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August 27, 2010 in City
Sheriff vows ‘full and complete’ investigation into shooting
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich told the media Friday, August 27, 2010, that his department wants to “express to the family of Wayne (Scott) Creach our sorrow for their loss.” A press conference was held outside the Spokane County Courthouse. A Spokane Valley Officer shot Creach Wednesday night in the parking lot of Creach’s Plant Farm in Spokane Valley, Wa.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich extended condolences today to the family of slain pastor S. Wayne Creach, who was shot to death Wednesday evening by a Spokane Valley Police officer.
Knezovich said he wanted to assure the community that a full and complete investigation will be conducted. However, Knezovich offered no new details and did not name the officer who shot Creach.
“Two nights ago our community experienced an unfortunate moment that impacted all of our lives,” Knezovich read from a prepared statement. “Our sympathy goes out to the family of Wayne Creach for their loss.”
In a written statement this afternoon, the Creach family thanked the community for its support. “We appreciate your prayers and thoughts and ask that you continue to remember us during the next difficult days,” the family said.
The statement continued, “We would also like to take this opportunity to say that while we are in shock and extreme grief, we know that the deputy who was involved in this tragedy is also dealing with his own personal crises. Our family extends our compassion and our prayers to him today and in the future. We know he will carry the memory of Wednesday night and this tragedy with him for the rest of his life.”
The family also announced the services for Creach will be Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. at Greenacres Baptist Church, where he was pastor for the past 40 years.
“Dad loved his family and the people of this community – he was a pastor, business owner, employer and friend. His passing will leave a huge hole in the lives of many,” the family wrote.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office operates the Spokane Valley Police Department under contract. The incident is being investigated by the Spokane Police Department under an agreement that calls for city police to investigate officer-involved shootings within the county sheriff’s office, and vice versa.
Spokane Police Major Scott Stephens said investigators will not release more information about the shooting until next Thursday. The delay stems from the fact that investigators won’t know all the details about what happened that night until they speak with the officer, he said.
As per department policy, investigators won’t speak with the officer until 48 hours after the incident, which would be late tonight. Spokane Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said she didn’t know whether that interview will occur tonight or on Saturday.
The only new information offered today was that a neighbor of Creach’s called for an extra patrol in the neighborhood Wednesday night.
The officer, who was in full uniform and driving an unmarked patrol car, parked in the empty lot of Creach’s greenhouse at 14208 E. Fourth Ave.. The 74-year-old pastor lived in a home next door to the business, The Plant Farm.
Creach apparently thought the officer was a prowler and approached. Officials have not said what type of confrontation transpired, but the officer shot Creach in the chest. Investigators later found a gun near Creach.
“Once the investigation is complete, we as a community will have the facts surrounding the events,” Knezovich said. “Again, I want to reassure the community that the investigation under way will be complete and thorough, and that the community will receive a complete account of this unfortunate incident.”
Closing Geiger: Wise or worrisome? 
zelda on August 27 at 1:42 p.m.
“As per department policy, investigators won’t speak with the officer until 48 hours after the incident, which would be late tonight.”
What’s the rationale for waiting two days?
de3 on August 27 at 1:51 p.m.
Similarly, do public citizens have the same right to not be questioned for 48 hours? Just wondering.
boredstupid on August 27 at 1:52 p.m.
they wait 2 days so they can all get their story straight
Itsgodswill on August 27 at 1:57 p.m.
“Knezovich said he wanted to assure the community that a full and complete investigation will be conducted.”
Is this implying that a full and complete investigation is not the normal procedure?
west on August 27 at 2:04 p.m.
Waiting 48hrs is a lot of time to think..what really happened and stories possibly made up…no witness….his lawyers are with him right now…
JayNW on August 27 at 2:04 p.m.
if the family can find compassion for the officer, its too bad that complete strangers in this community can’t.
spokanecommunistparty on August 27 at 2:08 p.m.
