Prosecutor: Officer justified in shooting at hospitalized inmate

Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell ruled Tuesday that a Spokane County detention officer was justified in shooting at a fleeing jail inmate inside Deaconess Hospital in July.

Detention Officer Sandy Reif gave inmate Cameron Trevino multiple warnings before firing at him, according to a Spokane County news release. “He had used multiple reasonable means short of deadly force to prevent Trevino’s escape prior to using deadly force,” the release said. “He used multiple verbal commands, baton strikes, pepper spray and engaged in a lengthy foot chase.”

Trevino was in the Spokane County Jail on charges of first-degree assault and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. He was found hanging from the underside of his jail bed, unresponsive, late July 13. He was taken to Deaconess Hospital for treatment.

At around 2 a.m. July 14 Trevino asked to use the bathroom. While Reif was removing his right ankle shackle, Trevino punched him in the head. After a short struggle Trevino ran down the hall with Reif in pursuit.

The chase started on the eighth floor and ended in an empty hallway on the fourth floor when Reif fired a shot at Trevino.

“He feared Trevino could take a hostage, surprise him and take his gun or arm himself with a sharp instrument from the hospital,” the news release said.

The bullet went into a wall without hitting Trevino, who immediately gave up. Under the circumstances, Reif was justified in using deadly force, the release said.