Man shot by bean bag rounds outside STA Plaza

A man was shot by bean bag rounds outside the STA Plaza Friday evening after police were called by security officers reporting that the man was waving a knife around. When police arrived the man put his hand under his jacket and police couldn’t tell if he was holding a knife or a gun, said Spokane police Lt. Tom Hendren. Officers worked to remove bystanders and tried to negotiate with the man. “He was completely unresponsive,” Hendren said. Officers believed the man was suffering from a mental health episode, Hendren said. “Our number one concern is protection of life,” he said. “There’s obviously a concern with this congested area.” Several officers fired bean bag rounds at the man, who dropped the knife and fell to the ground. The knife was recovered from a storm drain, Hendren said. The man was not seriously injured but was taken to a local hospital as a precaution. Hendren said he does not know if criminal charges will be filed.