SPOKANE, Wash. — A Spokane Police Lieutenant broke his leg while taking a suspect into protective custody Tuesday.
On September 5 around 2:30 p.m., SPD officers and a 44-year-veteran Lieutenant of the SPD Rex Olsen responded to a disorderly mental health suspect outside a Texaco gas station near North Ash Street and West Nora Avenue.
Several callers had reported a man was randomly screaming at people in the area. According to the police report, after contacting the suspect, Cory Yeager, 31, officers determined the suspect was a threat to others and unable to care for himself.
Police believe Yeager had been using drugs. When they were taking the suspect into protective custody, he resisted and fought with officers. During the altercation, the Lt. Olsen suffered a broken ankle. According to court documents, doctors said his left ankle was broken in three places.
"You have to go do it, you have to take them into custody. Sometimes people fight, we don't want to see that happen," Officer Josh Laiva said. "It's just really unfortunate that someone got injured."
Police said at the time of the fight they were attempting to take Yeager to the hospital and not make an arrest.
After the fight, the suspect was taken into custody and charged with second degree assault against a police officer. Lt. Olsen and Yeager were both taken to the hospital for treatment.
Yeager was later booked into the Spokane County Jail. This is not Yeager's first run in with the law. Back in July 2016, Yeager was arrested for malicious mischief after police said he damaged people's cars with a sledgehammer.
Lt. Olsen's injuries are non-life threatening but it will be a lengthy recovery process.