Spokane7
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July 16, 2010 in City
Three Spokane officers injured in crash on Division
Officers say driver who hit officers’ car was arrested for vehicular assault
Division Street this morning has been closed off to traffic following an accident involving three police officers at Sharp Avenue.
(Full-size photo)
Three Spokane police detectives suffered internal injuries and broken bones this morning when the unmarked vehicle they were riding in was struck broadside at Division Street and Sharp Avenue.
The officers’ injuries were serious but not life-threatening, said Officer Teresa Fuller, a police spokeswoman.
Two detective passengers - a man and a woman - were still being treated at a Spokane hospital early this afternoon. The male detective driver was expected to be released today.
The most seriously injured officer is the male passenger who was in the back seat.
A woman driving the second vehicle was arrested for three counts of vehicular assault after investigating officers determined that she apparently had been drinking, Fuller said.
She has been identified as 37-year-old Tonia S. Vansant. She was not injured, police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said in a news release.
The detectives were headed east on Sharp, and witnesses reported that they had a green light to proceed across the intersection at Division.
A red sport utility vehicle driven by the woman was headed south and crashed into the side of the officers’ sedan at 7:15 a.m.
Division Street was closed to traffic for several hours and motorists were being directed around the crash scene. It reopened before noon.
The detectives’ names were not being released today.
Fuller said she did not know the purpose of the officers’ trip.
The injury accident was the second involving police in a little more than two weeks.
On July 1, motorcycle Officer Tyler Cordis suffered serious injuries when an impaired driver struck a telephone pole, causing the pole to land on him and pull him off his motorcycle, DeRuwe said in a news release.
Susan L. Troyer who struck the pole was arrested on charges of vehicular assault and felony hit and run.
“The Spokane Police Department appreciates the outpouring of care and concern for our injured police officers,” DeRuwe said, adding that members of law enforcement were finding it difficult to have so many officers injured in such a short period of time.
Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick visited each one of the injured officers today at their hospital.
Returning farmland to a state of nature 
tsbryan on July 16 at 9:32 a.m.
Already drinking at 7:15 AM? Keepin’ it classy, Spokane.
liarsinnews on July 16 at 9:37 a.m.
The location of the accident was in the vicinity of the police guild drinking facility on sharp. No inference intended. The early morning hair of the dog driving, seems to me, is on the increase.
reservedparking on July 16 at 11:05 a.m.
The ‘police guild drinking facility’ (as you so cleverly refer to it) is over 12 blocks away! The Public Safety Building is only 10.
If no inference had been intended, you would not have mentioned it in the first place.
Cheap shot, IMHO, Mr. Adams.
BitofBacon on July 16 at 11:42 a.m.
As a followup comment to the “police guild drinking” facility, it hasn’t even existed for the past 10-12 years, so it was the type of cheap shot we’ve come to expect from Dick. Those were my friends in the car and thankfully they are banged up a bit but alright.
de3 on July 16 at 12:45 p.m.
What is the “police guild drinking” facility that existed 10-12 years ago? I’m not aware of what that is in reference to. Thanks.
spokanecommunistparty on July 16 at 2:11 p.m.
Maybe they were going on a doughnut run? The DMV should apply SUV and truck restrictions on dangerous drivers. I bet her driving record is horrendous.
twobit on July 16 at 2:24 p.m.
de3 this is what he is making fun of only the good old boys remeber this thing
On or about March 19, 1986, a party was held on the Spokane Police Guild Club premises. These were premises licensed by the Washington State Liquor Control Board (Liquor Board). The party has been variously referred to as a bachelor party, stag show and strip show. The party was, in any event, given for a prospective bridegroom by his brother. A dancer (stripper)performed at the party in a manner which, as it was subsequently determined, violated Liquor Board regulations. Forty or more people were in attendance. Following an investigation by an investigator for the Liquor Board, the club’s liquor license was suspended for 21 days.
nitro71 on July 16 at 5:04 p.m.
Maybe the City of Spokane police should slow down when they drive. Besides being over paid they speed and disregard the same laws we have to obey. I’ve been passed at least three times in the last six months on the interstate by City police speeding in excess of 70 mph. I’ve also witnessed the same cop using his flashers to get through a intersection faster without using his lights or having his siren going. This crew probably was speeding when they were hit.
PlanB on July 16 at 5:14 p.m.
I am glad that the injuries are minor.
But what exactly made them believe Vansant had been drinking? No physical evidence appears to have been provided.
Why can drunk officer hit a vehicle stopped at an intersection, drive off, get a police escort home, and NOT be charged with vehicular assault?
BitofBacon on July 16 at 5:33 p.m.
Nitro-I know this is probably useless but the officers were driving with the green light in their favor and were t-boned by the driver driving south through the red light. At least one of these officers sustained broken bones as opposed to the driver in the incident you’re referring to and I’m sure there was reason to believe she had been drinking. It will all come out in the wash.
BitofBacon on July 16 at 5:35 p.m.
Sorry, I sort of combined the posts of nitro71 and PlanB in my answer. I’m so very sorry.
nitro71 on July 16 at 5:53 p.m.
My post wasn’t so much about the accident but the fact that I’m tired of watching police officers speed and think they are above the law. While you or I will get a ticket they think it’s alright for them to drive fast.
spokanada on July 16 at 6:12 p.m.
Plan B, I too thought it was protocol to give drunk drivers a free escort home. I wonder why the lady in the accident today was arrested.
Diana on July 16 at 7:18 p.m.
