Suspect sparks bomb scare

A suspected robber caught inside a downtown Spokane bank Tuesday told officers there was a bomb inside the building, leading to temporary road closures and evacuations at nearby offices, police say.

No bomb was found. But the suspect, 31-year-old Shawn P. Hoffman, was arrested at Banner Bank after Detective Paul Lebsock, wearing plain clothes, held him at gunpoint until other officers could respond to the 1:25 p.m. holdup call, according to the Spokane Police Department.

“That was good work by the Spokane Police Department,” said FBI agent Frank Harrill.

Police evacuated the bank, located at 802 W. Riverside Ave., and closed Riverside from Lincoln to Wall streets. Bomb technicians and a U.S. Marshals bomb dog did not find anything suspicious. Hoffman was booked into Spokane County Jail on a first-degree robbery charge.