Prosecutor’s office: Police shooting justified

Spokane Valley police officers were justified when they shot a man reported to be suicidal in December, the Spokane County Prosecutors Office has ruled. Officers Scott Bonney, Darell Stidham, Walter Loucks and Griffin Criswell attempted to fire on the man who had a history of suicidal threats. Michael E. Young, 55, was struck numerous times, although Criswell’s rifle misfired, said Sgt. Dave Reagan, police spokesman. Police said Young had drilled into a safe in his home and retrieved a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol that had been placed in the safe following a previous suicide attempt. Officers arrived to his home on Dec. 27, 2009, to a threatened suicide call and confronted Young when he came outside. They ordered him to drop the gun, but instead he raised it toward Bonney and Stidham, triggering the volley of shots from the officers, Reagan said. Young recovered from his gunshot injuries and is now facing two counts of second-degree assault.