Authorities Arrest Suspect In Shootout

Fri., July 23, 1999

From Staff Reports

A man allegedly involved in a shootout at Spokane’s Chief Garry Park was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of assault, police said.

Steven Tensley, 35, was booked into the county jail on three counts of first-degree assault.

Police believe he was involved in an incident at the north Spokane park Monday at about 7:15 p.m.

Witnesses told investigators they saw Tensley fire several shots from a sawed-off shotgun at another man, who grabbed a pistol from a friend’s gym bag and returned fire.

As many as a dozen shots were traded, but apparently no one was hit, police said. There were children in the park at the time of the incident, investigators said.

Tensley left the scene before police arrived. The second shooter’s name has not been released.

On Wednesday, officers went to Tensley’s home and arrested him without incident.

Police said Thursday they may make additional arrests in the case.

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