Police Department

Police Resolve Potential Hostage Situation

Lt. Terry Preuninger

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 12:08 p.m.

Spokane Police take a man into custody after he threatened suicide with a gun and inferred he would harm his four-year-old child.

At about 10:30 PM on Monday (2-19-24) evening patrol responded to the report of a suicidal male in the 00 block of North Grant Street.  Information from the complainant indicated that the subject was threatening suicide and was in the apt with his, and the complainant’s 4-year-old child.  Responding officers observed text messages from the subject to his ex-wife and those messages made statements that she would never see the child again. 

Officers quickly made a rescue plan to save the child and attempted unsuccessfully for hours to establish dialog with the man who was watching police out the window, but refused all attempts at communication. 

The SPD SWAT team was activated and assisted by the SPD Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT), the Explosive Disposal Unit (EDU), and members of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team.  HNT made numerous attempts to contact the male who continued to ignore police. 

Law enforcement continued failed attempts to communicate and simultaneously prepared to effect a rescue of the child if necessary.  

After hours of unanswered attempts to speak with the subject the male decided to comply, he opened the front door and surrendered without incident.   The child was found asleep in bed, unharmed. 

The child was examined by medics and then reunited with his mother.   The male was hospitalized for evaluation and treatment.   A criminal investigation is pending.

A firearm was recovered in the apartment. 

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