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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Knife-wielding man crashes into Subway

A knife-wielding man was arrested Friday after a police chase ended with his car striking a Subway sandwich shop in downtown Spokane.

Charles D. Fletcher, 43, is accused of waving a large hunting knife at passing motorists and scratching their cars while screaming near 9th Avenue and Grand Boulevard about 9:22 p.m., according to court documents.

Spokane police were responding to the area when they heard the suspect, who was driving a white Ford Bronco, had just entered the emergency Providence Scared Heart Medical Center with the knife. The man ran back outside and fled in the Bronco when he saw the police car, and officers pursued him down the lower South Hill and used PIT maneuvers to try to stop him.

Fletcher lost control of his car on westbound 3rd Avenue and crashed into a police, then into the Subway at Browne Street, where he was arrested. Fletcher also crashed into a car at 3rd and Browne and slightly injured the driver.

Fletcher told police he'd stabbed his knife into a car because the driver insulted him and his vehicle. He was booked into jail for hit and run, attempting to elude police and three counts of first-degree assault.



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