Was Mr Creach wearing his eyeglasses?? I have been so bummed out since I read about this. He was one of my favorite local celebrity’s, I listen to am radio everyday. Maybe his son will pick up the torch and read the plant tips on the Dean and Angelia Show “weekday mornings on 590am 6-9am”. That would be soooo cool.
WayFedUp2 on August 27 at 2:09 p.m.
Spokane Valley PD hiring standards need to be investigated, these little svpd employees who are allowed to parade around in taxpayer’s vehicles, wearing taxpayer’s guns and outfits are a bunch of illiterate seconds who are psychologically unstable, bargain basement merchandise. I need to file 1st degree attempted murder on one of them, for being a victim, but who are ya going to tell??? They stick together and lie until THEY win and THEY are the victims
spokanecougar on August 27 at 2:19 p.m.
Do normal citizens get 48 hours before they talk to the police after they shot someone….even if it was accidental or in self defense? What a horrible policy were an officer could change and memorize a new story of what happened or could consult with an attorney and be told what to say before any investigation. Nice that once again it is obvious the police view themselves as above the law, this policy should be changed immediately and be in line with what any other citizen has to comply with after they shot someone, even if in self defense of by accident.
Jacko on August 27 at 2:28 p.m.
Spokane City investigates the shootings within the county? Nice independence there folks. They ought to bring in the WSP or someone from another state. 48 hours to wait to speak after the shooting? Sounds like a law out of Illinois or corrupt Chicago.
mauijim on August 27 at 2:42 p.m.
To D. Walker,
Confucius says, “It is better to keep your mouth shut and thought a fool, then to open your mouth and remove all doubt”.
zelda on August 27 at 2:54 p.m.
Why wasn’t Anne Kirkpatrick standing next to Ozzie at the courthouse today? I watched the live feed of the noon press conference on KHQ.com and Jennifer LaRue looked like a staked goat trying to speak for the SPD in this investigation. All I noticed was another law officer standing behind her grimacing while she talked but said nothing.
Don’t push your spokesperson in front of reporters while you hide in your office. The public should be hearing from both of the commanders in this situation.
mebythesea on August 27 at 3:06 p.m.
This is just so very sad. My condolences to the family of this dear man.
When I heard about this, my first thought, and I have no idea why, was that possibly the office had fallen asleep in his vehicle and was startled awake…possibly awakening from a very deep sleep and it all happened before he even knew what was going on. I know this probably sounds far fetched but I can’t for the life of me figure out why the police department would send an officer alone to guard a property in the middle of the night. If there were two officers on duty together that night I just feel this might not have happened. Does anyone agree with my thoughts here?
lewis8457 on August 27 at 3:19 p.m.
I think Ozzie is a stand up guy and i think he was tying to say he would make sure a complete investigation will be conducted but in his own mind he knows how it is going to go down.
So the family gets to wait 48 hours before they can find out why the cop killed Scott, how is that fair? After they got to watch their fathers body lie in the parking lot for 8 hours.
Why didn’t the cop call the ambulance why didn’t the cop tell Scotts wife what happened? Why?
Not calling a ambulance after shooting someone isn’t that murder?
lewis8457 on August 27 at 3:41 p.m.
oneanddone the guy wasn’t speeding or even in a car. He was on his own property trying to find out why a car was on his property.
this would not have happened if the cop did not trespass. Yes i do know they can trespass.
I hate to say this because i know i will get bashed but the more people cops shoot and kill, the more dangerous traffic stops will be. Because the average guy will be armed and when the cop gets to the door the citizen will be ready for a possible problem, waiting to see the cop go for his gun. And sadly when people are this nervous accidents happen.
What comes around goes around.
Blacksheep3 on August 27 at 3:54 p.m.
@ Lewis - please get your facts straight! There were 6 Firefighters/EMT’s/Paramedics and 2 ambulance personnel conducting CPR on Mr. Creach when he died.
GoYankees on August 27 at 3:58 p.m.
