SPOKANE, Wash. — A Spokane police officer fired their weapon at a male suspected wanted for a federal probation violation before detaining him on Spokane's Lower South Hill on Saturday afternoon.
According to a Spokane Police Corporal Teresa Fuller, the Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team will investigate the use of force and will release the name of the officer at a future date.
Police saw a suspect they had been searching for walking near the 600 block of N Maple St. around 3 p.m., Spokane police officers said. Roads were blocked as the situation unfolded, and it is unclear if they have reopened.
The suspect had a federal warrant for unlawful possession of a firearm.
When the officer approached the suspect, he began running away from the officer. The officer then fired at the man as he continued running, police said.
Police said the suspect fled and hid near an apartment building. A woman then called the police saying someone was sitting on her porch. Her description of the man matched that of the suspect, police said.
When police arrived, the suspect began running again. Officers were able to catch him, and the suspect was taken into custody by Spokane police. Neither the suspect nor the officer were shot or injured, police confirmed.
What appears to be a replica firearm was found on the suspect when he was taken into custody.
Investigators still need to verify if it works after it’s collected and they process the crime scene.
The area of 5th Avenue and Maple Street to 9th Avenue was closed to all traffic as of 5.pm.
This is a developing story.
