Spokane police to investigate chase, shooting

The Spokane Police Department is leading the investigation into the exchange of gunfire Friday night between a man and a county deputy who was chasing him in Spokane Valley.

A K-9 Spokane County sheriff’s deputy pulled over a car at 8:30 p.m. at the Chevron station at Barker Road and Cataldo Avenue. The car had three people inside – two women and a male passenger, according to a Spokane Police Department news release.

Another sheriff’s deputy and a Liberty Lake police officer arrived as backup. The male passenger reportedly gave a false name to the K-9 deputy, who told the man to exit the car. The man got out of the car and began running, the news release said.

The K-9 deputy, his dog and one of the backup officers gave chase. The K-9 attacked the man, who turned and fired at his handler, Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Friday at the scene.

The K-9 deputy returned fire and shot the suspect once. He was in stable condition Saturday at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

The names of those involved in the incident have not been released. None of the law enforcement officers were hurt.

The Liberty Lake officer’s body camera may have captured the incident. Liberty Lake Police Chief Brian Asmus said he has not seen the footage because the camera was taken by investigators.

“They took his uniform, boots and gun,” Asmus said. “I had to bring him an extra set of clothes.”