The Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team (SIRR) is investigating an officer-involved shooting incident involving a Spokane Police officer that happened on Saturday, July 6.
The Spokane Police Department identified the officer involved in the shooting as Officer Daniel Lesser.
At approximately 3:10 P.M. an officer said he was in foot pursuit of a suspect with an active felony warrant southbound on South Maple Street from West 6th Ave.
The officer said he fired at the suspect who was armed with a pistol. The suspect was later identified as 46-year-old Charles E. Jackson Jr. Officers said he was later found running west on 7th Avenue.
Multiple officers responded to the area to assist and establish a perimeter to help locate Jackson. Additional K9 units and an Air 1 team were requested to help in the search.
Officers say a citizen advised an officer of a male matching Jackson’s description in the alley behind his home located in the 1600 block of W. 9th Avenue. He was later located in the 1400 block of West 9th Ave.
The officer-involved protocol was enacted and the SIRR team is conducting an investigation and processing the scene for evidence.
At the scene, SIRR investigators recovered a realistic firearm replica pistol. Additionally, officers were provided information from the U.S. Marshals Office regarding Jackson’s felony probation violation warrant which was extraditable nationwide.
SIRR investigators also learned of several social media posts made by Jackson where he said he wouldn’t go back to prison and taunted his probation officer and U.S. Marshals saying he was armed and wouldn’t be taken alive.
No officers or citizens were injured in the officer-involved shooting. Jackson was provided medical attention prior to being transported and booked into the Spokane County jail.
The SIRR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, Spokane Valley Police Department, the Washington State Patrol and the Spokane Police Department.
Officer Daniel Lesser was hired by the Spokane Police Department in September of 1995. Before joining full time employment with SPD, Officer Lesser worked two years with the Spokane International Airport Police. Officer Lesser was a patrol officer until 2001 when he joined the SPD K9 unit and served there for 18 years.