Driver who struck squad car charged

The driver accused of crashing a stolen vehicle into a Spokane police patrol car last week, prompting an officer to shoot at him, has been formally charged with assault and other crimes.

Nineteen-year-old Taylor J. Davis was charged Wednesday with two counts of first-degree assault and one count each of theft of a motor vehicle and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, Spokane County sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan said.

Davis is accused of ramming the vehicle into a patrol car Nov. 21 at Post Street and Lacrosse Avenue, knocking over reserve Officer Jon Hall and prompting Officer Jay Kernkamp to open fire on the vehicle. Both were standing outside the patrol car.

Reagan said the assault charges are for Davis’ actions against both officers.

Davis abandoned the car about a mile away and was tracked down later that day near Marshall, southwest of Spokane. He was slightly injured by one shot but was treated and released the same day. If he hadn’t been charged on Wednesday, he would have been released, Reagan said.

Three other people in the car during the initial traffic stop – 24-year-old Randy D. Cook, 19-year-old Jennifer L. Pettit and 21-year-old Kari J. Pettit – have been charged with second-degree taking of a motor vehicle. The three were not in the car when Davis drove into the patrol car.

The investigation into the officer-involved shooting is being handled by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office per Spokane police protocol regarding such incidents involving its officers. That investigation is ongoing, Reagan said.