Man leads cops on chase through Spokane’s streets

Spokane police officers chased and caught a knife-wielding man who started cutting his own throat and told officers to shoot him as he ran down the street near Corbin Park on Wednesday morning.

The incident began at a duplex at 104 W. Cora Ave., where a woman called authorities to report that her husband, 36-year-old Michael W. Edlefsen, was threatening suicide and violating a court order to stay away from her, Sgt. Joe Walker said.

It ended after a wild foot pursuit that included two Taser shots, a missed gunshot by an officer and the suspect cutting himself with a 10-inch kitchen knife.

The call came in at 8:28 a.m., and officers responded to the Cora duplex, Walker said.

The woman had already left the home and run to a neighbor’s to call 911. When officers arrived, they obtained permission to search her home.

A patrol officer fired a Taser at Edlefsen as he was under the couch but apparently missed. Edlefsen scurried out and lunged toward one of the officers with the knife, Walker said.

Edlefsen ran out of the duplex, and the chase was on. He fled south on the 3000 block of North Atlantic Street with the officers in pursuit, Walker said.

“The guy went down a couple times, cutting on his own throat and yelling at the officers to kill him,” Walker said.

As the chase neared Park Place, Edlefsen turned and threatened an officer, Walker said.

“He was coming at the officer. One of the officers fired a round,” Walker said.

Sgt. Brad Arleth said police officials were interviewing the officers about the shot. Some reports indicated that Edlefsen may have been running away when the shot was fired by the officer, Arleth said.

Walker said Edlefsen dropped at the sound of the shot but was not hit by the bullet.

As the suspect turned west on Park Place, another patrol officer arrived from the opposite direction with a Taser. He was able to get close enough to hit Edlefsen and finally end the chase, Arleth said.

Edlefsen had superficial wounds on his neck that did not appear to be life-threatening, Walker said.

He was taken to an area hospital for treatment.