FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
No Criminal Charges in March 2017 Police Shooting
SPOKANE COUNTY, May 8, 2017 – The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office has determined that Spokane County Sheriff’s (SCSO) Deputies Petrini and Totman, Cpl. Welton, and Detective McNees were justified in using deadly force while attempting to arrest Dean Bellamy at his home at 18718 N. Leslie Lane, Colbert, WA on March 6, 2017.
On March 6, 2017, at just before 8:00 PM, SCSO deputies were called to a domestic violence call at 18718 N. Leslie Lane, in Colbert. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with Dean Bellamy’s wife, Emily. Following the interview, deputies determined they had probable cause to arrest Dean Bellamy for DV Assault and DV Threats to Kill. Deputies then pulled up to the residence and attempted contact with Bellamy. Though he initially came out of the residence, Bellamy quickly retreated inside. Based on information gathered from previous calls to the residence, deputies knew that Bellamy was likely armed. A search warrant was applied for and received. Though asked numerous times to come out, Bellamy refused to do so. Contact was attempted via a cell phone number known to be used by Bellamy. The Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) team was activated for a barricaded subject at approximately 9:30 PM. SWAT had been to this residence for similar reasons on prior occasions.
During the period from approximately 9:45 PM until approximately11:30 PM, deputies attempted to convince Bellamy to surrender peacefully. Bellamy exited the rear of the residence several times, yelled at the deputies, and retreated back inside. On his last trip outside, deputies were able to fire a less-lethal munition at Bellamy and struck him in the shoulder area. Another less-lethal attempt missed. He shouted words similar to “You will regret or pay for that” at the deputies and retreated back inside the residence. Shortly thereafter, deputies observed Bellamy’s forearm extended with a firearm in his hand. Bellamy fired numerous rounds at the deputies. Sgt. Whapeles was wounded in the right shoulder area. Up to that point, deputies had not used deadly force. The deputies returned fire. A robot was eventually sent into the room and Bellamy was located deceased inside. No one else was located in the room or the remainder of the house. An autopsy determined that Bellamy died from a single penetrating gunshot wound to the left side of his head. Ballistics testing concluded that the bullet removed from Bellamy’s head was fired from Deputy Petrini’s .45 Glock pistol and the bullet removed from Sgt. Whapele’s shoulder was fired from Bellamy’s 10mm Glock.
Under these circumstances, it was reasonable for Sheriff’s Deputies Petrini and Totman, Cpl. Welton, and Detective McNees to use deadly force. Bellamy presented a serious and immediate threat to the deputies on the scene. He fired at them multiple times, wounding one. Multiple prior commands were given in attempt to persuade Bellamy to surrender peacefully and end the standoff. Two attempts at less-lethal force were attempted, as well. There is no indication Deputies Petrini and Totman, Cpl. Welton, and Detective McNees acted out of malice or lacked a good faith belief in the correctness of each of their actions. Therefore, no criminal liability attaches and no criminal charges will be filed against any of these officers.