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

Sirens & Gavels

Lawsuit filed over ‘09 police shooting

Investigators from the Spokane Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff's Department examine the scene and cover the body of a man shot by police Friday, July 10, 2009, in north Spokane.   JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Investigators from the Spokane Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff's Department examine the scene and cover the body of a man shot by police Friday, July 10, 2009, in north Spokane. JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

Spokane police and sheriff's investigators examine the scene and cover the body of Jason Poss, who was shot on July 10, 2009. (SRphoto/Jesse Tinsley)

A federal lawsuit has been filed by the parents of a man shot and killed by Spokane police in 2009 after he attacked a woman with a skateboard and stabbed a dog.

The suit alleges that either Spokane police Officer Kellee Gately or Officer Jason Curtis fired the fatal bullet – testing apparently was not able to determine the gun of origin – after 23-year-old Jason Poss had already been shot once, knocked down and disarmed of his knife.

The suit alleges that Gately and Curtis violated Poss’ civil rights by using “excessive force, deadly force, and/or inadequate training.”

Read the rest of Tom Clouse's story here.

Past coverage:

July 10, 2009: Spokane police kill knife-wielding man



Public safety news from the Inland Northwest and beyond.