Out of Control, Disorderly Male Becomes Unresponsive & Dies SIRR Team is Investigating
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a home where a family member reported a male was high on drugs and out of control. Several Deputies went to the residence due to a recent history of similar calls, where the male was uncooperative, high and/or intoxicated, and assaultive toward law enforcement. When Deputies arrived, the male had locked a basement door and continued to destroy items in the room and scream wildly. A Taser was deployed in an attempt to subdue the man quickly without a physical confrontation. He continued to resist and as he was placed in handcuffs, he suddenly stopped breathing and became unresponsive. Deputies and medical personnel who had already staged close by immediately began life-saving measures, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The critical incident protocol was enacted, and the Spokane Regional Investigative Response (SIRR) Team is investigating this incident as is standard protocol.
On October 5, 2019, just before 9:30 p.m., Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a disorderly male (6’, approximately 250 lbs.) at a residence located in the 5900 block of N. Canal Street. A family member reported the male was out of control, screaming, and breaking items in the home. The male was in the basement and high on some unknown drug, and the caller was afraid to go downstairs.
With similar recent calls where he was physically uncooperative and assaultive toward Deputies and needed to be physically restrained, several Deputies and a Liberty Lake Police Officer responded.
When Deputies arrived, the male was in the basement and had locked and barricaded a door. He continued to scream, break items, and exhibit erratic out of control behavior. He was uncooperative, and with his large stature, strength, and previous tendencies to fight with law enforcement, a Taser was deployed to subdue him quickly. The Taser was effective, but it still took several Deputies to restrain him.
After he was placed in handcuffs, he stopped breathing and became unresponsive. CPR was immediately provided, and medics, which were staged nearby, where requested. Medical personnel continued life-saving measures, but despite everyone’s efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Three Deputies were placed on paid administrative leaving pending the outcome of the investigation, as per standard protocol.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the decedent at a later date when appropriate.
The SIRR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Valley Police Department.
• The Washington State Patrol is the case managing agency in this incident. All future communications regarding this investigation will be sent via the SIRR Team.
• The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office will release the names of the Deputies involved in the incident at a later time.
• Once the SIRR Team investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office for review.