Impaired Driver, Facing Several Charges, Threatens Deputies
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested an adult male for attempted Assault 2nd Degree, Intimidating a Public Servant (2 counts), and Driving Under the Influence Friday evening after the male rolled his truck and crashed into a utility pole.
On September 3, 2021, at approximately 5:45 pm., Spokane County Deputies responded to a reported reckless driver near N. Milan Elk Road and E. Deer Park Milan Road.
While speaking to the victim, deputies learned a reckless driver revved the engine of his older orange Chevy P/U and intentionally swerved toward the victim, causing her to jump out of the way to avoid being struck.
She explained the incident began when she observed an older orange truck she recognized driving very fast and knew the driver's identity. She stepped off the shoulder of the road and motioned with her hands for the driver, identified as 33-year-old Brandon L. Baumann, to slow down. Instead of slowing, she stated, Baumann looked at her, revved his engine, and swerved across the centerline of the roadway, heading right for her. She jumped back to avoid being hit.
Deputies also spoke to a witness who identified Baumann as the driver and provided a statement confirming the victim’s account of the incident.
A few minutes later, while Deputies spoke to the victim and witness, a possible injury accident in the 42900 block of N. Elk Camden Road was broadcast via radio. This caller said an orange truck hit a utility pole in the area, and the power was out.
Arriving Deputies at the crash scene observed an extensively damaged orange 1978 Chevy truck on its side, just off the northbound shoulder. The Chevy appeared to have rolled before colliding with a utility pole.
Baumann began walking toward one of the Deputies, holding out a set of keys. He was acting erratic and slipped on the dirt shoulder, falling to his hands and knees. Baumann got up and walked over to the Deputy and gave her his keys, saying, “Someone just stole my truck.” The Deputy noted Baumann’s clothing was soaking wet and dirty from the chest down. She also observed a lump and cut on Baumann’s head. He declined medical attention.
Baumann provided a statement about what had occurred. As he spoke, his speech was slurred, and he appeared to have difficulties with simple tasks and appeared to have trouble focusing on one thought during the conversation. When asked if he had been drinking, Baumann stated no, but he had taken “funny pills”. He did not specify what the pills were but did say they were prescription medications. After being asked if he should be driving after taking the pills, he said it didn’t matter because he wasn’t driving, continuing to claim his truck had been stolen.
A witness at the scene told Deputies she heard a loud just before her power went out. She went out to the roadway and noticed the power pole was leaning over the road and the orange truck on its side. A male, she believed to be Baumann, was crawling out of the vehicle's back window. When she asked if he was okay, he ran eastbound into the wood and toward the marsh. She stayed at the scene and, a short time later, noticed a vehicle approach driven by an unknown male with Baumann in the passenger’s seat.
Deputies asked Baumann to submit to standardized field sobriety tests. He replied with an expletive, stating no, he wasn’t driving.
With the evidence and statements from witnesses at both scenes, Baumann was advised he was under arrest for DUI and Assault 2nd Degree (attempted).
With the statement Baumann had taken prescription medications prior to driving and a point where he mentioned using an illegal substance, later denying it, a search warrant for a sample of his blood was later requested and obtained.
During his transport to the hospital for the blood draw, Baumann periodically smashed his head into the plexiglass divider, kicking the partition and widows of the patrol car. He also made numerous statements and threats toward the Deputy, telling her he would get out, look up her address, and that he will find her soon or he would recruit people to hurt her. At one point, he referenced an entire town burning, saying, “That’s all it takes is one spark and a pissed off {expletive}.”
At the hospital, Baumann remained uncooperative and made several threats to a second Deputy.
Baumann was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Assault 2nd Degree (attempted), two counts of Intimidating a Public Servant, and Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs.
His bond amount was set at $20,000 by the courts. He bonded out on Sunday evening with the assistance of a bail bond company.