Suspect Arrested after Hitting Woman’s Ex-Boyfriend and Fleeing the Area
Spokane Valley Sheriff’s Major Crimes Detectives responded to assist Spokane Valley Deputies with an assault involving a vehicle and a hit and run injury crash. The victim and the suspect had both dated the female witness who was present when the incident occurred. The victim received severe injuries to his legs.
On March 26, 2021, just after 1:20 pm., Spokane Valley Deputies responded to the report of a male screaming in pain in the parking lot located in the 11700 block of E. Montgomery. The caller reported a female was in the parking lot with the male.
A coworker of the caller said the male had been run over. It was also reported a black Honda was seen leaving the parking lot as Spokane Valley Fire and AMR personnel arrived.
Responding Deputies observed a black Honda matching the description of the one seen leaving the location and conducted a traffic stop and contacted the female driver. She was not forthcoming and only provided a limited amount of information.
The 43-year-old male victim stated he was run over by the suspect, 31-year-old George R. Bell II. He explained Bell is his ex-girlfriend’s (the female driving the black Honda) boyfriend. He and the female rode together in the black Honda and arrived in the parking lot where the incident occurred to retrieve some of the female’s property from a box truck parked there.
Soon after, Bell arrived in a Toyota Camry and purposely ran into the back of the Honda. The victim exited the Honda to confront Bell and ask what he was doing. When he did, Bell put the Toyota in gear, then hit and ran over him, causing him to be drug for a short distance. The victim was treated at the scene and transported to a hospital for severe injuries to his legs.
Major Crimes Detectives responded to the scene to continue the investigation.
After being advised of her rights, the female told Detectives she was picked up by the victim earlier in the day. They went to a friend’s house where Bell showed up and became upset when he saw she was with the victim. Bell was angry and called her names as he screamed and cussed at her before leaving in the Toyota. Figuring she and Bell were “over,” she asked the victim to drive her to the box truck’s location to get some of her property.
While she was inside the back of the truck, gathering her property, she heard the loud sound of two cars colliding and the victim screaming. She looked out of the box truck, noticed the victim lying on the ground, and called 911. She said the victim told her to pick up his son, and after medical personnel arrived, she left to do so as the victim requested. She was pulled over by Deputies a short distance from the scene.
Deputies attempted to contact and interview any possible witnesses in the area.
Deputy Hall contacted Bell by phone. He initially said the incident wasn’t his fault and the victim intimidated him, and was being aggressive toward him. Being intimidated, he tried to flee the parking lot, and that’s when the victim was struck. He said he confronted the victim and his ex-girlfriend, who were “robbing” his truck.
Deputy Hall explained he needed to talk to Bell as part of the investigation and get his side of the story. Bell said he left the Toyota on Montgomery near Coca-Cola but would get a ride back from his friends who also witnessed the incident.
Deputy Hall was unable to locate the Toyota in the area where Bell said he left it. Unable to find the vehicle or locate Bell, Deputy Hall called Bell back. Bell confessed he was still with the car and was in the Safeway parking lot located at Trent and Argonne.
Deputy Walton responded to the parking lot and contacted Bell. He was taken into custody without further incident.
As the investigation continued, Major Crimes Detective Derek McNall authored a probable cause affidavit, charging Bell with Assault 2nd Degree and Hit and Run-Injury. He was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail on these charges. Bell remains in jail on these charges with a bond set at $7,500. He also is being held on an unrelated Theft 1st Degree charge with an additional bond of $2,500.
The female was released and not charged with a crime stemming from this incident.
