Four people were arrested after police pumped tear gas and released a K-9 into a north side apartment this morning during a six-hour SWAT team standoff.

A Spokane police dog, Stryder, entered the apartment before police and fought with robbery suspect Bobby S. Decaney, 35, until officers took Decaney into custody. Also arrested were Maceo L. Williams, 27; Michael J. Hall, 25; and Nicole M. Coffey, 27.

Police were looking for Decaney and Williams on suspicion of robbery and assault for a mugging Thursday evening.

Officers had contacted a 22-year-old woman at Providence Sacred Heart Hospital about 8:45 p.m. and learned she’d been choked unconscious and robbed by three people in the 1300 block of Southeast Boulevard. She knocked on a nearby door and was helped by the homeowner.

Descriptions of the attackers and their vehicle led police to Decaney’s apartment at 13110 N. Addison, where Officer Cory Lyons located the suspect vehicle, which contained some of the victim’s property.

Lyons and Officers Ron Van Tassel, Chris Douville and Reserve Officer Gobble tried to contact Decaney and Maceo about 2:30 a.m., but they refused to come out and the gang unit and SWAT team were called to assist.

Neighboring apartments were evacuated. Police described apartment managers as “extremely helpful” and said they helped find shelter for misplaced tenants and provided a warm place for a police command center. The tear gas and dog were released about 9 a.m.

Hall and Coffey were arrested after refusing to surrender or cooperate with police.

Police are still investigating whether they were involved in the mugging, said Officer Jennifer DeRuwe, spokeswoman for the Spokane Police Department.

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