Police Department

Fleeing Felon Taken Into Custody; Firearm Recovered

Officer Daniel Strassenberg, PIO

Friday, August 29, 2025 at 2:08 p.m.

Fleeing felon in custody after officers observed him armed with a handgun near Downtown; gun recovered after it was thrown from suspect’s vehicle.

On August 28th, 2025 at just after 4 p.m., officers working in the downtown area observed a vehicle pull into a parking lot near 2nd and McClellan. A male exited the vehicle, carrying a revolver on his hip. The male was identified as Richard Tomich, 43. Further investigation revealed that Tomich was a convicted felon. As additional officers responded to the location, Tomich entered the vehicle and began to leave the area. Patrol officers stopped the vehicle just south of the intersection. As the officer approached the vehicle, Tomich was observed with the gun still on his person. As officers attempted to have Tomich step out of the vehicle, he fled the area at a high rate of speed, nearly hitting several pedestrians.

Due to his erratic driving as he fled the location and the heavy congestion of vehicles and pedestrians in the area, officers did not attempt to pursue him. Observing the direction in which Tomich fled the area, officers began checking the lower south hill. Tomich’s vehicle was eventually located in the area of 17th and Hatch, unoccupied. Tomich was detained nearby without incident. The gun observed on his person was not located and officers retraced his route to try and locate the firearm. With the assistance of an SPD K9, the gun was found discarded on a sidewalk.

As officers continued with their investigation, a large quantity of drugs and cash were located when Tomich was detained. Richard Tomich was taken into custody and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Attempting to Elude a Police Vehicle, 1st Degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent To Deliver.

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