SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Spokane Valley police are searching for a man they believe to be armed and dangerous who was last seen in the area of East Mission Avenue and North Flora Road in Spokane Valley.
Spokane County Sheriff’s Corporal Mark Gregory said the situation started out as a wellness check. When deputies made contact with the suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Julian Hernandez, he lied about his name and started to flee, Gregory said. There was a short pursuit, Hernandez abandoned the car and fled, according to Gregory.
Police stopped chasing him because of traffic in the area. They came back to the area after reported sightings. Police attempted to do a K-9 search but it had a hard time tracking due to the weather, Gregory said.
Tyler Ferrell saw the suspect in his backyard and said Hernandez left without incident after he asked him to.
"So, he came through the metal fence right there where it was unhooked, and then walked around to the back right or left corner, was talking to us telling us not to call the cops and stuff asking to borrow cell phones. And then he told us or we told him to leave, he didn't want to leave. So then we walked inside, and then he jumped through the back fence," Ferrell said.
Ferrell said he didn't want to escalate the situation while Hernandez was there.
"Then he got all like shaking stuff and tried pulling up his pants. So we told him to leave, and then he wouldn't leave. Then he asked us to borrow his cell phone. And he was like, just don't call the cops don't call the cops. And so we obviously didn't, because we weren't going to push the situation," Ferrell said.
Hernandez is 5’7” tall and weighs about 250 pounds with a stocky build. He’s bald, has no facial hair and has tattoos on his face and arms. He was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt and blue jeans.
Gregory said Hernandez is wanted for a felony in Idaho. He has a history of being armed and should be considered dangerous. He will also be facing felony charges for the latest incident, according to Gregory.
Police say the area is not being considered an active crime scene.
If you see him, you’re asked to call 911.
This is a developing story and will be updated as soon as more information becomes available.