DV Suspect in Custody After being Located in Wooded Area, Firearms Recovered

Officer Daniel Strassenberg, PIO


Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 4:43 p.m.


On June 3rd, 2025 SPD responded to 4000 South Cheney Spokane Road after a female contacted an employee at a gas station advising she had been assaulted. Officers contacted her and observed she was showing effects of being sprayed with bear spray or a similar type of chemical agent. The victim advised she had been assaulted with the bear spray by a male she had been involved with. She stated they were camping in a nearby wooded area when the assault took place. The victim also advised officers she observed a shotgun in the suspect’s tent a couple days prior. After completing the interview with her, officers developed probable cause to arrest the male for 3rd Degree Assault- DV. Based on the suspect’s history and the concern of the firearm at the camp, members of the SPD SWAT team and the Air Support Unit responded to the location. Officers checked the area but did not locate him.

On June 4th at just before 6pm, the victim contacted 911 advising she went back to the camp site to retrieve her belongings and the male suspect was there. Officers responded to the area and with the assistance of a Drone from the SPD Air Support Unit, located the suspect male in the wooded area. Officers closed in on the camp and the male was taken into custody without incident. Officers located several firearms at the camp site that were linked to the suspect.

Daniel J. Tillotson (44) was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail for 3rd Degree Assault- DV and two counts of 1st Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

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Officer Daniel Strassenberg
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dstrassenberg@spokanepolice.org