Man Held In Near-Fatal Beating

Fri., May 1, 1998

From Staff

Police have arrested a man suspected of taking part in the near-fatal beating of a Spokane resident.

Douglas R. Coy, 29, was charged Thursday with one count of first-degree robbery in an attack that left Warren Troxel in a coma for two weeks.

Coy, who has a history of violent behavior, was arrested Wednesday night after police learned he may have been involved in the April 3 attack.

Detectives say the 27-year-old Troxel is still having trouble remembering things and has lost some coordination as a result of the beating.

Police suspect Coy and another man assaulted then robbed Troxel in a parking lot under Interstate 90.

Coy and his accomplice knocked Troxel to the ground and stomped on his head before rifling through his pockets, detectives said in an affidavit filed in District Court.

The attack took place about 1:30 a.m. after the three men left the Lamp Post Tavern downtown and walked to the parking lot near Lewis and Clark High School, police said.

Police have not released the name of the other man suspected of participating in the attack.

Coy has seven felony convictions in Spokane County and has been arrested twice in the past two years for assault, according to court records.

He is being held in jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.