Good evening, everyone...

After a thorough review of the police reports involved, including those given to the Spokesman, it is painfully aware to anyone reading the story of what happened, we have either (a) a suspect with a gun who vanished into thin air or (b) an officer either didn't see what his statements indicated or as a final option, someone cleverly escaped from an open window in the house, eluding the police that had a house surrounded and managed to effect an escape. It all depends upon whom you believe.

It about 9:00 AM this morning, when Spokane Valley police were attempting to do a follow-up on a report stolen property had been seen on the property at 11423 E. Broadway. After a scuffle in the front yard involving two people, police arrested a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl, but still no sign of the stolen property. However, according to all available news reports, one officer stated he saw a male run back into the house carrying a gun. Thus began a standoff, the lockdown of several nearby schools, street closures and police telling their neighbors not to leave their homes.

According to Detective Dave Thornburg's press release, deputies said after the two juveniles were arrested, they saw a possible third suspect looking out of a window in the home, along with lights being turned on and off.

Once a search warrant was obtained, officers from SWAT made entry into the house and searched the premises for the man with a gun, but could find no trace of him nor of a gun. They did, however, recover some stolen property from a burglary at A to Z Rental, including two weed trimmers, a rototiller and a chain saw. Most had been dismantled. Thornburg said the stolen items may have been used for parts for two mini-cycles found inside the home, which use the same type of motor. Now that is interesting. A mini-cycle powered by a chain saw motor won't go very fast, but it will cut down trees with the proper appointments.

In a statement made by the co-owner of the house, Vanessa Westerman, made lots of florid press when she stated the arrested teens are her children. “If they punched a cop, good for them,” she said. “They (the police) have no right to be in my house.”

Don't look now, but the search warrant and the recovered stolen property gives them every right to be in the house. Perhaps at this late stage of the game she might want to contact a bail bondsman for her teenagers, and maybe an attorney to help explain away the recovered stolen property before she makes any further statements for the news media. 

Dave

 

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