Spokane7
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December 2, 2010 in City
Man greeted SWAT team with knife, sheriff’s office says
A man involved in a stolen property investigation threatened a SWAT team with a large knife on Wednesday, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said today.
Franklin Dean Fitzgerald, 49, is due in Superior Court today on a second-degree assault charge after he answered his front door in a “fighting stance” with a military-style knife raised over his head, blade pointed at SWAT team members, according to a news release by Sgt. Dave Reagan.
Fitzgerald slammed the door and SWAT members rammed it open, then arrested him without incident. They also arrested a woman living in the home with him, but Reagan did not release her name.
Spokane Valley detectives obtained a search warrant for Fitzgerald’s home in the 1900 block of West 25th Avenue after learning he had stolen firearms there, Reagan said.
They used a SWAT team to enter the home about 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday because of Fitzgerald’s criminal record and the possible presence of firearms, Reagan said.
But Reagan said investigators found no firearms in the home.
They did find stolen car speakers and a bicycle with a serial number removed, as well as medication not prescribed to Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald has previous property crime convictions in Pierce County.
2 home invasion robberies in Spokane 
me on December 02 at 1:15 p.m.
The SWAT Team is at his door, and he brings a knife? He should be arrested on stupidity, alone!
healinhand on December 02 at 1:20 p.m.
Where`s the stolen guns when you need them? Oh my….another mistake.
bdr on December 02 at 1:25 p.m.
what a twist the most deadly swat team is called on a deadly guy, deadly guy is physically slammed to the floor. (No Guns used)
However you call the regular cops to a preachers home or prego woman’s home……no knife involved and one is dead, one in serious condition
Hum……..maybe cops/swat team should switch jackets at 8am tomorrow?
eagleproducer on December 02 at 1:56 p.m.
The 1900 block of West 25th is in the Spokane Valley?
Since when?
Edwame on December 02 at 1:56 p.m.
The information provided by all in this report is vague, at best.
zelda on December 02 at 3:31 p.m.
I had the same question, Spoketucky. Maybe it’s supposed to be E. 25th, and there’s some numbers missing from the address. Otherwise I think it would be the SPD commenting, not the sheriff’s department.
BitofBacon on December 02 at 4:01 p.m.
It’s not unusual at all for the SCSO to serve a search warrant in the city and vice versa, don’t get too excited about it.
carolynl on December 02 at 4:04 p.m.
Spoketucky & Zelda: That’s the address provided to us in the SVPD news release. I have a call in to double-check it.
zelda on December 02 at 4:36 p.m.
Thanks, Carolyn. As BitofBacon pointed out, maybe it’s just readers’ not knowing about how and where these jurisidictions operate when serving warrants or sending out a SWAT team.
carolynl on December 02 at 4:59 p.m.
Zelda: I suspect BitofBacon is correct. It’s not uncommon for agencies to cross jurisdictional lines to complete an investigation that began within their coverage area. I’ll let you know what I find out.
meghannc on December 02 at 5:16 p.m.
The address is correct, and it is in Spokane. Spokane Valley detectives initiated the investigation.
zelda on December 02 at 6:45 p.m.
M and C — I appreciate the clarification. I learned something.
lewis8457 on December 02 at 9:03 p.m.
What? I man with a knife lived?
Could it be it was cold out and the SWAT guys just didn’t want to stand around waiting for forensics?
Now if they had a nice cozy car with sex tapes on the video.
Thanks guys for not killing anyone, anyway you can have a talk with Hirzel and Olsen.
D Statler on December 02 at 9:59 p.m.
They only shoot the ones with rocks that kinda resemble a piece of tree bark.Not scary,tatooed baboons with really big knives. This guy apparently didn’t look as threatening as a 100 lb, mentally challenged man, awaiting an organ transplant, walking down the street. Things are kind of turned around in the Lilac city. That stolen bicycle and speakers should have atleast gotten the guy tasered.