OKANOGAN COUNTY, Wash. — The Okanogan County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday that the deputy and Sgt. that shot Lance R. Bowers were found justified in their use of force after an outside investigation.
Bowers, 37, was shot after an altercation with Sgt. Everett and Deputy Holloway on June 3, according to the release. An investigation by the North Central Washington Special Investigations Unit found the two justified in their use of force, according to the release.
The two have returned to full work status, according to the release.
A body was found in the trunk of a burnt car near the boundary of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest on the afternoon of June 3, according to the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies found the vehicle on June 3 at about 4:28 p.m. about 20 miles east of Tonasket, according to Okanogan County Undersheriff Aaron Culp. He could not confirm if the vehicle was still on fire when deputies arrived.
The victim has not been identified, according to Culp.
Bowers, the suspec was located near the Aeneas Valley Store near Tonasket on Monday evening, according to Culp.
The Okanogan County Prosecuting Attorney is requesting charges of first degree assault and first degree unlawful possession of a firearm against Bowers.
Culp said deputies engaged and Bowers at 6:57 p.m. after he refused to follow commands. Deputies said he was armed.
Bowers was airlifted to Central Washington Hospital and treated for his injuries before being released into custody. There were no fatalities in the shooting, according to Culp.
