Report: Man battled officer before being killed

Spokane Police Sgt. Daniel Torok was knocked to the ground with a punch to the face and used pepper spray before firing his gun in a “knock-down, drag-out” fight that resulted in a transient’s death, according to a 221-page investigative report released Tuesday.

His March 24 fight with Jerome Alford left Torok with a cut on his face, scrapes to his fingers, knees, forearm and elbows, and bruises to the side of his head, the report states. He complained of a sore jaw. Buttons had been ripped off his shirt, and his clothes were muddied.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office was the lead agency for investigating the officer-involved shooting. The case was forwarded to the county Prosecutor’s Office on May 3, but that agency has not decided whether to charge Torok with a crime.

Such investigations are standard whenever an officer shoots someone.

Torok was on patrol in the area of Short Avenue and Cowley Street when he saw Alford talking to people in a truck at the intersection, and suspected drug activity, according to the report. The truck drove away. Torok approached Alford and a fight ensued, during which the sergeant used his pepper spray.

Alford punched Torok in the face, knocking him to the ground and then ran, the report says. Torok chased Alford down the block where they fought again. This time, Torok shot Alford.

Medics pronounced Alford dead at the scene.

Witnesses said Alford appeared to be giving Torok trouble from the moment he was contacted, according to the investigators.

People who knew Alford from the House of Charity and Truth Ministries told investigators the 33-year-old generally kept to himself, but could be explosive. A House of Charity worker told investigators of an incident in which Alford “went off,” accusing shelter workers of eavesdropping on his phone call.

Alford stayed at Truth Ministries the night before he was shot, according to the report. Charity workers noticed that over the few months they had contact with him, he seemed to be getting more depressed. They described Alford as quiet and usually withdrawn.