Police: SWAT called in, man surrenders peacefully after stealing ex-girlfriend’s car

A man was persuaded to surrender to hostage negotiators after stealing his ex-girlfriend’s car and refusing to exit a Spokane Valley residence occupied by her young daughter Saturday afternoon, according to law enforcement.

Nicholas J. Loverro, 27, is suspected of stealing his ex’s vehicle at about 12:15 p.m. Saturday after she picked him up from Northern Quest Casino on North Hayford Road. He apparently called her and “sounded upset,” according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. Loverro was reportedly acting strange and refused to get out of the vehicle.

The woman drove him to the area of Argonne Road and Mission Avenue, where she pulled the key from the ignition and attempted to go into a nearby store, the release said. But Loverro grabbed her hand and squeezed until she let go of the keys, at which point he pushed her out of the vehicle as she screamed for help. He then drove away.

The woman called Spokane County sheriff’s deputies, and while on the phone, Loverro called several times and reportedly asked her why she was talking to police. During her phone conversations, she could hear her young daughter in the background, she said, indicating that Loverro was at her residence.

Hostage negotiators and SWAT team members were called to the residence in the 10700 block of East Nora Avenue, where Loverro was contacted by phone and persuaded to surrender.

Loverro was booked into Spokane County Jail on suspicion of second-degree robbery. He also had several warrants for his arrest, including burglary, harassment, malicious mischief and reckless endangerment.