Three gun reports prompt three arrests in 38 minutes

Spokane police officers responded Sunday night to three reports of suspects with guns in three locations in 38 minutes and made an arrest in each one. The first call came at 8:36 p.m. Officers were summoned to the West Central neighborhood on the report of an assault suspect with a gun, Officer Tracie Meidl said.

The suspect was located by police in the area of Adams Street and Gardner Avenue, but he did not have a gun. Spokane County’s search dog was brought to the scene and did not find a gun but did locate a bullet, Meidl said.

The suspect, 27-year-old Tony Williams, was arrested and charged with domestic assault.

Minutes later, at 8:38 p.m., in the area of Second Avenue and Thor Street officers were told a man was waving a gun at customers in a gas station.

Officers located a Chevy Cavalier matching the description given by witnesses at Second Avenue and Greene Street and made a “high risk” stop. One of the occupants, 28-year-old Andrew Stepak, admitted to having a gun and said it was in a backpack in the car.

The handgun and a bag of marijuana were found in the bag, Officer Dave Daddato said.

Stepak, who is a member of the East Oakland Piru gang, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana, Daddato said.

And then at 9:04 p.m., officers responded to west Spokane to the report of a man threatening a woman with a gun.

Officers found the suspect, 38-year-old Robert St. John, on Sunset Boulevard, but he did not have a gun. Regardless, he was charged with felony harassment and four separate outstanding arrest warrants, Meidl said.