Spokane7
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October 26, 2010 in City
Man killed by deputy attempted suicide in July
Dodd
(Full-size photo)
A man shot and killed by a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy on Sunday underwent a mental evaluation after trying to commit suicide last summer.
A police report obtained Tuesday said Quentin Donald Dodd, 50, told officers “he was upset with his life and didn’t want to live anymore” when he walked down to the train tracks at Perry Street and Indiana in Spokane in July.
The three-month-old report portrays the latest target of police gunfire to be a mentally unstable man who told police he’d considered fighting with the officer who arrested him “because he wanted to die.”
Police haven’t said if they believe Dodd’s death on Sunday night was what’s commonly referred to as “suicide by cop.”
The Spokane Police Department, which is leading a multi-agency investigation into the shootings, expects to release more information on Thursday, including the deputy’s identity.
Dodd’s brother, Walter Dodd, said the report is untrue and said his brother was not mentally unstable. He said his family has hired a lawyer.
Dodd was living at Restoration Ministries, a home for people recovering from problems like drugs and alcohol addiction, when residents called police about 7:30 p.m. Dodd was gone when deputies arrived at the duplex at 507 N. Sommer Road.
A deputy found him holding an Obsidian knife in the middle of Progress Road, about a block from the faith-based halfway house, requested assistance, then at some point opened fire. Dodd was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Obsidian knives are handcrafted from volcanic rock and typically mounted onto wild game antlers.
Dodd had lived at the home about 2 1/2 months after completing a drug rehabilitation program in Spokane Valley, family said.
Homeowner Melinda Seymour said Dodd was angry and threatening residents with the weapon before deputies arrived.
It’s unclear where Dodd was living when police responded to the train tracks near Mission Park about 6:40 p.m. last July 9.
A train conductor had reported a shirtless man lying in the train tracks “screaming at the train to hit him,” according to the report. The conductor was able to stop the train and Dodd was spotted walking toward Mission Park.
He told officers he was diabetic, had heart problems and hadn’t had anything to eat or drink in 24 hours when he tried to get killed by a train, police said.
“Officer (Ron) Voeller said (Dodd) had initially wanted to fight him because he wanted to die,” according to the report. “…(Dodd) mentioned that ‘some people wanted to kill him, and he was nothing more to live for. He wouldn’t go into any further detail on the people he was talking about.”
Dodd was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for a mental evaluation.
Human trafficking suspects released 
liarsinnews on October 26 at 8:29 p.m.
I wonder why Jennifer DeRuewe is putting his suicide attempt out to the public? The family has to be embarrassed. I wish the Chief would put Jennifer on patrol and answer all the killings herself like most chiefs in the country do.. Verner, should have fired her and then resigned herself. Verner is totally incompetent.
maria on October 26 at 9:02 p.m.
I guess that justifies his murder by cop then.
Shylock13 on October 26 at 9:18 p.m.
This case smells putrid! Just like several others. And it will be “Tuckered” away by the county non-prosecutor, like all the others. [Anyone who votes to re-elect Tucker is a fool!] That he tried to commit suicide some months ago does NOT justify his killing. Certainly the officer did not know about the suicide attempt. Apparently, if someone blows enough smoke over something, that person believes that we “little people” will accept that! That person is WRONG!! We need a Civilian Review Board very badly! The Spokane City police investigate the Spokane County police, and the Spokane County police investigate the Spokane City police. That is just a “bit” too cozy!
reservedparking on October 26 at 9:28 p.m.
“…when he walked down to the train tracks at Perry Street and Indiana in Spokane Valley in July.”
Perry & Indiana isn’t in the Valley. It’s in the city of Spokane, near Avista’s HQ bldg.
ambworth on October 26 at 11:00 p.m.
Why must this be put in paper? is this family not going through enough. discusting. my heart goes out to this mans family
de3 on October 26 at 11:27 p.m.
SR, Does the report really say Perry St and Indiana in Spokane Valley? That intersection is on the backside of the Avista HQ in Spokane, not in Spokane Valley.
Which department released this report? Was it released at the request of the SR or was it provided, unsolicited by the “police” agency?
BitofBacon on October 26 at 11:34 p.m.
Where in the article does it say anything about Jennifer Deruwe releasing any information? Could it be the Spokesman Review requested the report and the S-R released the information to the public? That wouldn’t happen would it Lewis? I’d like to hear you call an officer a “pig” to his face-you don’t have the sack for that, do you? It’s because of the “public’s need to know” the S-R will put this stuff out to satisfy YOUR bloodlust.
Sleep well, Lewis
Louis
lewis8457 on October 27 at 7:54 a.m.
my blood Lust ? Bits-o-chicken your buddies are the ones killing everyone. and you back them so you have the blood lust here. Maybe you should spend some time looking in the mirror.
Cops that kill and assume no responsibility are PIGS. I wouldn’t get with in 30 feet of a cop now days, he could easily say i had a pack of chewing gum in my hand and he feared for his life. And shoot me dead and then you would call it justified. I treat cops like rabid dogs cant trust em so i stay away from them.
D Statler on October 27 at 8:37 a.m.
All cops are not bad ! Unfortunately the bad ones are in the same costumes as the good ones. If the Police guild had a sack,they would patrol themselves. I am sorry the word PIG offends you B-O-B. We are venting in helpless frustration. I could think of alot more terrible things to say. I try to find other ways to vent myself. I can tell you that other than a resource officer I work with.I have very little use for any cops either. I will handle my problems myself. I have never gotten a good response / result from a call to the police in Spokane.I am a home owner and voter and pay my fair share for your so called protection. I think we should hire private security to protect us. Definately would feel safer !
BitofBacon on October 27 at 8:52 a.m.
undooly-where did I say the word pig offended me? I said Lewis doesn’t have the guts to say that to an officer to his face. Did you call them pigs when you worked down at the Public Safety Building, Lewis? Did you? No, I don’t think so. Your courage comes from a keyboard.
disgusted on October 31 at 2:10 p.m.
It just doesn’t matter what the circumstances surrounding this shooting was 20ft, 8ft, 4ft, shoot me, shoot me it doesn’t matter it’s just publicity smoke to win public favor of a unjustifiable homicide in hopes to build a biased jury
I don’t think jurors this time are going to be convinced this person could possibly be a threat to anyone with his little killer assault rock
Fact is TWO of the valleys finest officers 200lb each (or about) had to shoot to kill a 100lb 50 year old in poor health with a rock!
Nope this one does not look remotely justifiable at ALL unless
due to budget short falls the sheriff’s department can only afford deputies from Mayberry or the citizen himself had 60 round clips for the rock. If not one of the two then it’s just another lawless execution in the streets of Spokane
• This is actually a scary situation all our lives depends on weather or not if we are liked by the Spokane Taliban