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August 9, 2010 in City
Spokane officer hurt in crash goes home
A Spokane police officer injured while driving to a robbery and stabbing was released from a hospital today and is recovering at home.
Officer Rhian Wilkinson fractured a bone in his neck when his patrol car was broadsided by a teen driving a GMC Envoy about 2:30 a.m. Saturday near Browne and Riverside streets.
“He’s been in a lot of pain over the weekend,” said Spokane police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick. “We expect him to take some time to recover.”
Wilkinson was en route to a help catch two men suspected of stabbing a man. One of the suspects had been allowed to stay out of jail on bond in June after pleading guilty in drug and burglary cases.
Christopher W. Hardwick, 30, was to be sentenced in those cases today, but his arrest on Saturday postponed the hearing.
Instead, he appeared in Superior Court on new charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, attempting to elude police and second-degree possession of stolen property.
His bond was set at $100,000, as was that of his accused accomplice, Kevin W. Nichols, 26.
The driver accused of hitting Wilkinson, Taylor R. Shockman, 19, sustained minor injures and was arrested for vehicular assault, then released to her parents. She’s not expected to appear in court until her arraignment.
Police say the melee began when Hardwick and Nichols stabbed a man near the Cenex gas station at Mission Avenue and Ruby Street just before 2:30 a.m.
The men crashed a stolen Honda Civic at Washington and Spokane Falls Boulevard, according to police. Nichols tried to flee but was arrested; Hardwick was caught trying to swim across the Spokane River. The Civic, along with a wallet, had been reported stolen early Friday.
Hardwick told police he was not involved in the stabbing and that he’d “found” the wallet and car downtown, according to court documents filed Monday. He also denied driving the stolen Honda.
Hardwick pleaded guilty in drug and burglary cases in June and was to be sentenced Monday, but was allowed to leave jail on $1,000 bond, according to court records.
In 2006, Hardwick was sentenced to six months in federal prison and three years federal probation for a counterfeit money scheme.
Nichols pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm in that same case and was released from prison in July 2009, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He’s on federal probation, his public defender said Monday.
It’s not the first time a law enforcement official has been injured while pursuing Hardwick.
In 2003, Spokane County sheriff’s Deputy James Slater suffered fatal head injuries when his patrol car left Grove Road, southwest of Spokane, on a sharp curve while trying to back up another deputy who was following a stolen car with Hardwick inside, according to previously published reports.
Human trafficking suspects released 
spokanecommunistparty on August 09 at 6:24 p.m.
That is an amazingly strange coincidence.
JFRENCH on August 09 at 6:51 p.m.
Time to get rid of this dirtbag for good
PlanB on August 09 at 7:18 p.m.
When do we get to hear Shockman’s side of the story?
BitofBacon on August 09 at 7:59 p.m.
Plan B-when she goes to court.
lewis8457 on August 09 at 10:42 p.m.
Lying cop! The cop was broadsided because he went through a intersection with out looking. Any body can come to that conclusion. She was already in the intersection as he flew through it, how the hell could he have had his lights on? Or even looked??
The usual cop attitude flooring his cop car and watch out anyone else on the road, and blame it on him or her if something happens.
I hope the young lady gets a good lawyer justice in this town after the cops have orchestrated it is difficult if not impossible.
Young lady with this on her record now, because of a moronic cop. And he is hurt at home (hope he gets better) what about her? Is she OK? Come on SR get her story.
Perfect time too no one around they had a lot of time to get their story straight. Lots of time to harass her, set the fear in her.
Just another lie from our wonderful SPD. And folks if you wander around downtown after 2am with money in your wallet, watch out.
tardwhisperer on August 10 at 11:38 a.m.
My goodness Lewis, I didnt think you could get any more ignorant….but I was wrong! Congrats Adam Henry! Did your mother not give you hugs as a kid? Were you molested by a postman….a meter maid….someone in a uniform?? There is no blame, for the entire incident is still under investigation. The arm on your chair must be getting worn out by now…….
PlanB on August 10 at 3:57 p.m.
But there is blame. The SPD blamed Shockman by arresting her for vehicular assault.
But we only get one side of the story, and whenever an officer is involved in an accident the lowly citizen is arrested.
I believe it is the officers duty to respond in a manner that is safe. What would it take, an extra 1.5 seconds to make sure the intersection is clear?
I’m biased because I seen too many SPD and WSP officers driving like complete maniacs, often without lights or sirens, who have avoided accidents because of heroic evasive action on the part of other drivers.
Orange on August 10 at 4:49 p.m.
Where’s Ron the MO Cop, it was the Chief’s fault.
tardwhisperer on August 11 at 8:29 a.m.
The other driver was DUI. Enough said.