What I can’t seem to understand is what did the officer think the 74 year old man with glasses would hit if he fired off a round in the dark in a vacant parking lot? I don’t think it would have been a very accurate shot if he was aiming at the officer and did pull the trigger. I’m very interested in the details of the officer’s report, only because there are many things about this story that doesn’t make sense or add up!
Thoughts and prayers to family and friends of all the victims involved.
spokanada on August 27 at 3:59 p.m.
oneanddone, the office didn’t respond correctly and the victim was not a “drug whacked out imbecile”. Furthermore, the victim was trying to protect his property with his gun.
I’m surprised your racially insensitive, government hating views have you siding with the police. This public employee shot a citizen on private property. You bash health care yet support cops killing innocent people. Get a life!
spokanada on August 27 at 4:05 p.m.
Also, I am not sure how you think the officer was protecting the victim or his business or property.
liarsinnews on August 27 at 4:18 p.m.
oneanddone: More than once I`ve observed public servants who were cowards to walk an I or H beam at 145 feet in the air and the employees had to do what should have been done by the so called heroes putting their life on the line everyday. Employees working up off the ground with very little to stand on are far more at risk than the men in blue, oneanddone. I`ll challenge you to walk an I beam any day of the week, big guy. I`d wager you`d be one who was done.
cda_native on August 27 at 4:30 p.m.
I have the utmost respect and appreciation for law enforcement that use their brain power rather than their ego power.
However, what kind of agency, or individual cop, parks in a dark parking lot on private property in an unmarked car in the middle of the night without informing the property owner in advance. In an area where there has clearly been a problem, given that a request for extra patrolling was made.
It’s doubtful that the pastor saw the uniform in the dark, and I for one, would have no reason to believe a plain car had a cop in it, in that situation.
This cop, and this agency, obviously screwed up big time, intentionally or not. And now a GOOD man is dead. And a family and a whole community is devastated.
Cops are not always wrong, but sometimes they are. And this looks to be one of those times. Equally disturbing, is that they are giving him 2 days to get his story lined up. CYA.
GoYankees on August 27 at 4:33 p.m.
@ cda_native Well stated!
skierdc1 on August 27 at 4:57 p.m.
What is with the BS policy of waiting 48 hours anyways? Oh that is right, we are talking about Spokane law and order men, they are special.
lucs on August 27 at 5:13 p.m.
If the cop was watching the scene, he should have positioned himself so that no could sneak past or sneak up on him. When he saw the Pastor, he should’ve identified himself…at that point, the Pastor would’ve said who he was….end of problem.
This is either a cold blooded killer or one heck of a poor cop. Either way, the Pastor was killed needlessly.
Whatever the facts are in this case, they died with the Pastor.
I think Ozzie knows the outcome of the investigation as well as we do.
GaryP on August 27 at 5:23 p.m.
This is a tragedy and none of you seem to understand how things work. I am a business owner. If I approach a vehicle parked in my lot after hours, I CAN NOT point my gun at the driver first and ask questions later. If I’m armed, my gun should be in my waist band until I determine the person(s) are a threat with a deadly weopon. If that’s the case, I can defend myself. If it’s not(police officer, kid drinking, someone asleep in car), it is excessive to point my gun. Cops park in businesses after hours all the time like to do reports or just be a presence to keep crime from happening. You can’t walk up to them and screw a gun in their ear before determining who they are. If I accidentally pull into the wrong driveway because I had an address wrong, can the homeowner come out and screw a gun in my ear? NO! Only if I am a threat like pull a gun or come at him with a knife. Use logic folks. A good person made a bad mistake and it cost him his life. Do you think a deputy wants to shoot an elderly person who is the pastor of a church?
GaryP on August 27 at 5:29 p.m.
Go Yankees- You can’t be serious. Police should allow people to shoot at them if it’s determined they are not good shots? Great idea! There job is not dangerous enough so let’s add to it. Maybe a chart: People over 65 can shoot at them 3 times before they can defend themselves. 40 to 64 2 times. Everyone elso one free shot. They are wearing vests afterall…
lucs on August 27 at 5:40 p.m.
