Police Department

Suspect arrested on multiple charges after fleeing from police, officer injured during incident

Officer Daniel Strassenberg Public Information Office

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 12:34 p.m.

On September 22^nd, 2024 just before 9:30am, SPD officers working in the downtown area observed a male operating a bicycle dangerously in the roadway on Browne near Riverside Avenue.  The male rode the bicycle against traffic creating a hazard to other motorists who were forced to slow down to avoid him.  When officers attempted to contact the male, he fled on the bike.  Responding patrol officers located the suspect in the area of Main and Lincoln, but he refused to stop when given verbal commands to do so.  The male again fled on the bike, but was contacted in the area of Main and Wall.  An officer attempted to stop the male, but due to the suspect’s resistive actions the officer fell to the ground sustaining a head injury.  The suspect was detained a short distance away after discarding the bicycle. 

Jacob W. Eckelkamp (36) was taken into custody and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Pedestrian/Vehicular Interference, Resisting Arrest and Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer.  Eckelkamp has extensive criminal history with prior felony convictions for Possession of Stolen Property and Identity Theft. 

The injured officer was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries that included sustaining a concussion.

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