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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spokane police seek man who fled in stolen vehicle with officer’s weapon inside

Sam Banks
Spokane Police are searching for a man they say sped off in a stolen vehicle after inadvertently knocking an officer’s gun from his hand Wednesday afternoon. Sam Banks, 25, was driving a stolen green Honda in North Spokane at about 4 p.m. when police stopped him, said Cmdr. Joe Walker. As the officer approached, he saw Banks trying to turn the car on. The officer drew his gun, pointing it at Banks and demanding he exit the vehicle. But police say Banks managed to start the car and drive away. The moving car knocked the officer’s gun from his hand and into the car, Walker said. Banks led police on a high-speed chase to the 6000 block of North Mayfair St., just north of Providence Holy Family Hospital. Banks crashed the vehicle into a fence post in the alley, doing minor damage to the car, Walker said. Banks fled the scene on foot and is still at large. The gun was found in the vehicle and police believe Banks didn’t know the weapon was in the car. The officer whose weapon was lost suffered minor scrapes on his hands. No other officers or pedestrians were injured. Anyone with information about Banks’ location is asked to call 911.