And all the keyboard commandos here will be the first to call for a cop if they are victims of a crime.
liarsinnews on July 16 at 8:17 p.m.
reserveparking: Everything is relative. Its too late to list the SPD records that I`ll save for another day, stuff like the two officers drinking at the Rainbow Bar and were refusing to pay 2 prostitutes for services they rendered, or a former Chief of Police holding a shotgun at a innocent citizens head, or the 6 police squad cars showing up on 3rd avenue in minutes after it was reported a naked woman was walking around by a burger joint in mid afternoon, or the police spokesman making a remark regarding a 16 year old girl who had a sexual encounter with a firefighter that was completely uncalled for about the youngster. LATER.
PlanB on July 16 at 9:15 p.m.
Of course we will all call the cops if we are victims of crime. That’s why we have them. It’s the only reason.
I’m just saying that if everyone who committed a crime was treated equally and fairly, we would have a more effective system. For everyone.
It irritates me to no end that whatever a law enforcement officer says is treated as fact, and is generally supported by the courts, despite the endless mountain of evidence that shows it is often not the case. If she’s drunk, where’s the breathalyzer evidence? Did they see her drinking or driving away from a bar? Was her car filled with beer cans?
And again, I’m glad the officers were not seriously injured.
monkeyman on July 19 at 10:20 a.m.
Get side airbags if possible. Getting T-boned by no fault of your own is a bad way to get hurt…
bszottlinger on July 19 at 10:21 a.m.
A very sad commentary!
Three police personnel injured, a woman charged with crimes, and the thread deteriorates into a historical review by Mr. Adams and two bit of apparent police misconduct. Others pipe in with their own grievances regarding police abuses and BitofBacon defends.
Certainly no middle ground in this thread. I just hope all the people involved recover including Ms Vansant who may have more then just a driving problem.
Brad Szottlinger
twobit on July 19 at 1:01 p.m.
all i was doing was letting de3 know what adams was talking about not commenting on the cops being good or bad
bszottlinger on July 19 at 4:15 p.m.
@two bit
Sorry, I understand now. Sounds as if it may have been a swinging place. Where do they go now?
Brad
arroyoribera on July 21 at 10:57 p.m.
Great thread if you ask me. Anytime we can raise questions about the actions of our police and understand their history as it relates to their current membership & conduct, we are further ahead as a citizenry, especially a police department with the sort of slimy history as our own Spokane Police Department.
The reference to the Spokane Police Guild drinking establishment — which, if I am not mistaken, was 1212 W Sharp — is very interesting as is the question about where they do that drinking now. First of all, the quote above by 2Bit regarding the Spokane Police Guild Club party on 3/19/86 with a stripper resulting in a 21 day suspension of their license for a liquor law violation is more interesting than just that and comes right to why we need to discuss & publicize these issues whenever we can.
The segment quoted by 2Bit is from a 1989 Washington State Supreme Court decision. The segment actually goes further than what 2Bit posted, as I included on my blog (http://spokanepoliceabuses.wordpress.com/abuse-laying-out-the-case/) with further commentary: “…A reporter for the Spokesman Review and Spokane Chronicle newspapers requested a copy of the Liquor Board’s investigative report. he Liquor Board ultimately determined that it would release its full report on the incident. This suit was thereupon commenced by the Spokane Police Guild to enjoin the release of the records. The publisher of the newspapers, Cowles Publishing Company, & the City of Spokane were permitted to intervene in the suits. (end quote)” My commentary when on to point out that the Spokane County Superior Court, the Court of Appeals and, finally in 1989, the Washington State Supreme Court all ruled in favor of the public’s right to know & against the Spokane Police Guild’s attempt to keep the information secret.This decision is widely cited & is considered a primary source of case law on the matter of public access & records disclosure.
So in other words, where & how the Guild drank in 1986 was something they did not want the public to know & no doubt that continues to be the case.
So from the Washington State Supreme Court http://www.mrsc.org/mc/courts/supreme/112wn2d/112wn2d0030.htm and my blog, you have “the rest of the story” about a precursor event to the current culture of SPD and Guild intransigence & coverup.
Meanwhile as to where they go to drink now, we know that Jay Olsen, prior to shooting Shonto Pete (with his back turned) in the head and spraying Peaceful Valley with his bullets on 2/26/07, drank at Dempsey’s in downtown Spokane. With regard to Officer Jason Uberuaga’ October 11, 2007 adventure, he drank with a couple undercover Sheriff’s Deputies at Scotty’s Bar & Grill and when it closed went to Trent N Dale’s, where Uberuaga, a federally deputized DEA agent, allegedly raped a woman, taking pictures of her breasts with his cellphone, having sex with her in his patrol car & driving while under the influence. He was fired by Chief Kirkpatrick, cleared by county prosecutor Steve Tucker, & reinstated as a patrol officer with 10 1/2 months back pay.
As to where the Guild’s Club is now, I think we are still waiting for someone to chime in.
Finally, regarding police and speed, not to mention misconduct, does anyone know the identity of this SPD official:
In 2005, the Washington State Patrol twice recorded a Spokane Police lieutenant doing over 100 mph on Interstate 90 in an unmarked department patrol car, both going to and returning from a training event in western Washington. To keep the State Patrol from stopping him, the Spokane Police lieutenant turned on his siren as the State Patrol approached. Rather than being charged &/or fired, the lieutenant–who had been in charge of Spokane Police traffic officers–was demoted to the rank of detective.
For 300 points, who is that former Lieutenant, later demoted to detective, who went on to use his integrity & ingenuity to investigate, well, you & me?
mebythesea on July 23 at 12:12 p.m.
I totally agree with Diana….