SIRR Team Investigation September 7, 2019
The Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team (SIRR) is investigating an incident involving a male who suffered from several, and apparent life-threatening, self-inflicted wounds at a residence in North Spokane. The severely injured and heavily bleeding man barricaded himself in a bathroom. With limited options available, Spokane Police Department Officers forced entry and physically restrained the man who resisted their efforts. He was transported to a hospital where he, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
On September 7, 2019, at approximately 7:15 p.m., Spokane Police Officers responded to a 911 call of a female screaming a male was bleeding in the shower. She further advised there was a large amount of blood, and the male had possibly hurt himself and was not responding. While patrol officers were responding, she advised the male was now conscious, would not let her near him to help and that he might be hallucinating.
Medical personnel arrived at the scene first, with Officers soon after. As Officers attempted to get the possibly armed man to exit the bathroom, he locked the door. The Officers observed evidence which indicated the male was severely injured and in immediate need of medical aid.
The Officers forced entry into the bathroom and observed what appeared to be significate and life-threatening injuries to the man’s neck and forearms. The male physically resisted their efforts to provide medical aid and had to be restrained before they could administer first aid, including three tourniquets, with the assistance of the medics.
The male was transported to a hospital where a short time later, he was pronounced deceased.
Due to the unusual circumstance of this incident and standard procedure in critical incidents involving law enforcement, the Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team (SIRR) Critical Incident Protocol was enacted. Following standard protocol, the five Spokane Police Officer involved were placed on administrative leave.
SIRR Team members responded to the location to process the scene and conduct an investigation.
The SIRR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, the Washington State Patrol, the Spokane Valley Police Department, the Airway Heights Police Department, and the Spokane Police Department.
* The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is the managing agency in this incident. All future communications on this incident will be sent via the SIRR Team.
* The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the deceased, along with cause and manner of death, at a later time if appropriate.
* The Spokane Police Department will release the names of the officers involved in this incident.
* Once the SIRR Team investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor's Office for review.