Man Who Was Shot To Death Suffered Mental Problems

A man who eluded police in a car chase and later was shot to death while breaking into a house near Clayton, Wash., was mentally disturbed, authorities said Thursday.

The man was identified as Duane E. Salsman, 35, a transient who had lived in Washington, Alaska and Illinois. Before suffering a breakdown four years ago, he had been known as a religious man with a home, family and no criminal history.

Salsman had a wife and a 6-year-old daughter in Princeton, Ill., Stevens County Prosecutor Jerry Wetle said. “His minister said he was about as normal and good a guy as you could ever find,” Wetle said. “He was a sweet person, and all of a sudden, he had a mental problem.”

After that, Wetle said, Salsman wandered around Illinois, Washington and Alaska. Salsman accumulated several arrest warrants, mostly for misdemeanors such as trespassing, but one for theft. He apparently had no criminal convictions.

Clayton area homeowner Bill Robertson shot Salsman to death Monday night with a 9 mm handgun as Salsman started to climb through a bedroom window carrying a .30-06-caliber rifle.

Wetle said the shooting was justified, and Robertson will not be charged.

Washington State Patrol trooper Bob Fiorentino identified Salsman as the same man who had fled from him during a traffic stop early Monday near Deer Park.

Fiorentino spotted a .30-06 rifle in the car and called for backup from nearby Stevens County sheriff’s deputy John Bowers. Salsman appeared to be reaching for the rifle or a hatchet when Bowers arrived, WSP Lt. Steve Jewell said.

Salsman drove off with Bowers and Fiorentino in pursuit at speeds up to 70 mph. After nine to 10 minutes, Salsman abandoned his car in Deer Park and escaped on foot.

Jewell said the WSP is checking whether the car had been stolen.

, DataTimes