Airport police pepper-spray amputee, 53

Spokane International Airport police pepper-sprayed a 53-year-old homeless amputee while arresting him Thursday morning for allegedly stealing a sleeping bag from unclaimed luggage, an airport spokesman said.

The incident began about 1 a.m., when the man’s wife called 911 from the airport seeking an ambulance to take her to a hospital, airport spokesman Todd Woodard said.

The husband, 53-year-old Charles R. Graser, has one leg amputated below the knee and was on crutches.

“The wife had a broken leg in a cast. I don’t know why she called for an ambulance,” Woodard said.

Airport police and fire and Fire District 10 responded, as did an ambulance.

However, when emergency personnel informed 58-year-old Ivalyn Graser that neither her husband nor their luggage could be taken to the hospital with her, she refused the ride, Woodard said.

Three hours later, about 4 a.m., airport officers learned that the couple had allegedly taken a sleeping bag from an area reserved for unclaimed luggage.

Officers also found out Charles Graser had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest, Woodard said.

When the officers approached, Graser and his wife were seated in chairs.

“When he was approached and told he was going to be arrested, he refused to put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed,” Woodard said. “The officers pulled him from the chair, placed him on the floor and attempted to get his hands behind his back.”

Graser resisted by placing his hands under his chest, Woodard said.

“That’s when they applied pepper spray to get him to comply,” Woodard said. “One of the officers tried to put him in a courtesy wheelchair to get him to a police car. He kicked it away and went to the ground.”

Woodard said the Grasers had recently flown to Spokane from Seattle, where they were living in a shelter. They have no known address, he said.

The arrest warrant that prompted the officers to arrest Charles Graser was later determined to be invalid.

However, Graser was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of third-degree theft and resisting arrest.

His wife was issued a citation for third-degree theft, Woodard said.

“Although he attempted to kick sheriff’s deputies and attempted to kick out windows in the police cruiser,” Woodard added, “he was not charged with those offenses.”