

This was a very volatile and dangerous situation for citizens on the bus (approximately 12), for the initial witnesses and other bystanders, as well as for the officers.

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