Armed Man Arrested for Forcing His Way into a Home Looking for Runaway Grandson
Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a residential burglary call where it was reported a male, armed with a handgun, forced his way into a residence, believing his grandson, a reported runaway, was inside. During a struggle with one of the residents of the home, a shot was fired from the handgun but no one was injured.
On May 31, 2019, at approximately 10:40 p.m., Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence located in the 2300 block of S. Best is Spokane Valley. The caller reported a male had forced his way inside the residence and he was armed with a gun. Within seconds, a shot was heard along with screaming and yelling.
Deputies arrived at the home and neighbors were pointing at the house in question. The front door of the home was standing wide open and an adult female was contacted in the front yard. After clearing the house and ensuring no one was injured, Deputies began their investigation.
The victims said the suspect, later identified as 59-year-old Michael R. Dooley, was armed with a gun when he broke into her home in an attempt to find his grandson, who was a runaway. She explained the runaway’s mother had stopped at the house earlier looking for the runaway but the victim said he wasn’t there. The victim found the runaway in their back shop and told him his mother was looking for him and he needed to go home.
At approximately 10:40 p.m., she heard a commotion from the front door area of her house. She found her 18-year-old son wrestling with Dooley over the control of a black revolver. People at the residence broke up the fight. The victim said she told Dooley his grandson was at the residence earlier but she didn’t know it until she found him in the back shop and told him to go home. She said that’s when Dooley pointed the pistol at her and said, “I knew he was here!” She tried to run down the hall but Dooley grabbed her arm and threw her to the ground. Her son started wrestling with Dooley again over the control of the handgun. During the struggle, a shot was fired but no one was hit by the bullet. The struggle continued until she and her son gained control of the pistol and disarmed Dooley. Dooley left the residence in a white SUV before Deputies arrived.
One of the Deputies who attempted to contact the runaway at the victim’s residence earlier in the evening remembered Dooley lived at a residence in the 14500 block of E. 24th Ave. and informed assisting Deputies who responded to the address.
After several announcements, Deputies contacted Dooley’s daughter, and mother of the runaway, at the front of the residence. She explained Dooley was inside the residence along with some children. The children were safely removed from the home and shortly after, Dooley exited, complied with commands and was taken into custody.
Major Crimes Detectives responded to assist with the investigation.
Dooley admitted to pushing his way into the residence after the male victim tried to slam the door in Dooley’s face. Dooley said when he pushed his way inside, he noticed the male victim had a gun in his hand and they started wrestling. He admitted he was armed with a .40 caliber semi-auto handgun in an exposed shoulder holster at the time but denied ownership of the revolver. Investigators noted Dooley admitted to drinking a couple shots of whiskey prior to the incident.
Through the investigation, after talking with all the people involved, probable cause was developed to charge Dooley with Burglary 1st Degree and two counts of Assault 1st Degree. A .357 revolver, the victims said they took from Dooley, was seized at the residence on Best. Investigators also seized a .40 caliber semi-auto handgun Dooley admitted to wearing when he went to the Best address.
Dooley was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for the noted felony charges.
After his first court appearance the next day, Dooley was released on his Own Recognizance.
Thankfully, no one was injured during this violent and potentially deadly incident.
