PRESS RELEASE
***For Immediate Release***
Date: September 6, 2018
Contact: Trooper Jeff Sevigney
Officer Involved Shooting Investigation
The Spokane Investigative Regional Response (SIRR) Team continues to investigate the officer involved shooting that occurred September 3rd, in Cheney, WA. The SIRR Team was activated after three Cheney Police Department (CPD) officers discharged their service weapons during a contact with a male that was armed with a knife. The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the male’s identity as 40-year-old Steve L. Anderson.
The Cheney Police Department and Eastern Washington University Police Department (EWUPD) responded to a report of a disorderly male armed with a knife at Mitchell’s Harvest Foods at 116 W 1st Street. CPD officers contacted the Anderson outside the front of the store and immediately recognized that Anderson was, in fact, armed with a knife. CPD officers began giving verbal commands to drop the knife. After failing to follow commands and continuing to advance toward officers with the knife, three CPD officers discharged their service weapons, striking Anderson.
After stopping the threat, officers on scene immediately rendered first aid. Cheney Fire Department and AMR ambulance crews arrived on scene and continued life-saving treatment but, unfortunately, Anderson was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Officer Involved Critical Incident Protocol was enacted and SIRR Team investigators responded to conduct the investigation and process the scene for evidence. SIRR investigators and forensic specialists were on scene for nearly 10 hours after the incident processing the scene and gathering evidence. SIRR detectives continue to follow up on investigative leads to gather all the facts in the matter. The SIRR Team is comprised of multiple law enforcement agencies in Eastern Washington.
SIRR detectives are asking anyone with information related to this investigation to please call Crime Check at 509-456-2233.
• The Washington State Patrol is the managing agency in this incident.
• The Cheney Police Department will release the names of the officers involved in the incident.
• Once the SIRR Team investigation is complete the case will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
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