We don’t know where the Pastor had his gun, do we. Now, it’s wherever the cop chooses to say it was.
If it was in his hand, that should not be a death sentence.
andrewz on August 27 at 6:06 p.m.
I know this won’t be popular, but we’re going to close the thread for the evening because we just aren’t going to be able to moderate it overnight.
If you want to continue the conversation, my colleague Dave Oliveria has a post on today’s developments over at Huckleberries: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/hbo/2010/aug/27/sheriff-no-cop-intends-hurt-public/
Thank you.
GaryP on August 27 at 6:06 p.m.
He shouldn’t have walked up to the car at all and called police. Let them take the risk since that is what they are paid for. If you walk up to a police car with a gun in your hand, you will get shot. Maybe it’s right, maybe it’s not, but everyone should know that. They get ambushed and killed in their cars all the time across the country. If you do that, expect to get shot. A great person lost his life, and a deputy has to live with that guilt forever. Would any of you walk up to a car parked in a business lot with a gun out(at minimum since laying at his side) or pointing it? At least call 911 and let them know you are going to play policeman and be armed. Very sad for all
dtairtime on August 27 at 6:07 p.m.
To those many people who keep bringing up the fact that the officer has 48 hours before they speak about incidents like this:
Every one of you seems to point out that we don’t get to do that.
But you are wrong……..Not only do we have 48 hours we can actually refuse all testimony - a little right that we have but law enforcement does not have. Miranda gives you the right to not talk to an officer - in fact you are reminded of that right if arrested. Again the officer does not have that right!!
Shylock13 on August 27 at 6:21 p.m.
September 3, 2010
“After a full and complete investigation, Officer [name] was exonerated in the shooting of Pastor Creach. No charges will be filed. The officer was merely acting in self-defense. The Spokane Valley Police Department extends its condolences to the family of the victim.”
Unanswered questions, which, no doubt will remain unanswered: (1) Did the Spokane Valley Police Department inform Pastor Creach that they would have an unmarked car on his property that evening?; (2) Was the officer awake or asleep when Pastor Creach approached the car?; (3) Did the officer identify himself as a police officer before he fired?; (4) Why did the officer (and any officer) get 48 hours before anyone could question him?; (5) Why do non-officers NOT get 48 hours before they can be questioned?; (6) Why did the officer not have his name revealed immediately?; (7) Why do non-officers get their names revealed immediately?); (8) Why do police think they are entitled to more “rights” than anyone else?; and (9) Why in such cases does not an independent agency, preferably the FBI, do the investigation? [The coziness of Spokane City police, Spokane County police, and Spokane Valley police investigating each other is absurd.]
If all three police agencies are serious about wanting the confidence and support of the public, then they should all back independent investigations in such incidents. If the officer involved acted appropriately, no problem. If the officer did not, then it would/should not be covered up, and the officer should face whatever charges the investigation finds appropriate.
mahsah86 on August 27 at 6:22 p.m.
How many of you are or were law enforcement officers? Do you have any formalized training in the use of firearms? Are you trained in police tactics? AND most importantly….WERE YOU THERE????? The answer to all of the aforementioned is probably NO!!! So, how can you conclude that the officer was at fault? Have you ever been confronted by someone with a gun? The comment made by some moron about “shooting in the dark” is incredibly stupid. Bullets don’t care if it’s light or not and a stray bullet can kill just as easily as a well-aimed shot…just ask the families of victims killed by stray shots in gangster-infested neighborhoods. The incident will be thoroughly investigated and criminal charges applied if appropriate. Do you really believe that the officer wanted to kill the gentleman? Besides, what type of pastor openly carries a gun while confronting a uniformed police officer? I suggest that all of you liberal cop-haters remember that you’re living in a city being overrun by “gangstas” and now dubbed “Spocompton”.