Deputies Successfully Defuse and Help Disorderly and Paranoid Male
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a male who was screaming and being disorderly at an apartment complex in North Spokane during the early morning hours. Several witnesses called to report hearing the male, with one hearing what sounded like a gunshot. Attempts to calm him down verbally were unsuccessful, and he was physically restrained without injury.
On January 9, 2020, at approximately 3:50 a.m., Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 911 call of a male yelling for help. After the line was disconnected, the 911 Operator called the number back. A male answered the phone and said, “You aren’t real.” and hung up again.
Additional call back attempts went to voicemail before he answered again. He would not answer questions and continued screaming, saying things like, they got me, help me.
Several people in the area began calling to report hearing the male screaming for help as multiple Deputies responded to the area.
One caller reported hearing what was believed to be a gunshot and observed a male screaming in the courtyard of an apartment complex located in the 100 block of E. Hawthorne. The male was described as possibly high or intoxicated.
Deputies J. Johnson, A. Velikodnyy, K. Leavenworth, M. Peterson, and J. Pratt arrived at the scene and located the erratic adult male who continually yelled nonsensical statements. Acting paranoid as he paced back and forth, yelling, “I didn’t hurt her! She is going to hurt me!” and that “They are going to get me!”.
Efforts to deescalate the situation and calm the male down or establish a coherent dialogue were unsuccessful. After devising a plan to detain the male, Deputies attempted to take control of the male and place him in handcuffs. He was immediately resistive and tried pulling away. In an attempt to gain control and avoid a physical fight, Deputies took him to the ground. He continued to try and pull his arms in and began to kick.
Even after Deputies gained control and placed him in handcuffs, the male continued to kick, and leg restraints were applied. Due to the male’s erratic and physical indicators that he was possibly high, Fire and AMR staff, who had been staged in the area, responded to assist.
The male continued to resist efforts to place him on a gurney. He was transported to a hospital where he could receive medical treatment.
Deputies contacted a person who knows the male. They were told he recently relapsed and was using alcohol and methamphetamine. His behavior deteriorated throughout the day as his paranoia increased.
Thankfully, no one was injured during this unpredictable and potentially dangerous incident.