SIRR Team Investigating Officer Involved Shooting Incident
Involving a Stevens County Deputy in Chewelah, WA
The Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team (SIRR) is investigating the Officer Involved Shooting involving a Stevens County Deputy on October 18, 2017, in the 800 block of W. Robert Avenue in Chewelah.
On October 18, 2017 at approximately 5:40 p.m., a victim reported she had been assaulted by her husband and he was preventing her from leaving the residence. The victim was afraid of her husband, 82-year-old Byron K. Parmenter and stated he had access to several weapons.
Chewelah Police Officers, Stevens County Sheriff’s Deputies, Washington State Patrol Troopers and a Washington State Fish and Game Officer responded to the location and made contact with the victim who was able to escape out the back of the home.
Byron failed to follow commands, refused to exit the residence and waived a handgun around as he yelled at Officers to move back or he would shoot them.
During the incident, a Stevens County Deputy, partnered with a Chewelah Police Officer began to move from a location near the residence toward a position of cover when the Deputy observed Byron point his laser equipped handgun toward the Deputy and Officer. The Deputy fired his service weapon at Byron as he and his partner continued to move.
A short time later as Officers continued to give commands, Byron exited out the back of the residence. He continued to disregard commands and remained defiant. Not knowing if he was still armed, Chewelah Police K9 Officer Matt Miller deployed his partner K9 Rebel. K9 Rebel quickly closed distance and made contact with Byron taking him to the ground where he was safely taken into custody.
Byron was not shot during the incident but he did receive medical attention due to the K9 contact. He was transported and booked into the Stevens County Jail and faces charges of Assault 4th Degree (DV), Unlawful Imprisonment (DV), Resisting Arrest, Harassment Threat to Kill and Aiming or Discharging a Firearm (3 counts).
The victim received minor injuries from the assault. None of the Officers or Deputies were injured during this incident.
The Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol was enacted and SIRR Team investigators responded to the scene to conduct the investigation and process evidence. The SIRR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane Valley Police Department, Spokane Police Department and the Washington State Patrol.
• The Spokane Police Department is the case managing agency in this incident. All future communication regarding this investigation will be sent via the SIRR Team.
• The Stevens County Sheriff’s Office will release the name of the deputy involved in the incident when appropriate to do so.
• Once the SIRR Team investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Stevens County Prosecutor’s Office for review.